Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • John James Osborne, an English playwright and screenwriter: Osborne refers specifically to the 20th-century British dramatist, a key figure in the post-war "Angry Young Men" movement. He is best known for revolutionizing British theater with his works that expressed social discontent and challenged established conventions.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • The works of Osborne, such as "Look Back in Anger," defined a generation of British theater.
  • Many critics consider Osborne one of the most influential playwrights of his time.

Advanced Usage

• "an Osborne play": used to describe a play written by John Osborne, typically characterized by its realism, emotional intensity, and critique of social norms.

  • The revival felt like a genuine Osborne play, full of raw emotion and social criticism.

• "Osborne's protagonist": often refers to the archetypal angry, disillusioned young male character found in his plays, like Jimmy Porter in "Look Back in Anger."

  • The actor struggled to capture the essence of an Osborne's protagonist.

Variants and Related Words

• Osbornian (adj): characteristic of or resembling the style, themes, or characters in John Osborne's plays.
  • The dialogue had a distinctly Osbornian quality of bitter wit.

Synonyms

• Dramatist: a writer of plays.
• Playwright: a person who writes plays.

Related Phrases

• The Angry Young Men: a literary movement of the mid-20th century in which John Osborne was a central figure.
  • Osborne became the public face of The Angry Young Men after the success of his first major play.

Noun

1. English playwright (1929-1994)