Exam 7: Theater

If you are attend a play from the eighteenth century that is performed in an elaborate indoor space, appeals to aristocratic tastes, presents a mythic story, and adheres to the unities, you are probably watching an example of

The proscenium is important mainly because it

What is a melodrama?

The main character in a tragedy whose fortunes the audience follows is the

If you are watching a farce in pantomime that relies on stock characters, you are watching a work of

The soliloquy is important to drama because it

What is the Chorus?

Which kind of drama did Bertold Brecht develop, based on the belief that theater could bring about social change by presenting negative models?

What are groundlings?

Write an essay contrasting three Greek and three Elizabethan theater conventions. I. Name three of these conventions: chorus, stage conventions, unities, recognition scene, verse. II. Give examples for each convention. III. Explain the contrasts between the examples.

A kind of play where every element of language or action advances the plot is a(n)

The revelation through dialogue of necessary background information is called

The nineteenth century gave rise to a number of different theatrical developments. Complete the following sentence and use three examples to defend your answer: "The most important development in theater of the nineteenth century was . . . ." I. Identify the most important theatrical development of the nineteenth century. II. Choose three plays that embody this development. III. Explain the significance of the development using examples from the three plays.

Regarding the six elements of tragedy (plot, character, thought, poetry, spectacle, song), Aristotle believed plot was the most important. Using three examples in the chapter from the twentieth century, comment on the extent to which this holds true for tragedies today. Decide which of the six elements you believe is the most important in tragedy and defend your stance. I. Choose three examples from twentieth-century tragedies. II. Identify the most important feature of these dramas (plot or something else). III. Take a stance as to which element is the most important. IV. Describe why that element is most important using evidence from the examples.

If you attend a play that features a Chorus and masked actors and has violence that occurs only offstage, you are probably watching a(n)

In the classical era, Aristotle believed plot was the most important of the six elements of tragedy (plot, character, thought, poetry, spectacle, song). Using three examples from the chapter, comment on whether you believe plot or some other element is most important feature of comedy. I. Choose three examples of comedy. II. Identify the most important feature of this drama (plot or something else). III. Take a stance as to which element is the most important. IV. Describe why that element is most important using evidence from the examples.

The practice begun in the nineteenth century of making scenery and dialogue look and sound like the real world is called

Shakespeare's most memorable comic character is

The play A Raisin in the Sun is about

The classical idea that plays should present a single plot occurring in a single place within one day is called