History of Theater

Question 1

Where does drama originate?

Answer 1

The human impulse to imitate

Question 2

What are the two ingredients needed to make situations in drama interesting?

Answer 2

Conflict and empathy

Question 3

Who did the Greeks worship?

Answer 3

Dionysus, the god of theater, wine, and fertility

Question 4

Comes from the Greek word “tragos” meaning goat singers

Answer 4

Tragedy

Question 5

God from the machine

Answer 5

Deus Ex Machina

Question 6

What is a Deus Ex Machina

Answer 6

An artificial plot device used to resolve difficulties; literally was an actor lowered down on the stage from above with a giant crane (the crane was big enough to hold multiple horses)

Question 7

Who is Seneca?

Answer 7

A Roman writer of bombastic tragedy

Question 8

What are Romans known for?

Answer 8

Creating the closet drama

Question 9

What is a closet drama?

Answer 9

A play meant to be read rather than performed

Question 10

What were plays presented on?

Answer 10

Pageant wagons

Question 11

What was developing in the medieval era?

Answer 11

Secular dramas or folk dramas (Robin Hood 1300AD)

Question 12

Teaching the difference between right and wrong within the story

Answer 12

Morality plays

Question 13

What were the two locations for renaissance drama?

Answer 13

England and Italy

Question 14

A speech delivered by an actor alone on a stage that reveals the characters innermost thoughts; typically breaks the fourth wall

Answer 14

Soliloquy

Question 15

What is the Italian renaissance most commonly credited with?

Answer 15

The development of the opera

Question 16

What is the international langue for opera?

Answer 16

Italian

Question 17

What are two stock characters?

Answer 17

Innamorati girl and innamoratae

Question 18

Special humorous bits of stage business, usually set apart from the main action

Answer 18

Lazzi

Question 19

The characters played out comic scenarios in a comedia dell’arte

Answer 19

Plot outlines were posted backstage before each performance

Question 20

Sloped upwards away from the viewers

Answer 20

Stage raked

Question 21

All women parts were played by women in what era?

Answer 21

Restoration

Question 22

What are the six eras?

Answer 22

Early Humans 
Greeks
Roman Drama
Medieval Era
Renaissance Drama
Restoration Drama