Dram 115 Exam 3 Cornell
Henrik Ibsen, regarded as the father of modern drama:
1) adapted the well made play 2) wrote his early plays as verse, historical dramas 3) became famous for writing plays in a realistic style about the problems of the Norwegian middle class 4) used a more poetic and symbolic treatment of "reality" in his later plays ALL OF THE ABOVE
The 'well-made play" featured:
1) careful exposition 2)building of suspense 3)surprises and use of withheld information 4) a resolved ending ALL OF THE ABOVE
Brecht's technique of alienation or estrangement was sought through which of the following?
1) episodic play structure 2) suggestive scenery, no attempt at realism 3) plays set in a very different time or culture 4) use of music/songs between scenes ALL OF THE ABOVE
Miller's use of memory (and sometimes memories within memories) was used to achieve what goal of the play?
1) to show what it was like inside Willy's head 2) to dramatize Willy's internal searching for answers 3) to dramatize willys internal seeking solace from his pain ALL OF THE ABOVE
"I believe that the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were.. I think the tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need to be, to secure one thing- his sense of personal dignity" Who wrote this?
Arthur Miller
This playwright sought to create a drama which was a clear alternative to traditional, climatic, Aristotelian drama. Rather, he wanted to engage the audience's powers of critical observation
Brecht
This playwright wanted his audience to react to the happenings on stage with analysis and clarity, as if at a boxing match, actively choosing one side over another
Brecht
The Andy Warhol soup cans and the fur-covered bowl and spoon were shown in class as an example of:
Brechtian estrangement technique
"The action should be as complicated and as simple as in it is in life. People are eating dinner, just eating their dinner, talking about weather.. and all the while their happiness is being established or their lives are broken up"
Chekhov
This book would prove influential in the development of theories supporting the rise of Realism
Darwin's The origin of the species
The success of Chekhov's plays was due in part to the realistic acting style taught by this co-founder and director of the Moscow Art Theater:
Konstantin Stanislavsky
"Realism," as practiced by Ibsen, depended as much on what the plays where about as on how they presented.
TRUE
A doll House utilized a finely detailed stage description because the "environment" of the play was now considered in determining human behavior.
TRUE
Chekhov intentionally pauses in his plays. He thought they contributed to the play of a truer rhythm of life.
TRUE
In addition to Willy Loman, the play's title Death of a Salesman, also refers to dave singleman, that man who at 84 years old could make his living in his green velvet slippers and just picking up the phone
TRUE
The ending of A Doll House was so disturbing to some that a production of Germany changed the play so that it ended with a happy ending?
TRUE
The "troubles" mentioned in THe Cherry Orchard refer to what?
The emancipation of the serfs
In Ibsen's A Doll House, what do Nora and Krogstad have in common?
They both committed a crime
What is the first miracle that Nora is hoping will happen when Torvald learns of her crime?
Torvald would offer to take the blame
There is a recurrent musical theme of a flute playing in DEATH OF A SALESMAN. What connection does Willy have with the flute?
Willy's father used to make flutes
Chekhov insisted that THE CHERRY ORCHARD was
a comedy
The distant, mournful sound that occurs during THE CHERRY ORCHARD is best described by Chekhov as sounding most like:
a snapped string
To chekhov's great frusturaition, Konstanin Stanislavsky (the first director of the play) insisted that the CHERRY ORCHARD was:
a tragedy
technological advances like gas and electric lights allowed for:
a) actors moving "up" behind the proscenium arch into the "world" of the play's scenery b) the down-stage apron of the stage in front of the proscenium arch getting smaller c) lighting effects to become more subtle and realistic d) costumes and furniture to become more realistic ALL OF THE ABOVE
Light changes:
a) more depth on stage b) more separation between the audience and actors
The sound occurs twice. when?
after the sunset in act two and at the end of the play
What does Ibsen show us through Krogstad and Mrs. linde talking through their problems?
an example that a true, communicative partnership between husband and wife is possible
Chekhov's portrayal of Lopakhin, the business man who buys the estate, shows that:
he is a flawed, yet sympathetic character
What happens to First at the end of THE CHERRY ORCHARD?
he is forgotten and left behind the house
allowing the audience a chance to peek in on a slice of life as it happened before them is most closely associated with which movement?
realism
Chekhov's use of action is deceptive because the dialogue does not always necessarily reveal what's happening. This technique is called
subtext
Chekhov's use of action is deceptive because the dialogue does not always necessarily reveal whats happening. This technique is called:
subtext
The first date, "balcony" scene from Woody Allen's film, "Annie Hall" (with Woody Allen and Diane Keaton) was shown in class as an example of
subtext
The trouble mentioned in the THE CHERRY ORCHARD refer to what?
the emancipation of the serfs
Arthur MIller's originial idea for the title of DEATH OF A SALESMAN:
the inside of his head
Why is it significant (in Ibsen's method of utilizing every aspect of storytelling) that Nora performs a tarantella when she dances at the Christmas party?
the tarantella is a dance which originally imitated the death throes of someone bitten by a tarantula spire (and, for Nora at the party, it is a dance of death)