Chapter 3 SmartBook Theatre Appreciation
While there can be a group of artists that create a script, this is usually accomplished by the
playwright
Which of the following are possible dramatic purpose of a playwright
To explore the human condition to teach to entertain to provide escape
True or false: Modern playwrights often begin writing a play without a clear plan and only later make discoveries about structure, focus, and purpose.
True
The dithyramb was a
chorus of men singing in honor of Dionysus
A greek festival held in honor of Dionysus and featured the performance of plays
city dionysia
which plot structure limits the number of characters and locales and has a very compact construction.
climatic
characters with a dominant trait are most often found in
comedies
Which of the following are included in the dramatic structure of a play
conflict how long the action lasts where the actions takes place numbers of characters
the crises that arise in a play are a result of which of the following
conflicts, complications, obstacles
which structure replaces a traditional plot with an open-ended serial structure
cyclical
A device used for flying in the gods in Greek drama. The term is now used for any arbitrary device used for unraveling a plot.
deus ex crane
This theory argues that theatre originated with large choral odes that were sung by a chorus of fifty men as part of religious festivals.
duthyrambic
A platform on wheels was used to reveal climactic offstage events
ekkylema
which structure contains parallel plots, a mixture of serious and comic scenes, and a cumulative effect
episodic
in a play, the opposing forces must also be _______ so that there is the possibility of victory on either side
evenly balanced
the structure is born out of ritualistic religious roots, and practiced by the Living Theatre and the Wooster Group
expreimental
wen characters are of the nobility and are extreme in their behavior they are called
extraordinary characters
which of the following are often the subject matter of theatre
fantasy or nightmare resembling life human history biography
when a playwright communicated who the play is abut, and how we are to view them, this is called _____.
focus
when a playwright communicates who the play is about, and we are to view them, this is called ____.
focus
some plays address issues of a particular group, this is an example of _____.
focus or purpose
which of the following is true about action in dramatic structure
the actions of characters lead to conflict, it is an essential element in dramatic structure, and all dramatic characters need to do something
Plot
the sequence of events in a play.
Stage Directions
the sets of bracketed information that tell what the stage looks like and how the characters should move and speak. MAYA: [looks concerned as she walks toward the ringing telephone] Maybe that's Gina calling. I hope she's not lost!
What was the "viewing place" of the early greek theatres called?
theatron
He is said to be the first actor and playwright
thespis
which of the following is true of the new plot structures that developed in the modern theatre
they sometimes come from ancient practices adapted for modern life the appeared during the 20th and 21st centuries
The center of the Greek orchestra; a reminder that Greek drama was rooted in religious rituals.
thymele
True or false: Modern playwrights often begin writing a play without a clear plan and only later make discoveries about structure, focus, and purpose
true
True or false: Modern playwrights would write a play without a clear plan and only later make discoveries about structure, focus, and purpose
true
which of the following is true of segment of tableaux structure
used by robert wilson and richard foreman, frequently involves several actions occurring simultaneously, and included other art forms like dancing and painting
Under a dramatists guild contract, when can a playwright's dialogue in a production be deleted or changed
when the author grants permission
the very beginning of a play that thrusts the characters into a situation that they must react to is called the
opening scene
which is the correct word for when 2 characters have a strong, clear, and differing goals and are willing to do anything to achieve them
opposed forces
what dramatic plot structure takes its meaning from repeated action
patterns
One scene- changing device believed to have been used in ancient Greece which had three painted flats hinged together
periaktoi
Soliloquy
Is a speech a character delivers while alone. Sometimes the character speaks to the audience; sometimes only to himself or herself.
Which of the following is true of of the greek chorus
Its importance in tragedy decreased during the fifth century
Monologue
A long, uninterrupted speech spoken by a character to other characters who remain silent. In a this speech, a character may reveal hidden feelings or may persuade another character to take action.
Drama
A story that is written to be performed by actors. A drama includes characters, people who take part in the action. Sometimes, one of the characters is a narrator, or storyteller. A drama often also includes a conflict, a problem between two people or two forces. Most dramas include the following elements.
The characters in his play embodied cosmic conflicts
Aeschylus
The first of the extant Greek playwrights, embody cosmic conflicts.
Aeschylus
Dramatic Effect
All the elements of a drama work together to create an illusion of reality. Dramatic elements work to express a theme.
The only extant greek comedies from the fifth century BCE were written by
Aridtophanes
Poetics, written by ______, describes the six elements of drama
Aristotle
Orchestra
At the foot of the seating area of the theatre of Dionysus was a flat circular area where the actors performed.
which of the following are ways in which a script is similar to the blueprint of a building
Both building and scripts have an initial plan but the final product could vary based on the workers producing it. buildings and scripts both need a skeleton or substructure to hold it together Buildings and scripts both need a foundation.
External Conflict
Conflict that occurs between a character and an outside force, such as nature, society, or another character.
Internal Conflict
Conflict that occurs within the mind of a character. It arises when a character is torn between opposing feelings.
which of the following are decisions a playwright must make when writing a play
Create dramatic characters decide on focus choose a point of view select subject matter develop a structure establish a purpose
When a playwright communicates who the play is about, and how we are to view them, this is called
Focus
Some plays address issues of a particular group, i.e., latinx theatre, feminist theatre, or African American theatre. This is an example of ____.
Focus or purpose
Which of the following is true about creating a script?
It is the domain of the playwright. It can also be called a text. It is the starting point of a play.
Props
Movable items that the actors use to make their actions seem realistic.
Makes fun of society, politics, or culture.
Old Comedy
Which of the following is an essential element in dramatic structure.
Opposing forces plot conflict action balance between forces
What must always be the subject matter of plays
People
Comedies
Plays that have happy endings. Their humor often comes out of the dialogue and situations.
Tragedies
Plays that show the downfall of a great person, known as the tragic hero, brought down by a fault, or tragic flaw, in his or her nature.
While there can be a group of artists that create a script, this is usually accomplished by the ______.
Playwright
He wrote tragedies; it is unlikely that his plays were performed in Roman public theatres
Seneca
The function of the chorus in ancient Greek theatre was to ?
Serve as an ideal spectator, provide background information, entertain with song and movement.
Which of the following are reasons why a playwright must use focus in a play.
So that the audience knows who the play is about so that the audience knows how they should feel about events and people the subject matter of human nature is too vast and be narrowed down
Gave actors professional security in the Hellenistic period.
The artists of Dionysus
Theme
The central idea about life.
Set
The construction on stage that suggests the time and place of the action.
Scenes
The events of a play are often presented in separate, connected episodes
Script
The printed form of the drama.
Acts
The units of action in a drama they are often divided into smaller parts called scenes.
Dialogue
What the characters say. Quotation marks do not appear in the script. Instead, the words each character says appear next to the character's name. MAYA: What time does the train arrive?
which of the following is an essential element in dramatic structure
action, plot, conflict, and opposing forces
In ancient Greece, the archon appointed a choregus, who was the equivalent of the modern day
actor
which of the following is true of stick characters in commedia della arte
actors who played stock characters were given outlines and improvised much of their dialogue, the characters were always the same for each production, and they wore the same costumes and portrayed the same traits each time
In the Hellenistic period the _____ acted as the producer of plays
agonthetes
bertoit brecht used techniques from beijing opera such as symbolic props and actions to create what kind of effect to distance his audience from emotionally identifying with the drama
alienation
which of the following is true of a climatic plot structure
all elements are severely restricted, for example it takes place in a short period of time it was first used in ancient greece it is also called intensive.
The 1st critic to attempt to pinpoint the characteristics of greek tragedy was
aristotle
since the beginning of time and continuing today, playwrights have often drawn nonhuman characters in what form
as animals
which of the following are included in the dramatic structure of a play
how long the action lasts, where the action takes place, number of characters, and conflict
which of the following are often the subject matter of theatre
human history, fantasy or nightmare resembling life, and autobiography
Which of the following is true about an opening scene in a play
in it the characters are often thrust into conflict. It sets the tone of the play it sets the tone of the play it gives us important information about what we are going to see
which of the following is true of ritual plot structure
it can include a religious element, it is often a reenactment of an event, and it communicates the work's message through repetition
which of the following us true of a climatic plot structure
it is also called intensive, all elements are severely restricted (takes place in a short period of time), and it was firs used in ancient greece
which of the following is true of plot in dramatic structure
it is more selective than story, it is the sequence of events, and it is an essential element
A story or legend handed down from generation to generation
myth
a character who speaks directly to the audience and comments of the action is called
narrator
Used domestic situations of middle- class citizens and is generally concerned with love and financial considerations.
new comedy
In the Hellenistic period, actors wore large headdresses known as
onkos
The very beginning of a play that thrusts the characters into a situation that they must react to is called the ____.
opening scene
the leading character in drama is called the ______ and the opposing character is called the ______.
protagonist; antagonist
when characters stand for an entire group, this is called
representative
identify the new plot structures that developed in the modern theatre
ritual and feminist
Identify the new plot structure that developed in the modern theatre
ritual structure feminist structure
Which of the following genres contains a chorus of mythological creatures who were half-goat and half-man?
satyr play
this structure uses units analogous to the frames of film and television
segment or tableaux
when a series of presentations, or acts, or events are strung together into a whole it is called
serial structure
which of the following are reasons why a playwright must use focus in a play
so that the audience knows who the play is about, so that the audience knows how they should feel about events and people, and the subject matter of human nature is too vast and must be narrowed down
Placed emphasis on individual characters who were complex and psychologically motivated
sophocles
The greek dramatist best known for his superb plot construction (structure) was
sophocles
The elements of plot, action, conflict, and opposing forces are essential to dramatic
structure