DRA 111 Quiz 2
Which of the following is true of the difference between story and plot in drama?
plot is the form story takes in theatre story has many of the same elements as plot plot must be shorter and more selective than story
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. They appeared during the 20th and 21st centuries.
Two mid-twentieth-century dramatists from the west who were strongly influenced by Beijing Opera were ______ and ______.
Thornton Wilder Bertolt Brecht
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
Which plot structure limits the number of characters and locales and has a very compact construction?
climactic
Which structure contains parallel plots, a mixture of serious and comic scenes, and a cumulative effect?
episodic
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
Theorists who question the importance of the playwright as part of the production process argue that which of the following can be considered the true authors of a production?
the audience member viewing the production the artists creating the stage presentation
Why do playwrights often choose opposing forces to be in the same family?
there is no escape the audience can relate greater tension
Which of the following are possible dramatic purposes of a playwright?
to teach to explore the human condition to entertain to provide escape
Under a Dramatists Guild contract, when can a playwright's dialogue in a production be deleted or changed?
when the author grants permission
Which of the following are included in the dramatic structure of a play?
where the action takes place conflict how long the action lasts number of characters
Some theorists argue that an ______ theatre exists where performers create their own works, sometimes using a traditional text as a jumping-off point.
authorless
What must always be the subject matter of plays?
people
Which of the following are ways in which a script is similar to the blueprint of a building?
Buildings and scripts both need a skeleton or substructure to hold it together. Both buildings and scripts have an initial plan but the final product could vary based on the workers producing it. Buildings and scripts both need a foundation.
Which of the following is true about obstacles and complications in a play?
Each time a character seems to be gaining ground more obstacles appear in their path. They let us know more about the characters. They keep the audience interested in what is happening.
Which of the following is true about patterns as structure?
It does not build to a climax in a traditional way. Samuel Beckett uses this in Waiting for Godot. It is related to ritual structure.
Which of the following is true of a climactic plot structure?
It is also called intensive. All elements are severely restricted, for example it takes place in a short period of time. It was first used in ancient Greece.
Which of the following is true of plot in dramatic structure?
It is the sequence of events. It is an essential element. It is more selective than story.
Which of the following is true about an opening scene in a play?
It sets the tone of the play. It gives us important information about what we are going to see. In it the characters are often thrust into conflict.
Which of the following is true of episodic plot structure?
It uses many characters and locals and spans a wide time period. It was used extensively in the Romantic period. It flourished in Shakespeare's time
Which of the following is true about cyclical structure?
Often referred to as connected fragments. It does not rise to a climax but has several high points of tension. Feminists argue that women often write in this way.
Which of the following are reasons why a playwright must use focus in a play?
The subject matter of human nature is too vast and must be narrowed down. So that the audience knows how they should feel about events and people. So that the audience knows who the play is about.
How is writing for film or television similar to writing for the stage?
The writer decides on a subject. The writer must create characters and dialogue.
How are sports teams and conflicting characters similar?
We usually do not know the outcome. Evenly matched teams and characters are more exciting to watch. It is boring and sometimes painful to watch teams or characters that are far out of their league or not able to compete.
Which of the following is an essential element in dramatic structure?
action balance between forces plot conflict opposing forces
Bertolt 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 responses to challenges can tell us about how people define themselves?
if they triumph over challenges if they face up to a challenge if they meet challenges with dignity
Which of the following is true about action in dramatic structure?
it is an essential element in dramatic structure the actions of characters lead to conflict all dramatic characters need to do something
The crises that arise in a play are a result of which of the following?
obstacles conflicts complications
The very beginning of a play that thrusts the characters into a situation that they must react to is called the ______.
opening scene
Which structure has its roots in ancient routines and practices that took on special meaning?
ritual
Identify the new plot structures that developed in the modern theatre. (Check all that apply.)
ritual structure feminist structure
When a series of presentations, or acts, or events are strung together into a whole, it is called ______.
serial
