Renaissance Drama Reading Flashcard

Front

What was the most common Elizabethan stage design?

Back

Thrust stage design was the most common during the Elizabethan era, allowing the audience to view the performance from three sides.

Front

What is a proscenium stage?

Back

A proscenium stage is a type of stage where the audience faces one side of the stage, with a framed opening (the proscenium arch) separating the stage from the audience.

Front

Define 'theater in the round'.

Back

Theater in the round is a stage design where the audience surrounds the stage on all sides, providing a 360-degree view of the performance.

Front

What is the significance of soliloquies in Renaissance drama?

Back

Soliloquies allow characters to express their inner thoughts and feelings directly to the audience, providing insight into their motivations and conflicts.

Front

Explain the term 'iambic pentameter'.

Back

Iambic pentameter is a metrical pattern in poetry consisting of five iambs (unstressed-stressed syllables) per line, commonly used in Shakespeare's works.

Front

What role did the Globe Theatre play in Renaissance drama?

Back

The Globe Theatre was a key venue for the performance of many of Shakespeare's plays, contributing to the popularity and development of Renaissance drama.

Front

What is a 'tragic hero'?

Back

A tragic hero is a character in a tragedy who possesses noble qualities but is ultimately brought down by a tragic flaw or fate.

Front

Define 'comedy of manners'.

Back

Comedy of manners is a genre that satirizes the behaviors and customs of a particular social class, often focusing on romantic entanglements.

Front

What is the purpose of dramatic irony?

Back

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows more about a situation than the characters, creating tension and engagement in the narrative.

Front

What are 'asides' in drama?

Back

Asides are brief comments made by a character to the audience that are not heard by other characters, revealing their thoughts or intentions.