Theater History Review

What was one of the first types of theater to emerge in the ancient world?

• staged readings

• pantomime

• morality plays

• improv

Which culture performed play trilogies in a competitive atmosphere?

• Egyptians

• Medieval Europe

• Ancient Greece

• Romans

Where does the word "tragedy" come from?

• the Greek "tragos" - meaning goat song

• the Greek "tragis" - meaning drama

• Shakespeare invented it

• dues ex machina

Which of these is not an Ancient Greek tragedy?

• Medea

• A Midsummer Night's Dream

• Antigone

• Oedipus Rex

What were the 3 original types of plays?

• comedy, tragedy, and satyr

• tragedy, satyr, and drama

• trick question - only tragedy and comedy

• medieval, greek, and roman

What kind of theatrical space were Greek plays often performed in?

• proscenium

• box theater

• open-air theater

• opera stage

What is a main characteristic of Roman Drama?

• often written about the history of Rome

• plays were imitations of Greek theater, typically made fun of the original form

• many were "closet dramas" meant to be read rather than performed

• all of the above

What were "mansions" in Medieval Times?

• platforms where plays were performed in churches

• houses for the actors as they traveled

• large houses for the rich to live in

• the name for the plays themselves

What are the major types of Medieval Theater?

• religious and non-religious

• liturgical, mystery, miracle, and morality

• liturgical, miracle, morality, and ampitheater

• miracle and morality

Why was theater so important in Medieval Times?

• it provided an escape from the hard times of the peasants

• it communicated messages from the church to society and so was used for more than mere entertainment

• it established morality plays, which still continue to teach lessons in various formats today

• it helped to establish traditions on holidays such as Christmas, Easter, etc.