Stage 36 Culture Quiz

Romans were always entertained by writers reciting in public.

• True: The Romans were great lovers and supporters of literature.

• True: The Romans enjoyed all forms of entertainment

• False: Sometimes recitals of literature were annoying to the passerby.

• False: Roman writers would not recite unfinished works in public

Writers often first read their work to a selected audience, usually his patron or his close friends.

• True: Writers often preferred the comfort of a private recital

• False: Most writers preferred to read their works on street corners

• False: Most writers would not read a work to anyone, unless it was finished.

• False: Most writers did not recite their works; only published them.

A recitatio was:

• Any reading of a writer's work

• a private reading of a writer's work in his own home.

• a written copy of the writer's work

• a public reading of a writer's work in front of an invited audience

Which of the following are true about recitationes? (Choose all which apply)

• It might take place in the author's home, his patron's, home or an auditorium.

• A recitatio was open to all; no invitations required.

• recitationes were always only attended by a few people.

• Attendees at a recitatio were charged admission to cover the cost of the event.

The writer always read his own work at a recitatio.

• True: An author new his work better than anyone else.

• True: If another person read the work, people would not buy it.

• False: Sometimes an author would have another person read his work.

• False: It was common for a writer to hire a professional reader to read at a recitatio.

Which of the following are true about recitatones (check all which apply)

• An author might plant friends or hired clappers in the audience to applaud at appropriate times.

• A short introduction (praefatio) would be given at the beginning.

• Recitationes only lasted a few hours.

• Recitationes sometimes lasted into a second or third day.

All of the following hosted recitationes (that we know about) except:

• Emperor Domitian

• Emperor Claudius

• Martial

• Pliny the Younger

All Roman authors attached great importance to recitationes.

• True: Roman writers found recitationes to be valuable tool in honing their craft.

• True: Roman writers enjoyed the fame which came from presenting to an audience of senators.

• False: Although they had some benefits, many writers mocked or disregarded recitationes.

• False: No Romans writers valued recitationes.

What needs of the Roman literary world did recitationes fill? (Check all which apply)

• They allowed poets to feel important

• They brought an author's work to the attention of a large number of people.

• They allowed an author to see if a work was worth publishing.

• They allowed a chance for an author to receive comments and criticism of the work.

Recitationes encouraged authors to write what pleased them.

• True: The recitatio was a way for an author to share his passion for a topic with an audience of like-minded individuals.

• True: A recitatio was only used to perform works that an author really cared about.

• False: Authors performing at recitationes only performed works by other authors.

• False: Authors often wrote and performed works at recitationes which pleased their audience, not themselves.