Study Guide for Midterm One

Midterm One Notes

This midterm will cover:

  • Chapters 1 and 2 in Living Theatre

From the Norton Anthology:

  • Oedipus-Sophocles
  • Lysistrata – Aristophanes
  • The Bacchae- Euripides

Lectures

  • Slideshows (available on theatrestudent.pbworks.com)

Assignments and/or previous quizzes

  • Go over discussions, the mask project and quizzes in review for the exam.

You will be allowed two 3x5 inch cards for notes for this exam. You can use the front and back of the card. You will not be allowed to share notes. Cards are available in the bookstore, about $1 for 100. Buy a pack or share a pack with a friend. Alternatively you can cut out the two 3x5 rectangles below for your notes.

Chapter 1

Theatre: Its Origins and Its History

After studying this chapter, the student should be able to do the following:

  • Trace the origins of theatre and drama.
  • Differentiate between theatre and ritual.
  • Describe reasons for the prohibition of theatre in cultures throughout history.
  • Identify elements used in reconstructing theatre history.
  • Differentiate among approaches to the study of theatre history.

Sample questions (go over quiz and discussions)

What are some examples of popular entertainment today that have existed for thousands of years?

What is the difference between a ceremony and a ritual? Give some examples of each from your own lives.

What are some theories for the origin of theatre?

How is the writing of history affected by the viewpoints of those who write it? Does this make history untrue? How can we know what actually happened?

What is the essential difference between theatre and religion/ritual/ceremony?

What is the difference between mimesis (imitation of an action) and methexis (group sharing)? Perhaps examine Aristotle’s differentiation between drama and epic, for instance.

Why is it difficult to determine the style of acting in any given historical period? What is the style of today’s acting?

Can history be objective? Why or why not?

Chapter 2

Greek Theatre

After studying this chapter, the student should be able to do the following:

  • Identify the origins of theatre and drama in Greece.
  • Compare and contrast Greek tragic playwrights.
  • Identify the role of the chorus in Greek plays.
  • Apply Aristotle’s six elements of drama to the analysis of a play.
  • Compare and contrast old and new comedy.
  • Sketch a ground plan of Greek theatre, identifying major elements.
  • Describe changes to theatrical production and architecture in the Hellenistic Age.

periaktoi

Cothurni

Sample questions and topics (go over quiz and discussions)

Explain the ticketing system used by the ancient Greeks

What was the relationship between theatre and religion in classical Greece?

What did Greek theatres look like in classical Greece? How did this change in the Hellenistic period?

What was the role of the actor in the Hellenistic period?

How does Oedipus Rex exemplify climactic drama?

Did actors perform on a raised stage in classical Greece? Why is this difficult to determine? Why might it have been advantageous if they had?

What stage machinery was used in classical Greece? Are there parallels in today’s theatre?

What was the function of masks in Greek theatre? How might this have affected the acting style?

What did costumes look like in the Greek theatre? How do scholars know this?

What was the social position of actors in the Hellenistic period?

Name the parts of the theatre below using the following terms:

SKENEORCHESTRATHEATRONPARASKENEPARADOS

Explain and identify Deus ex machine

Name and define Aristotle’s six elements and be able to apply to an analysis of a play.

Name and identify the three unities and be able to apply to an analysis of a play.

Describe the differences between the protagonist, antagonist, deuterogamist and tritagonist.

Explain the process of putting on a play in the City Dionysisia and to explain the different roles including the archon (city leader or ruler), choragus (like a modern day producer), didaskalos (the Greek word for "teacher,", this person “directed the play if the playwright did not), playwright (usually fulfilled the role of “director” and in the case of Sophocles, designer), actors and chorus (non-professionals or semi-professionals, doing it as part of religious and civic duty.)

Thespis – first actor, tragic playwright, protagonist, used to travel to perform so potentially the first touring actor.

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