Theater Final; First Section Chapters
7- Theatre Traditions; East and West
well answered
How did Theater emerge from ritual, storytelling, and shamanism? - ANS ✔✔Exact origins of
drama are unknown.
Ritual: a collective ceremony to summon gods and influence nature.
Storytelling: more personal, generates characters.
Shamanism (traditional drama began when spoken dialogue entered ritual in Sub-Saharan
Africa): The first ritual to incorporate dialogue. The Shaman mediates the real and spirit worlds
and undergoes striking performances.
In the West: What are the practices/impulses from which ancient Greek theatre originated?
What are the qualities of its classical period? - ANS ✔✔-Drama of Athens: greatest body of
theatrical creation of all ages!
-Origins in religion: Performances evolved from Dithyrambs, drunken fertility rituals. Chanted,
and/or sung, not spoken; unfortunately, the music has not survived.
-Created fundamental genres like: comedy, tragedy, and laid groundwork for almost all Western
drama. (blend of myth, legend, philosophy, social commentary, poetry, dance, music, public
participation, and visual splendor, Athenian drama created the forms of both tragedy and
comedy.)
-laying not only the foundation of western drama, but also continuing debates as to how- and to
what purposes- life should be lived.
In The West:What are the changes that Roman theatre brought about, architecturally (theatre
space)? - ANS ✔✔Architecturally: Romans created some astonishing stage buildings, architects
dispensed with the Greek hillside theatric and threshing circle orchestra and designed a theatre
that was an entirely integrated structure set on a level plain.
-Also, they cut the orchestra in half and created tunnel entrances to it (vomitoria) on both sides.
, In the west: What are changes that Roman theatre brought about, stylistically (comedic
innovation)? - ANS ✔✔Dramatists almost always drew upon Greek sources for their work
-Roman theatre, however, degenerated into sheer spectacle and decadence by the end of the
empire, as many theaters were converted into arenas for gladiatorial combat, pitched sea
battles, and gruesome public massacres.
What is the Renaissance theatre timeline? Medival theatre circa 476 AD- 1547 - ANS ✔✔1300-
Proto Renaissance
1400- Early Renaissance
1500- High Renaissance
In the West: What are the general traits of theatre during the Renaissance (began in Italy)? -
ANS ✔✔-when ancient culture was "reborn" and fused, sense of exploration personified by
Shakespeare.
-Intensely religious
-emerged from liturgical elaborations known as tropes.
-originally contained dialogue but no impersonation
-became drama in Easter mass enactment
-Grew in popularity and eventually removed from buildings in 13th century.
- Vibrant theatrical culture with palatial court theatres.
-Italy created commedia dell'arte, a widely popular form of improvised comedy that spread
across Europe.
What are Shakespeare's lasting influences on the theatre, including the Elizabethan era? - ANS
✔✔-It was in England that the Renaissance brought forth the greatest dramatic masterpieces of
that era, in the works of William Shakespeare.
-freestanding outdoor "public theatres," the Elizabethan theatre featured dozens of playwrights
whose works remain popular today.
7- Theatre Traditions; East and West
well answered
How did Theater emerge from ritual, storytelling, and shamanism? - ANS ✔✔Exact origins of
drama are unknown.
Ritual: a collective ceremony to summon gods and influence nature.
Storytelling: more personal, generates characters.
Shamanism (traditional drama began when spoken dialogue entered ritual in Sub-Saharan
Africa): The first ritual to incorporate dialogue. The Shaman mediates the real and spirit worlds
and undergoes striking performances.
In the West: What are the practices/impulses from which ancient Greek theatre originated?
What are the qualities of its classical period? - ANS ✔✔-Drama of Athens: greatest body of
theatrical creation of all ages!
-Origins in religion: Performances evolved from Dithyrambs, drunken fertility rituals. Chanted,
and/or sung, not spoken; unfortunately, the music has not survived.
-Created fundamental genres like: comedy, tragedy, and laid groundwork for almost all Western
drama. (blend of myth, legend, philosophy, social commentary, poetry, dance, music, public
participation, and visual splendor, Athenian drama created the forms of both tragedy and
comedy.)
-laying not only the foundation of western drama, but also continuing debates as to how- and to
what purposes- life should be lived.
In The West:What are the changes that Roman theatre brought about, architecturally (theatre
space)? - ANS ✔✔Architecturally: Romans created some astonishing stage buildings, architects
dispensed with the Greek hillside theatric and threshing circle orchestra and designed a theatre
that was an entirely integrated structure set on a level plain.
-Also, they cut the orchestra in half and created tunnel entrances to it (vomitoria) on both sides.
, In the west: What are changes that Roman theatre brought about, stylistically (comedic
innovation)? - ANS ✔✔Dramatists almost always drew upon Greek sources for their work
-Roman theatre, however, degenerated into sheer spectacle and decadence by the end of the
empire, as many theaters were converted into arenas for gladiatorial combat, pitched sea
battles, and gruesome public massacres.
What is the Renaissance theatre timeline? Medival theatre circa 476 AD- 1547 - ANS ✔✔1300-
Proto Renaissance
1400- Early Renaissance
1500- High Renaissance
In the West: What are the general traits of theatre during the Renaissance (began in Italy)? -
ANS ✔✔-when ancient culture was "reborn" and fused, sense of exploration personified by
Shakespeare.
-Intensely religious
-emerged from liturgical elaborations known as tropes.
-originally contained dialogue but no impersonation
-became drama in Easter mass enactment
-Grew in popularity and eventually removed from buildings in 13th century.
- Vibrant theatrical culture with palatial court theatres.
-Italy created commedia dell'arte, a widely popular form of improvised comedy that spread
across Europe.
What are Shakespeare's lasting influences on the theatre, including the Elizabethan era? - ANS
✔✔-It was in England that the Renaissance brought forth the greatest dramatic masterpieces of
that era, in the works of William Shakespeare.
-freestanding outdoor "public theatres," the Elizabethan theatre featured dozens of playwrights
whose works remain popular today.
