Sample Questions for the Third Quiz


  1. When theatre historians speak of the "Greek theatre" they are referring to the theatre of __ (A. Athens in the fifth century. B. Athens and Sparta from the fourth to the third century BC C. Rome in the first century, BC).
  2. ___ (A. Prophecy B. Irony C. Metaphor) is the dramatic device used to offer revelations about the future.
  3. The Greek tragedies of Sophocles have no more than ___ (A. 2 B. 3 C. 5) characters on stage at one time.
  4. Of the three major Greek tragic playwrights, ___ (A. Aeschylus B. Sophocles C. Euripides) is generally considered by modern critics to be the greatest.
  5. The circular playing area on which the Greek chorus performed was called the ___ (A. Stage B. Orchestra C. Pit).
  6. In ___ (A. Medea B. Trojan Women C. Lysistrata) by Aristophanies, the women of Sparta and Troy stop a needless war by denying sex to their husbands and lovers.
  7. One of Plautus's characters, Miles Gloriosus, was the ___ (A. Evil twin B. Braggart soldier C. Long-suffering and faithful husband).
  8. The Roman comedies of Plautus were based on the Greek comedies of ___ (A. Thespis B. Menander C. Verdi).
  9. Seneca's tragedies were a major influence on the work of ___ (A. Shakespeare B. Moliere C. Tennessee Williams).
  10. True or False? ___. The Roman theatre was an adaption of the Greek theatre.
  11. There were ___ (A. Two B. Five C. Nine) entrances onto the stage of a typical Roman theatre.
  12. The last recorded performance on a Roman stage took place during the ___ (A. First B. Sixth C. Twelfth) century.
  13. "The Middle Ages" describes the period of history between the ___ (A. Sacking of Constantinople and the building of Chartres cathedral B. Fall of Rome and the beginning of the Renaissance C. First Crusade and the invention of the printing press).
  14. The "Hellmouth" was ___ (A. Drawn on the wall of the pageant wagon B. A set piece designed to "swallow" sinners C. The central theme of the The Fall).
  15. The contemporary analogy to the rolling procession of the English cycle plays may be found in the ___ (A. Half-time show at a football game B. Rose Bowl Parade C. Rodeo).
  16. Quem queritas means: ___ (A. Where are you going? B. Whom seek you? C. Why do you exist?)
  17. In the earliest medieval dramas, the women's parts were played by ___ (A. Priests B. Nuns C. Apprentices).
  18. Characters with names like Death, Lust, and Gluttony would most likely be found in a medieval ___ (A. Mystery B. Miracle C. Morality) play.
  19. When the Mystery Plays were performed outdoors in the town square, they were often presented by the ___(A. Trade guilds B. City council C. Local merchants).
  20. Many believe that ___ (A. Sanskrit B. Kabuki C. Beiging Opera) is the earliest Asian Theatre.
  21. The ___ (A. Sanskrit B. Kabuki C. Noh) theatre was the first to use rolling wagons, an elevator stage and a turntable.
  22. When they were presented in England, they were often staged on/in ___ (A. Movable wagons B. Carrier inns C. Professional theatres).
  23. The French and English courts of the Renaissance were composed of the ___ (A. Landed nobility B. Newly rich C. King's family).
  24. The farcical comedies of ___ (A. Aristophanes B. Moliere C. Plautus) were heavily influenced by the comedies of the Commedia dell'Arte.
  25. True or False? ___ Like the Elizabethan acting company, members of an Italian Commedia company shared in their company's profits and losses.
  26. It is believed by many that the earliest (around 1600) operas placed most of the emphasis on the ___ (A. Music B. Drama C. Staging).
  27. Aida was commisioned by the ___ (A. Egyptians B. Italians C. English) for the opening of the Cairo opera house.
  28. The ___ (A. Aria B. Recitative C. Dialogue) is the "dramatic dialogue" of an opera which is used to advance the plot.
  29. ___(A. Verdi B. Monteverdi C. Puccini), is the most often produced composer on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.
  30. The Teatro Farnese, built in Parma in 1618, is considered the first ___ (A. Permanent Italian theatre B. Italian opera house C. Proscenium theatre).
  31. True or False? ___ Italian Rennaissance architects were one of the first to publish stagecraft "how to" books.
  32. True or False? ___ All of Serlio's designs were exterior scenes.
  33. The Renaissance was characterized by ___ (A. A renewed interest in classical civilization B. The vigorous revival of monastic scholasticism C. A celebration of Oriental cultures).
  34. True or False? ___ The U shaped courtyard of an Elizabethan carrier inn, combined with its two- or three-story height, made it a natural performance space.
  35. "Blank verse" is ___ (A. Unrhymed iambic pentameter B. Rhymed iambic pentameter C. Prose).
  36. ___(A. The Spanish Tragedy B. Gorboduc C. Doctor Faustus), by Sacksville and Norton, is generally considered the first true English tragedy.

    Identify the following Shakespearean plays by type: A. Tragedy B. Comedy C. History

  37. Merry Wives of Windsor
  38. Taming of the Shrew
  39. Richard III
  40. The Comedy of Errors
  41. Romeo and Juliet
  42. Henry IV, Part 3
  43. The Merchant of Venice
  44. Othello
  45. Hamlet

  46. Shakespeare was the resident playwright for ___ (A. Prince Hal's Men B. The Lord Admiral's Men C. The King's Men).
  47. The ___(A. Good B. Bad) quartos were those published plays which were based on Shakespeare's hand written manuscript.
  48. Blackfriar's, a ___ (A. Public B. Private) theatre, was the indoor theatre used as the winter home of the King's Men.
  49. The ___ (A. Theatroes B. Corrales C. Patios) were the public open-air court yard theatres were the secular dramas of the Spanish Rennaisance were performed.
  50. Lope de Vega and Calderon are remembered today as two of the major ___ (A. Actors B. Playwrights C. Company managers) of the Spanish Rennaisance.
  51. True or False? ___ Three years after Moliere retired from the stage, he died at his country estate, and was buried in Paris.
  52. In the neoclassical era, Shakespeare was seen as ___ (A. A brilliant playwright B. Somewhat primitive C. The epitome of all drama).
  53. Built for Cardinal Richelieu, the ___ (A. Paris Opera House B. Theatre Moliere C. Palais Royale) was Moliere's theatrical home for most of his career.
  54. The ___(A. Commedia Francise B. La Theatre Nationalle C. La Theatre daFrancise) is considered Europe's first national theatre.
  55. Today it primarily produces the plays of ___ (A. Moliere and Racine B. Shakespeare and Marlowe C. Sophocles and Aristophanes)
  56. According to the neo-classical rules a tragedy should be written in ___ (A. Prose B. Poetry).

    Identify the following plays or playwrights by period. A. Greek B. Roman C.Medieval D. Elizabethan E. French Rennaisance

  57. Tartuffe
  58. Jean Racine
  59. William Shakespeare
  60. Lysistrata
  61. The Passion Play
  62. Christopher Marlowe
  63. King Lear
  64. Seneca
  65. The York Cycle
  66. Sophocles
  67. The Menaechmi
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E-mail questions and comments to Larry Wild at wildl@northern.edu.
Posted: October 26, 2004; Revised November 7, 2006
Copyright © 2004-2006 by Larry Wild, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD