AMERICAN DRAMA – Flashcards
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were performed by men wearing masks
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Greek plays
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allegories representing vices and virtues
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morality plays
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based on the life of one of the saints
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miracle plays
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early secular plays
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Roman plays
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presented the story of Noah
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mystery plays
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presenting life as the playwright saw it, rather than as he would like it to be
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realism
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using concrete things to represent abstract ideas
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symbolism
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led to the use of scrims and whirling stage platforms
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expressionism
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commercial theater presenting short-run, low-budget plays
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legitimate theater
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a group of actors presenting a variety of plays
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repertory theater
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Which were styles used in early American plays? romantic symbolic experimental vernacular
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romantic vernacular
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A popular type of character who displayed American common sense by outwitting sophisticated foreigners was called the _____.
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stage yankee
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The first play of merit, written in 1852, was an adaptation by George L. Aiken of _____.
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Uncle Tom's Cabin
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The birth of the "new drama" in the twentieth century was aided by two movements: _____. Puritan influence revival of dramatic literature in Europe growth of '"little theater" in the United States slavery
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revival of dramatic literature in Europe growth of '"little theater" in the United States
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Three new playwrights of the twentieth century were: _____. Harriet Beecher Stowe George l. Aiken Eugene O'Neill Maxwell Anderson Elmer Rice
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Eugene O'Neill Maxwell Anderson Elmer Rice
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Large commercial theaters in New York having long-run popular plays are referred to as _____.
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Broadway
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A playwright more interested in the psychological than the social was _____.
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Arthur Miller
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A scrim is _____. a spinning stage a thin backdrop curtain a literary philosophy another term for playwright
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a thin backdrop curtain
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The distortion of external appearances is called _____.
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expressionism
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Why was American drama slow in developing? no established audience too many good actors and playwrights lack of funds Puritans outlawed drama. prejudice against theater as associated with monarchy
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no established audience lack of funds Puritans outlawed drama prejudice against theater as associated with monarchy
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deals with a serious subject
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tragedy
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often amuses audience
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comedy
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the sequence of actions in a play
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plot
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the part of a play that presents necessary introductory information
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exposition
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the message or underlying meaning of a play
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theme
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the main character in a play
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protagonist
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the unique way in which an author expresses himself
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style
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the responsibility of the stage designer
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setting
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the design or pattern of a play
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structure
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used by the playwright to explain the way something is to be done
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stage directions
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a speech given by a character alone or on stage
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monologue
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the words spoken by the actors
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dialogue
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Which of the following directions are not included in the script of a play by the playwright? Detailed instructions concerning the appearance of the set Indication of when an actor enters the stage Indication of emotional state of actor in a specific scene Lighting instructions implied by time of day indicated.
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Detailed instructions concerning the appearance of the set
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She laughed as she set the dish on the table is an example of _____.
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stage directions
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An event, revelation, or a new character that creates a problem the protagonist must overcome is called the _____.
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conflict
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Another term for struggle is _____.
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conflict
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The turning point or peak of greatest suspense in a play is called the _____.
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climax
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The part of the play which explains the outcome is referred to as the _____.
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resolution
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To read a play with understanding you need to: _____. first memorize the title and author first examine the list of characters identify characters and understand relationships to each other picture setting or scenery pick out clues from dialogue as you read
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first examine the list of characters identify characters and understand relationships to each other picture setting or scenery pick out clues from dialogue as you read
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A tragedy includes the following plot parts: climax C , exposition E, falling action FA, incident I, resolution R, rising action RA. Arrange the parts of the plot of a tragedy in chronological order
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E (exposition) I (incident) RA (rising action) C (climax) FA (falling action) R (resolution)
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The use of distortions in time or space is referred to as _____.
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expressionism
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Plays based on the lives of saints were known as _____.
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miracle plays
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Mystery plays are _____. Gothic in nature dramatic Bible stories plays having crime, suspense, and detectives secular
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dramatic Bible stories
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The "new drama" was born in _____. the twentieth century the colonial period the theater today the period after the Revolution
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the twentieth century
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Which of the following was not a reason that American drama was slow in developing? Early colonists had outlawed it. No finances were available to produce plays. Drama was unpopular throughout the world at this time. No audience was yet interested. There was prejudice against anything associated with monarchy.
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Drama was unpopular throughout the world at this time.
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Four outstanding twentieth century playwrights were: _____. Lillian Hellman Arthur Miller William Shakespeare Clifford Odets George L. Aiken Thornton Wilder
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Lillian Hellman Arthur Miller Clifford Odets Thornton Wilder
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the quality of being understood or shared by all
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universality
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used when Emily and George met in the drugstore (Our Town)
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flashbacks
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conversation made by actors
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dialogue
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a thin curtain transparent when lighted from behind
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scrim
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the time elapsing between Act I and Act II (Our Town)
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(3) three years
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the time elapsing between Act II and Act III (Our Town)
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(9) nine years
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exemplified by the rooster's crowing, the factory whistle, and so forth
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realism
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the idea that man wants things to remain the same and resists change
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conflict
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the type of play of which Our Town could be considered an example
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morality
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device used by Wilder for exposition
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monologue
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The _____ sets up the problem that a character must overcome. conflict resolution exposition incident
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incident
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Stage directions for the set, the lighting, and the creation of characters are necessary for _____. structuring the play visualizing the play reading the play resolving the play
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visualizing the play
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When reading a play, first _____. picture the setting look up unfamiliar words find the incident examine the list of characters
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examine the list of characters
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the design or pattern of a play is called the _____. style structure elements conflict
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Structure
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The message or meaning of a play is _____. theme monologue exposition incident
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theme
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Which character will later die in France? Howie Newsom, the milkman George, Emily's boyfriend Joe Crowell, the paperboy
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Joe Crowell, the paperboy
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The main character who must struggle against opposing forces is called the _____. hero protagonist villain
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protagonist
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The working out or explanation of the plot, following the climax, is the _____. exposition development resolution
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resolution
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A story told by dialogue and action is a(n) _____. action film play romance
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play
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The turning point or point of highest dramatic intensity is the _____. exposition conflict climax resolution
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climax
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Two major types of conflict are _____. external and internal intense and diffuse personal and impersonal current and future
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external and internal
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The presentation of background material to introduce a play is called _____. conflict exposition setting the scene fleshing out
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exposition
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The sequence of events in the story is referred to as _____. acts incidence plot resolution
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plot
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The unique combination of words, grammar, and structure is referred to as _____. approach linguistic development style
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style
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Check the things that have changed from Act I to Act II. The town has a new milkman. The town has a new paperboy. nine years have passed. George and Emily have fallen in love. three years have passed. Mrs. Gibbs has died.
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The town has a new paperboy. George and Emily have fallen in love. three years have passed.
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Check the things that have changed from Act II to Act III. Mrs. Soames has died. Emily has given birth to two children. nine years have passed. five years have passed. Emily has died.
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Mrs. Soames has died. Emily has given birth to two children. nine years have passed. Emily has died
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CONFLICT OR THEME? Man cannot appreciate the real beauty of life and savor each tiny moment until he has lost life.
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Theme
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CONFLICT OR THEME? Man tries to avoid change, yet can do nothing to stop the progress of life and its accompanying changes.
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Conflict
