Questions and Answers
What language was early English drama performed in?
Latin
Cycle plays were performed on what type of wagons?
pageants
A story in which people, things, and happenings have another meaning is a(n) _____
allegory
Miracle plays deal with what?
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Mystery plays deal with what?
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A play performed as a dramatic entertainment at a feast was called a(n) _____
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The type of play that is usually an allegory is a(n) _____
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What do miracle plays dramatize?
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What do Elizabethan plays aim to portray?
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What do mystery plays dramatize?
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What were court interludes meant to do?
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What was the purpose of church plays?
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The Elizabethan stage is famous for its elaborate scenery.
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Most Elizabethan drama productions began at sunset.
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Elizabethan drama had no actresses.
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The entire Elizabethan playhouse was covered by a roof.
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Elizabethan drama relied heavily on costuming.
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An Elizabethan audience, especially the groundlings, often interacted with the actors on stage.
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Name two elements of morality plays that Elizabethan drama adopted.
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What is the meaning intended when Shakespeare is called the Bard of Avon?
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Choose the correct date for the event in Shakespeare's life.
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What was the name of Shakespeare's wife?
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What was the name of Shakespeare's mother?
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What was the name of Shakespeare's daughter?
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What was the name of Shakespeare's son?
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What was the name of the house purchased by Shakespeare in 1597?
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What was the name of Shakespeare's company under James I?
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Scholars agree that Shakespeare wrote a total of how many plays?
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How many sonnets did Shakespeare write?
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In _____ Shakespeare wrote his earliest tragedy called _____
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Shakespeare wrote two long poems between June 1592 and April _____ when the theaters were closed because of
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What type of comedy is Love's Labour's Lost?
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What is Measure for Measure classified as?
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What years are associated with the writing of Shakespeare's sonnets?
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What is King Lear classified as?
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What is The Winter's Tale characterized as?
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What is Richard II classified as?
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What was the last play written by Shakespeare?
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What was Venus and Adonis associated with in terms of dates?
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What is your own definition of comedy?
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What is your own definition of tragedy?
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From which languages were many of the Elizabethans' new words borrowed?
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What did Caxton's introduction of the printing press help to standardize?
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Study Notes
Early English Drama
- Early English drama was primarily performed in Latin.
- Cycle plays, a popular form of medieval drama, were performed on wagons known as pageants.
Types of Plays
- An allegory conveys a deeper meaning through characters and events.
- Miracle plays depict the lives of saints, while mystery plays focus on scriptural stories.
- Interludes are brief dramatic performances presented during feasts.
- Morality plays typically utilize allegory, emphasizing moral lessons.
Elizabethan Theatre
- Elizabethan plays aimed to depict lifelike characters and conflicts.
- Court interludes were created to entertain and amuse audiences.
- Church plays served the purpose of instructing audiences on liturgical practices.
- The Elizabethan stage was not known for elaborate scenery.
Performance Practices
- Most Elizabethan plays did not start at sunset, contrary to popular belief.
- The absence of actresses in the era marks a unique aspect of Elizabethan drama.
- Costuming played a vital role in Elizabethan productions.
- Audience interaction was common, especially among groundlings, who engaged with actors on stage.
Shakespeare's Life
- Life elements in morality plays were adapted by Elizabethan drama for its own means.
- 'Bard' refers to the term 'poet,' a title often associated with Shakespeare (Bard of Avon).
- Significant dates in Shakespeare's life include his birth in 1564, marriage in 1582, departure for London in 1585, and death in 1616.
- His wife was Anne Hathaway, mother Mary Arden, daughter Susanna, and son Hamnet.
- New Place was the house Shakespeare purchased in 1597.
- The King's Men was the theatre company associated with Shakespeare during King James I's reign.
Shakespeare's Works
- Scholars attribute a total of 38 plays to Shakespeare and 154 sonnets.
- "Romeo and Juliet" is recognized as Shakespeare's earliest tragedy, written in 1596.
- During the plague closure of theaters (1592), Shakespeare composed two long poems.
- "Love's Labour's Lost" is categorized as an early comedy, while "Measure for Measure" is a "dark comedy."
- Other notable works include "King Lear" (early 17th-century tragedy), "The Winter's Tale" (mix of comic and tragic elements), "Henry VIII" (last play), and "Richard II" (history play from the 1590s).
- "Venus and Adonis" was published between June 1592 and April 1594.
Definitions and Language
- Comedy is defined as a light-hearted narrative aiming to evoke laughter; the dictionary emphasizes professional entertainment with jokes and satire.
- Tragedy, according to a personal definition, involves upsetting or disturbing life events.
- Many new words in Elizabethan English were borrowed from Greek and Latin.
- Caxton's introduction of the printing press helped standardize spelling, grammar, and vocabulary, contributing to the evolution of the English language.
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Description
Test your knowledge of Elizabethan drama with this engaging quiz. Explore terms and definitions related to early English performances, including cycle plays and allegories. Perfect for students aiming to deepen their understanding of this influential theatrical period.
