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Questions and Answers
Drama has its origins in ______ theatre.
folk
Early English drama's history is ______.
unclear
These plays used ______ characters to represent virtues and vices.
allegorical
The 17th century saw the rise of enclosed theatres with greater focus on ______.
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Comedies and tragedies were prevalent during the ______ era.
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Shakespeare and Marlowe developed the complexities of ______, moving beyond simple rustic humor.
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A playwright needs actors, a ______, and an audience.
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Renaissance ideas focused on ______, morality, and secular issues.
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Kyd explored and perfected ______ in drama, which Shakespeare later adopted.
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Elizabethan era theatres were open-air structures, often with the stage ______ and surrounded by the audience.
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Study Notes
Origins of English Drama
- Drama originated from folk theatre practices.
- Drama is a multifaceted art form encompassing words, scenic effects, music, actors' actions, and directorial skills.
- Playwrights require actors, a stage, and an audience to perform their work.
- Early English drama history is unclear, but evidence suggests Roman use of amphitheatres for performances.
- Minstrels and other forms of entertainment existed before formalized drama structures emerged after the Roman departure.
- Ritualistic practices gradually evolved into rudimentary plays by the 10th century.
- Drama began to decouple from religious contexts in the 13th and 14th centuries, with plays using English language and formats like Miracle Plays and Morality plays.
- Miracle Plays and Morality plays utilized allegorical characters to represent virtues and vices.
Elizabethan and Restoration Drama
- These plays connect to Elizabethan drama.
- Renaissance ideas, focusing on education, morality, and secular issues, influenced the development of these plays, though religious themes were absent.
- Popular genres during the Elizabethan era were comedies and tragedies, with notable dramatists like Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, and William Shakespeare.
- Kyd pioneered and perfected blank verse in drama, which Shakespeare later adopted.
- Shakespeare and Marlowe expanded comedy beyond simple rustic humor, exploring its complexities.
- Elizabethan theatre structures were open-air, often featuring an elevated stage surrounded by the audience.
- The 17th century witnessed the rise of enclosed theatres with increased focus on scenery.
- Shakespeare's work was created for open-air theatres, utilizing innovative staging techniques.
- Shakespeare's brilliance should not overshadow other playwrights of his time.
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Description
Explore the foundational aspects of English drama, tracing its origins from folk theatre to its evolution during the Elizabethan and Restoration periods. Discover key characteristics of early English plays, including Miracle and Morality plays, and the shift from religious contexts to a more secular focus.
