Deck 13: Then and Now Version the Greeks to the Rise of Christianity

Question 1

Which playwright wrote Oedipus Rex?

A) Aristophanes
B) Euripides
C) Aeschylus
D) Thespis
E) Sophocles

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Although there are many theories about how theatre began in Athens, many scholars accept Aristotle's claim that theatre grew out of a ritual called…

Answer 2

Dithyramb

Question 3

This ancient Greek playwright wrote Medea.

A) Aeschylus
B) Sophocles
C) Euripides
D) Aristophanes
E) Socrates

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What does the word "Hellenistic" mean?

A) To be anti-religious
B) To be of Helen
C) To be a very poor actor
D) To be faithful to Julius Caesar
E) None of the above

Question 5

A _____ is a pivoting scenic devise used by the Greeks to enable them to change scenery quickly during a performance.

A) Periaktoi
B) Duex ex machina
C) Parados
D) Ekkyklema
E) Skene

Question 6

The word thespian means _____.

A) dancer
B) Director
C) Playwright
D) Actor
E) Audience

Question 7

What words do scholars use to identify early Greek comic plays (i.e. plays that happened before the end of the Peloponnesian war, when there was still a relatively high degree of freedom of speech in Athens)?

A) Old comedy
B) New comedy
C) Goat song
D) Freedom comedies
E) None of the above

Question 8

Which phrase means "god from a machine" and is used to describe a contrived or unimaginative ending during which an unbelievable coincidence or implausible twist (like a god flying in) sets all the problems of the play right?

A) E pluribus unum
B) Deus ex machina
C) In flagrante delicto
D) Habeas corpus
E) Nullus-a-um abdico ab despecto

Question 9

Why were later Roman mime performances often silent?

A) Because they were outlawed from speaking
B) Because in Rome many different languages were spoken
C) Because Emperor Nero had their tongues ripped out
D) Because Emperor Caligula ordered them to not interrupt his speeches
E) None of the above

Question 10

Dionysus was the god of…

A) Wine and Cheese
B) Darkness
C) Happiness and Fortitude
D) Beauty
E) Wine and fertility

Question 11

Ancient Greek trilogies were typically followed by a short comic-relief play called a…

Question 12

What modern word do we derive from the building that once served as a dressing room in the ancient Greek theatre?

Question 13

One of the main features of ancient Greek theatres was a circular playing or "dancing place." This circular playing area was called the…

Question 14

What words do scholars use to identify later Greek comic plays (i.e. plays that happened after the end of the Peloponnesian war, when there was little freedom of speech in Athens)?

A) Old comedy
B) Goat song
C) Spartan specials
D) New comedy
E) Dictator plays

Question 15

Around 500 BCE, Greece was made up of strong independent city-states, including all but one of the following.

A) Sparta
B) Corinth
C) Thebes
D) Athens
E) Rome

Question 16

In ancient Greek theatre, the episode was followed by a _____, which contained more songs and dances from the chorus as it commented on the action of the play.

A) Prologue
B) Parados
C) Chorus
D) Exodus
E) Stasimon

Question 17

Which Roman Emperor often acted on stage?

A) Augustus
B) Julius Caesar
C) Marcus Aurelius
D) Nero
E) Caligula

Question 18

The greatest of the ancient Greek comic playwrights was…

A) Aristophanes
B) Euripides
C) Aeschylus
D) Thespis
E) Sophocles

Question 19

The seating or "seeing place" in an ancient Greek theatre was called the…

Question 20

Which ancient Greek playwright wrote Agamemnon?

A) Aeschylus
B) Sophocles
C) Euripides
D) Aristophanes
E) Archimedes

Question 21

Which great general spread Greek theatre?

Question 22

The _____ was the wealthy citizen who financed the production of Greek plays.

Question 23

____ was one of two religious festivals held each year to honor Dionysus.

Question 24

How did the early Christians feel about the theatre?

Question 25

What does "hubris" mean?

Question 26

The third actor in a Greek play was called the _____.

Question 27

Greek plays often began with a short introductory speech or scene known as the _____.

Question 28

The word philosophy comes from the ancient Greek words for ____ and _____.

Question 29

Which Roman playwright was also a tutor to the Emperor Nero?

Question 30

What did Thespis do that made him such a famous theatre person?