Required Activities

Roman & Greek Theater Worksheet

I. Roman Theater

(200 Opera points, Due by lesson 48)
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(5 pts each, 100 Opera pts total)

1. Theater events originally occurred as a method of celebrating________________________.
   
   
2. From what cultures did Roman theater evolve?___________________________
   
   
3. What was the first permanent theater in Rome?___________________________
   
   (+2 pts. ex. credit: What famous non-theatrical event occurred at this site?________________________)
   
   
4. When was Pompey's theater built?___________________________
   
   
5. Why did the upper classes say they feared building permanent theaters?_______________________________________________________________________________
   
   
6. What was the more probable reason for this resistance?___________________________
   
   
7. Describe the orchestra of a Greek theater.____________________________
   
   
8. Describe the orchestra of a Roman theater._______________________________________________________________________________
   
   
9. What was the skena? __________________________________________
   
   
10. Where did the women sit? Why?_________________________________________________________
    
    
11. How were actors able to simulate going to the Underworld?_______________________________________________
    
    
12. Describe the thunder machine that Heron created._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    
    
13. Name four amusements Romans went to the theater to see/hear?________________________________________________________________________________________________
    
    
14. Describe the Atellana.___________________________________________________________________________________
    
    
15. Describe the Mimus.______________________________________________________________________________
    
    
16. What Roman official was in charge of entertainment?___________________________
    
    (+ 2 pts. ex. credit What other responsibilities did this official have?____________________________)
    
    
17. Describe early Roman actors._______________________________________________________________________________________________
    
    
18. Name two famous Roman playwrites._________________________________________________________
    
    
19. The Menachmi was an inspiration for which of Shakespeare's plays?_____________________
    
    
20. Which of these playwrights had been a slave?_______________________________________
    
    

II. Greek Drama/Oedipus

(5 points each, 100 opera points total)

1. Define "drama" ______________________________________________________
   
   
2. Where does the word "thespian" come from?_________________________________________
   
   
3. How did Greek drama evolve?_______________________________________________________
   
   
4. Who wrote the play the story of Oedipus?__________________________________________
   
   
5. Name three great Greek dramatists.________________________________________________
   
   
6. Who were Laius and Jocasta?_______________________________________________________
   
   
7. What did the oracle tell Laius?___________________________________________________
   
   
8. What did this prophecy cause him to do?___________________________________________
   
   
9. Explain the origin and meaning of Oedipus' name.__________________________________________
   
   
10. Who were Plybus and Merope and where did they live?___________________________________________
    
    
11. What did the priestess at Delphi tell Oedipus?____________________________________________
    
    
12. What did that cause him to do?_______________________________________________________
    
    
13. What happened at the crossroads?__________________________________________________
    
    
14. What was the riddle?______________________________________________________________
    
    
15. What was Oedipus' reward?_________________________________________________________
    
    
16. Who was Creon?____________________________________________________________________
    
    
17. What caused Oedipus to send Creon to the oracle?___________________________________________
    
    
18. What did the oracle say?__________________________________________________________
    
    
19. What was the irony of Oedipus' reponse?___________________________________________
    
    
20. What did Jocasta do when she learned the truth? Oedipus?______________________________________________