Ancient Greek Theater

Click on the flashcard to see the answer



Where and when did ancient Greek theater originate?

Ancient Greek theater originated in Athens around the 5th century BCE.

What were the primary genres of plays in ancient Greek theater?

The primary genres were tragedy and comedy.

Name a famous Greek playwright known for tragedies.

Sophocles is a famous Greek playwright known for tragedies.

Which Greek god was associated with theater and drama?

Dionysus was the Greek god associated with theater and drama.

What was the purpose of the chorus in Greek theater?

The chorus commented on the action and themes of the play, providing background information and reflections.

What was a distinguishing feature of Greek theaters?

Greek theaters were large, open-air structures with tiered seating built into hillsides.

Name one famous ancient Greek tragedy.

One famous ancient Greek tragedy is 'Oedipus Rex' by Sophocles.

Who is known as the 'father of tragedy'?

Aeschylus is known as the 'father of tragedy'.

What was the skene in a Greek theater?

The skene was a building behind the stage used as a changing area and backdrop.

Name one famous ancient Greek comedy.

One famous ancient Greek comedy is 'Lysistrata' by Aristophanes.

What was the function of masks in Greek theater?

Masks were used to portray different characters, amplify voices, and express emotions.

Who wrote the satirical play 'The Frogs'?

Aristophanes wrote the satirical play 'The Frogs'.

What was the seating capacity of a typical Greek theater?

A typical Greek theater could seat thousands, with some accommodating up to 17,000 spectators.

What role did the playwright Euripides play in Greek theater?

Euripides was a playwright known for his influence on the development of Greek tragedy.

How did the ancient Greek theater influence modern theater?

Ancient Greek theater laid the foundations for modern playwriting, theater architecture, and performance styles.




Test Your Knowledge

Select the correct option


1. Where and when did ancient Greek theater originate?

Ancient Greek theater originated in Sparta around the 6th century BCE.

Ancient Greek theater originated in Delphi around the 4th century BCE.

Ancient Greek theater originated in Athens around the 5th century BCE.

Ancient Greek theater originated in Corinth around the 7th century BCE.

2. What were the primary genres of plays in ancient Greek theater?

Tragedy and satire.

Tragedy and comedy.

Drama and musicals.

Comedy and operetta.

3. Name a famous Greek playwright known for tragedies.

Sophocles is a famous Greek playwright known for tragedies.

Aristophanes is a famous Greek playwright known for tragedies.

Homer is a famous Greek playwright known for tragedies.

Plato is a famous Greek playwright known for tragedies.

4. Which Greek god was associated with theater and drama?

Apollo was the Greek god associated with theater and drama.

Zeus was the Greek god associated with theater and drama.

Dionysus was the Greek god associated with theater and drama.

Athena was the Greek god associated with theater and drama.

5. What was the purpose of the chorus in Greek theater?

The chorus commented on the action and themes of the play, providing background information and reflections.

The chorus was the main act of the play, performing solo routines.

The chorus was used to distract the audience during scene changes.

The chorus served as the narrators who only introduced characters.

6. What was a distinguishing feature of Greek theaters?

Greek theaters were underground with stone seating.

Greek theaters were small, enclosed buildings with fixed seating.

Greek theaters were large, open-air structures with tiered seating built into hillsides.

Greek theaters had moving stages with rotating backgrounds.

7. Name one famous ancient Greek tragedy.

Antigone by Aristophanes.

The Clouds by Sophocles.

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles.

The Frogs by Euripides.

8. Who is known as the 'father of tragedy'?

Euripides is known as the 'father of tragedy'.

Aeschylus is known as the 'father of tragedy'.

Sophocles is known as the 'father of tragedy'.

Aristotle is known as the 'father of tragedy'.

9. What was the skene in a Greek theater?

The skene was a building behind the stage used as a changing area and backdrop.

The skene was the roof over the audience area.

The skene was designed as a seating area for the chorus.

The skene was a part of the set design that moved.

10. Name one famous ancient Greek comedy.

The Bacchae by Euripides.

Lysistrata by Aristophanes.

Agamemnon by Aeschylus.

Electra by Sophocles.

11. What was the function of masks in Greek theater?

Masks were used as props to signify location.

Masks were used to hide the actors' real identities.

Masks were used to portray different characters, amplify voices, and express emotions.

Masks served as decoration on stage.

12. Who wrote the satirical play 'The Frogs'?

Sophocles wrote 'The Frogs'.

Aristophanes wrote 'The Frogs'.

Euripides wrote 'The Frogs'.

Aeschylus wrote 'The Frogs'.

13. What was the seating capacity of a typical Greek theater?

500 to 1,000 spectators.

A typical Greek theater could seat thousands, with some accommodating up to 17,000 spectators.

50,000 to 100,000 spectators.

100 to 200 spectators.

14. What role did the playwright Euripides play in Greek theater?

Euripides was a playwright known for his influence on the development of Greek tragedy.

Euripides was primarily known for directing rather than writing.

Euripides focused solely on comedy works.

Euripides was a set designer alongside his writing.

15. How did the ancient Greek theater influence modern theater?

Ancient Greek theater laid the foundations for modern playwriting, theater architecture, and performance styles.

Ancient Greek theater discouraged new forms of dramatic art in modern theater.

Ancient Greek theater has no recorded impact on modern theater.

It made modern theater prohibitively expensive.