FINAL EXAM STUDY SHEET

Know the following movements and the chronological order in which they appeared (hint: this is
the order):
o Romanticism, Realism, Epic Theatre, Absurdism, Post WWII Theatre, Postmodernism
And know these contemporary movements:
o GLBT Theatre, Latino Theatre, Contemporary Voices (Elliot, Neo-Futurism)
Re-watch the Ophelia: Five Truths on You Tube and be familiar with each directors style
Review the plays we have read for passage identification. When in doubt, read the passage
carefully. There will be enough info in the passage that, if you have reviewed the plays, you
will be fine.

Realism:

o Influences: Darwin, Marx (Heredity and Environment)
o Objectives:
o Art must depict real world truthfully
o Impersonal, objective representation
o Ibsen
o Stanislavski
Given Circumstances
Magic If
Objectives/Superobjectives
o Chekhov
o Moscow Art Theatre
o Differences between Realism and Naturalism
Naturalism is an extreme form of Realism (ex. The Butchers rotting meat on
stage)
Epic Theatre
o Brecht
o Characteristics of Epic Theatre
Narrative
Fragmented
Spectator is observer
Gestus
Didactic
Song
Actors in multiple roles
Verfremdungseffekt
Absurdism
o Effects of WWII
o Sartre
Life is meaningless
Universe irrational
Lack of communication
Cruelty of humans
o Beckett
o Ionesco
o Characteristics of Absurdist Theatre
o Absence of plot
o Value of language reduced
o Vagueness about time/place

o Post WWII American Theatre

MacCarthyism
Miller
Williams
The Angry Young Man Movement
o Postmodernism
o Experimental Theatre
The Living Theatre
La Mama
Grotowski Poor Theatre
Characteristics of Poor Theatre
o Only necessary elements
o No spectacle
o Mixes genre (Realism, Epic, Theatre of Cruelty)
o Acting is complete mind/body experience
o Characteristics of POMO
Questions truth
Nothing new
Deconstructs Grand Narratives
Embrace culture to critique it
Audience makes menaing Hey, Man.
Multiple narrative
Fragmentation
Intertextuality - pastiche, parody, satire
Juxtaposition of high/low art
Metatheatre
o GLBT Theatre
o Significance of:
Mae Wests The Drag and The Pleasure Man
Lillian Hellman The Childrens Hour
The Boys in the Band
Stonewall Riots
Angels in America
Rent
Hereonormative Temporal Progression vs. Queering of time
o Latino Theatre
o Significance of:
El Teatro Campesino
Luis Valdez and Cesar Chavez
The Good Neighbor Policy
o Carmen Miranda
o Desi Arnaz
o WSS
o The Capeman
o In the Heights
o Global Theatre
Information for Foreigners
New staging techniques
Theatre to promote social justice
o Contemporary Voices
o New play structures:
Elliot: A Soldiers Fugue
Neo Futurists: Style of writing, topical/political
Breakdown of grading and structure of exam
25% Multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank (15 questions)
25% Short Answer (15 questions)
25% Passage Identification (10 questions)
25% Essay Question. Your essay must be thoughtful, well-written and you must use specific examples
from plays we have studied as evidence to support your argument. A five paragraph essay is fine, but
your conclusion must not be a reiteration of what you have already stated. A conclusion is a place to
offer your own insights its not about being right or wrong.
Possible Essay Questions:
1. Using Hedda Gabler as an example, discuss how heredity and environment are essential
characteristics of early realist plays.
2. Select a postmodern play we have read or discussed and discuss three characteristics that make it
postmodern with specific evidence from the text.
3. Discuss three ways in which Brecht revolutionized staging practices.
4. Using West Side Story or In the Heights as an example discuss how plays featuring Latino characters
use language and/or memory to support/dismantle stereotypes.
Bonus Questions: Bonus questions are generally fun facts that one day will come in handy in
conversation or at pub trivia.