The first known script comes from a. Greece b. Egypt c. Rome
The single performer in an early Greek play was called a. the lead b. the antagonist c. the protagonist
A satirical play a. always has a tragic ending b. has a religious purpose c. uses humour to criticize something
Discussion/essay questions
How often do you go to the theatre? Do you think movies have replaced traditional theatre? Why or why not?
What are some examples of satirical stories? Do you think satire is an important kind of art? Why or why not?
Transcript
Many ancient cultures used performance to tell stories. Early performances often had no “audience.” People would gather in groups and act out scenes to each other. The first known script is the ancient Egyptian Passion Play, which tells the story of the god Osiris. In ancient Greece, outdoor theatres were built to display performances. The earliest Greek plays often had a single performer, who was called the protagonist. Over time, more complex comedies and tragedies developed. Throughout history, plays often had religious purposes. However, many plays were also satirical. They used exaggerated characters and plots to mock social institutions, including religion. For this reason, the theatre was often controversial.
Do you know of any modern books, movies, or plays that are based on Shakespeare’s plays?
Why do you think that so much modern entertainment is inspired by these plays?
Transcript
William Shakespeare was an English dramatist and poet, currently considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. He was born in 1564 in Stratford, where he would spend the rest of his childhood. At age 18, he married a woman named Anne Hathaway, and the couple had three children together. After the birth of his youngest two children, Shakespeare travelled to London and helped to found an acting company known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. While working as an actor, Shakespeare began to write scripts. One of the first plays to be officially credited to Shakespeare was the iconic Romeo and Juliet, a story of two young lovers who come from rival families. During his life, Shakespeare wrote at least 38 plays: 14 comedies, 12 tragedies, and 12 histories. Shakespeare died in 1616 – over 400 years ago – but his plays are still relevant today because of their influence on modern stories. In fact, many of today’s books, movies, and plays are based on concepts from Shakespeare’s work.
