Introduction
William Shakespeare is easily one of the most famous authors in history. He has written many acclaimed pieces of work that remain prominent to this day. One of his most celebrated works is Romeo and Juliet. To properly appreciate literature it is important to study these such creations, and to understand this we should understand the history of theatre.
Task
In this webquest, you will be using the given sources to find the answers to the questions below. The questions pertain to theatre from Greece all the way to Shakespeare's time.
Process
Questions
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Who is known as the first actor and first winner of a theatrical award? What do people call themselves in honor of him?
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Who is considered the "Father of Roman poetry"? What were some of his influences?
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What type of theater did the Greeks prefer and what type did the Romans prefer? Why?
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Why was theater nonexistent in Medieval Times? What time period came after this?
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When and why was religious drama banned in Paris?
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Where did opera originate?
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In 1576, who built a permanent theater is Shoreditch called the Theatre?
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What very influential writer was thought to have been involved in the Elizabethan secret service. What was his first work?
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Who did people think was writing under Shakespeare’s name?
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What powerful woman was the time period in which Shakespeare wrote in named after?
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What was Shakespeare’s first comedic romance? What was his first full-scale tragedy and who was it named after?
Evaluation
Answers
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His name is Thespis. People call themselves Thespians.
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Ennius is the “Father of Roman poetry”. For influences, would except tragedies performed in Magna Graecia, Cicero, or Homeric fables.
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Greeks preferred drama for their tragedies and religious ceremonies. Romans preferred comedies and pure entertainment.
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The Roman Catholic Church banned theater after the Romans became too violent with it. The period after it is known as the Renaissance.
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It was banned in 1548 because Puritans believed that theater promoted immortality, and they complained of the practice of men dressing as females.
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Italy.
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An actor named James Burbage.
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Christopher Marlowe. Tamburlaine the Great was his first.
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Christopher Marlowe and Francis Bacon.
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Queen Elizabeth I
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1596)/Hamlet, his son.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is an abundance of information on the history and it's important to be familiar with it in order to understand Shakespeare.