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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Always standing parallel to the _____ is one of Brechts 'common tendencies for actors to guard against'.

2. Where in Laughton's house did he and Brecht work in the morning?

3. Where was Das Wort published?

4. Where did the production of Galileo go in December, 1947?

5. What did actors sit on in Neher's Antigone?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Brecht say that mere catastrophe is a bad teacher?

2. In what works did Brecht give up iambics and why?

3. What did the ancients following Aristotle demand of tragedy?

4. What does theatre show us about the structure of society and how is this represented?

5. With whom did Brecht and Laughton fill the cast of Galileo and what did they have trouble with?

6. How does Brecht describe his cities after the great war in "From the Mother Courage Model"?

7. Compare the modern playwright's relationship with his audience with the tradesman's relationship with his customers.

8. What is Brecht's definition of theatre?

9. What role does observation play in acting?

10. What is Brecht's view on casting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare Brecht's impression of Chinese theatre to Stanislavski's acting techniques. Which style is more effective in the presentation of Brecht's ideals? Why? Does he give credit to the other style? How?

Essay Topic 2

Compare Brecht's ideas on illusion versus truth in theatre. Why do films lean toward illusion? Why is truth a more appealing aesthetic for Brecht?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Brecht's criteria for the subject matter of theatrical works. What is the ideal subject matter of epic theatre? What is its function?

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