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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. The pomp of _____ has a hollow gest.

2. The poet's words in epic theatre are only sacred so far as they are _____.

3. Brecht sees his epoch as having a _____ enjoyment of theatre than the ancients had.

4. For the prologue in Neher's Antigone, a _____ is lowered on wires.

5. What does Der Messingkauf mean in German?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is Brecht's view on rehearsal of details?

3. What is Brecht's description of how academic critics treat folk plays and why does he think this?

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

5. What is the role of the story in theatre?

6. How does Brecht say that the new sciences affect humanity?

7. What is Brecht's view on previews?

8. What is Brecht's view on casting?

9. What is Brecht's definition of theatre?

10. Why does Brecht complain about the use of Volkstumlich in the German language?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Explain Brecht's theories of 'gest'. What does the word mean? How did it come into being?

Essay Topic 3

Compare radio and film to theatre from Brecht's perspective. Why is radio considered an 'apparatus'? What are the possible artistic merits of film as a vehicle of expression?

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