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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. According to Artaud, what the athlete depends upon in ______ is what the actor depends upon in shouting a passionate curse.

2. In his second letter from "Letters on Language," Artaud states, "My plays have nothing to do with ______ improvisations."

3. Of the performer in Artaud's second note, he writes, "His spectacle demonstrates the irresistible expressiveness of" what?

4. In what year were the letters dated from "Letters on Cruelty"?

5. Artaud intends his theater to to seek in the what of tremendous masses?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Artaud describe the correlation between actions and language in his "Letters on Language"?

2. What are the different types of breathing the author refers to?

3. What is Artaud's subject of his second note in "Two Notes"?

4. What does Artaud write of in his third letter of "Letters on Language," which follows the publication of his Manifesto?

5. Describe the events of the first two acts of "The Conquest of Mexico."

6. In Artaud's first letter in "Letters on Cruelty," who is he writing to and what is his principle subject?

7. In Artaud's "Letters on Language," he insists that the task of "mise en scène" must not be subordinated to spoken or written words as if this task was simply an accessory to theater. What does this mean?

8. Discuss how Artaud's time and place impact his vision of the theater.

9. To whom is Artaud's third letter written in "Letters on Cruelty"? What is the author's tone in this letter? Why?

10. What does Artaud describe "cruelty" in reference to in his letters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss and describe the Theater of Cruelty as the author presents it in his First Manifesto. What are the essential elements? How does it differ from the contemporary theater of Artaud's time?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the term "metaphysics." Define this term and relate how the author uses it regarding the theater.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the significance of Artaud's time and place in regard to his vision of humanity and the world. How might the political and social climate affected his theories? How might his own personal struggles and demons?

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