Ancient Greek Drama

About Ancient Greek Drama

Give your memory a workout with Ancient Greek Drama: 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 7 medium, 6 easy, 2 hard questions, free to play right in your browser. Step back in time to explore the origins of theater in ancient Greece! Expect to spend about 7 minutes; every question comes with an explanation, so you learn something even when you miss.

A few sample questions

1. 1. Greek drama originated as part of festivals honoring which god?

   Answer: Dionysus

   Greek drama grew out of choral performances at festivals for Dionysus, the god of wine and festivity. The City Dionysia in Athens was the most important dramatic festival.

2. 2. Which playwright is considered the 'Father of Tragedy'?

   Answer: Aeschylus

   Aeschylus (c. 525-456 BC) is considered the father of tragedy. He introduced the second actor to the stage, allowing dialogue between characters, and wrote the 'Oresteia,' the only surviving Greek trilogy.

3. 3. What role did the 'chorus' play in Greek drama?

   Answer: They sang, danced, and commented on the action

   The chorus was a group of performers who sang, danced, and spoke in unison. They provided background information, commented on the action, and represented ordinary citizens reacting to events.

4. 4. In Sophocles' 'Oedipus Rex,' what terrible truth does Oedipus discover about himself?

   Answer: He has unknowingly killed his father and married his mother

   Oedipus, investigating a plague on Thebes, discovers he has fulfilled the prophecy he tried to escape: he killed his father Laius and married his mother Jocasta. Aristotle considered it the perfect tragedy.

5. 5. Aristophanes was the greatest writer of which type of Greek drama?

   Answer: Comedy

   Aristophanes (c. 446-386 BC) is the greatest surviving writer of Old Comedy. His plays like 'Lysistrata,' 'The Birds,' and 'The Frogs' used humor and satire to comment on Athenian politics and culture.

Things you'll learn along the way

• ✓Greek amphitheaters were built into hillsides with remarkable acoustics. The Theatre of Dionysus in Athens, which could seat up to 17,000 spectators, was the most important performance venue.
• ✓In his 'Poetics,' Aristotle described catharsis as the purging of emotions — pity and fear — that the audience experiences through watching tragedy. This remains a foundational concept in dramatic theory.
• ✓The large masks had exaggerated expressions visible from far away in the vast amphitheaters and included a built-in megaphone effect. Actors could also play multiple roles simply by changing masks.