MIDTERM STUDY GUIDE

THEATRE HISTORY I
MIDTERM EXAMINATION STUDY GUIDE

The midterm will cover all lectures, in-class films, Brockett's chapters 1 & 2 and the parts of chapter 3 dealing with Roman theatre (not the Byzantines) and the following plays:
1] Aeschylos' Prometheus Bound and the Agamemnon;
2] Sophokles' Aias; Antigone; Oedipus Rex;
3] Euripides' Bacchae and Medea;
4] Aristophanes' Birds;
5] Menander's The Grouch;
6] Seneca's Medea;
7] Plautus' Menaechmi
6] Terence's The Brothers
and, of course the links here on the web.

The examination will consist of three parts:

A. A set of fifteen terms, names of characters or places from the assigned plays, etc. each worth three points. Full credit will be given for three accurate facts about each.term:
For example: Kratinos: (1) Greek (2) writer of (3) Old Comedy
Be concise. Wrong information will be downgraded. Two correct pieces and one wrong will result in being awarded only one point. Avoid wasting time by writing everything you know here. Save time for the essays.

B. A brief, cogent essay to be written a blue book on one of three topics from which you may choose. These are taken from the lectures, the introductions to the plays and/or from the bold face headings in your text (Brockett) Be sure to illustrate and support your ideas with specifics from the assigned plays.

C. A thorough, cogent essay on "Ritual and Ancient Theatre" Be sure to illustrate and support your ideas with specifics from the assigned plays and other material.

A few words of advice: . To prepare for a test it's a good idea to re-read all the plays and other assigned reading straight through rather than "studying" them. Notice what seems unfamiliar and go back to it later. Don't wait until Tuesday evening to study for this test, you will only confuse yourself. Above all, do not cram. If you have done the reading and paid attention in class, you will be able to do your best if you are rested and relaxed. Eat a good, not a huge breakfast before coming to the test. Briefly review your notes to get your brain working and focused immediately before the test, and come in with the attitude that I want you to show me what you know rather than to find out what you don't know. Don't obsess on something you forgot or don't know at this point. As a test taking strategy, assume it must be unimportant. If you have used your time well, you can and should look over your answers for any errors that may have crept in. But only change an answer if you are absolutely sure it is wrong. If you are unsure, leave it alone! Statistics show that in most such cases, your first answer is the right one.

Good luck.