Key Terms
Historical & Theatrical Context
Name That Character
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
100

Nine emotional, pre-cognitive states that are cataloged and explained across the Hindu religion

What are rasas?

100

A festival held annually in honor of Dionysus in the 5th century that all Greek citizens were required to attend.  


What is the Dionysia?


100

An ascetic in Kanva’s hermitage, daughter the nymph Menaka, and mother of Bharata. 

Who is Shakuntala?

100

"Come to these hands of mine, 

your brother's hands, your own father's hands

that served his once bright eyes so well—

that made them blind."

Oedipus (Oedipus Tyrannus)

200

Imitative; relating to, characterized by, or exhibiting mimicry

What is mimetic?

200

The oldest, continuous  theatrical tradition in the world, going back nearly 2,000 years while still being practiced today.


What is the Kutiyattam?

200

Queen of Thebes who faces fatal consequences for trying to outsmart the gods.

Who is Jacosta? 

200

"When I am a headless ghost, unjustly killed, 

Do you think I will spare that scoundrel? 

Men cannot be deceived forever. 

And Heaven will see this injustice."


Dou E (Snow in Midsummer)

300

Phrase to describe religious dramas (including Greek tragedies)

What is sacramental drama?

300

It originated as commercial street theater with a stage up on stilts. 


What is Zaju theatre? 

300

A generous, impoverished Brahmin who falls in love with Vasantasena. 

Who is Charudatta?

300

"As my heart ponders whether I could ever

Have wed this woman that has come to me

To ring it back to mind, then like a bee

That hovers round a jasmine flower at dawn, 

While frosty dews of morning still o'erweave it, 

And hesitates to sip ere they be gone, 

I cannot taste the sweet, and cannot leave it."


Dushyanta (Shakuntala)


400

A plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem in a story is suddenly or abruptly resolved by an unexpected and unlikely occurrence (translates literally to "god from the machine")

What is deus ex machina?

400

He is as the first "actor" in Greek tragedy and the "Inventor of Tragedy."

Who is Thespis?

400

The man who frames Dou E for murdering his father.

Who is Donkey?

400

"Fortune shines and fades with the wheel of Destiny, 

But friends desert a rich man who's fallen to poverty. 

And more than that—                                       

Poverty reduces a man to total shame,                  

Like losing his dignity (all the same), 

Without his dignity he is prey to scorn; 

Once scorned he must despair (being forlorn); 

Disconsolate, he is put to much grief; 

The grief's so much, good sense takes its leave. 

Thus out of mind he is wrecked and feeble.

Thus poverty brings on all evil."                  


Who is Charudatta? (The Little Clay Cart)

500

A choral hymn of ancient Greece, especially one dedicated to Dionysus.


What is a dithyramb?

500

A major form of dance-drama that has been performed since the 14th century and involves choric chanting. 

What is the Noh theatre? 

500

Formerly the warrior Kumagae, now a priest.

Who is Rensho?

500

"The wheel of fate turns and they meet.

'The enemy's right here!' 

He cries and is about to strike

Returning good for evil

The priest performs services and prays 

That in the end they will be reborn together 

On a single lotus petal 

And Rensho the priest

is an enemy no more.

Please pray for my soul, 

Please pray for my soul."

Who is the chorus? (Atsumori)