Roman Theatre Webquest - Use for Students

7/31/2019 Roman Theatre Webquest - Use for Students

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When in Rome, do as the

Romans do

Roman Theatre WebQuest

by Jennefer Franklin

7/31/2019 Roman Theatre Webquest - Use for Students

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Objective

In this WebQuest, you will learn aboutRoman Theatre what they did and howthey did it.

Make sure to write the notes from the slidesin addition to writing the questions. Also, as

you read from the web pages, take down anynotes that feel important to your group.

Feel free to take your time and talk about thedifferent styles and forms with your groupand write down your findings and opinionson such topics.

Dont forget to click on pictures as well

as links. Theres lots of information for

you to find!

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Romans conquered

Click on the map to read about the history of the Roman Empire.

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Romans builtTo make theatre available to large numbers of people, the Romans build many impressive theatres

throughout the empire. They redesigned the Greek amphitheater, though they kept similarfeatures:

1. The Cavea (the Greek theatron, or seating area for audience)

2. The orchestra

3. The Scaena (The Greek Skene, or scene house) Costumes and masks were worn to allow

the audience to follow along. Click on

the Roman theater and answer thesequestions:

1. What color mask did male characters

have?

2. What color mask did female characters

have?

3. Describe the costumes of the following:

1. Rich man

2. Boy

3. Soldier

4. Poor man

5. slave

Click on the Greek Theater

building for more information

about Greek Theatre.

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Romans laughed

Roman playwrights took Greek New Comedyand perfected their own brand of comedy,which became immensely popular with themasses. They:

1. eliminated the chorus,

2. added music and

3. put a greater emphasis on eavesdropping

which led to frequent misunderstandingsand complications.

These comedies influenced Shakespeare andmodern day sitcoms.

4. What is the play written by

Plautus that Shakespeare based

The Comedy of Errorson?

Click on Plautus to find out.

Plautus Terence

5. Give three examples of how

Terences comedies differed

from Plautuss.

Click on Terence to read more.

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Romans cried

6. What were Senecas tragedies copies of? Copies?!?! Hint: Look at paragraphs 3-4 in particular.

7. What were Senecas tragedies best known for?

Find out here.

Roman tragedy was written after the first

century B.C.E. and was not meant for large

public performances. Roman society was far

more interested in spectacular

entertainments. Although, there is a tragic

playwright worth noting: Seneca.

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Romans played

Click on each type to find out more information.

Pantomime and Mime

Naumachiae

Chariot Racing

Gladiatorial Combat

Romans are not considered originators of great drama;however, they did develop a variety of popular entertainments

which appeal to all levels of society. These are presentations

often of a more basic nature than theatre based on a written

text. At the same time, popular entertainments frequently have

strong theatrical elements such as dancing, pantomime,

costumes and impersonation.

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Pantomime

and Mime

8. What did a pantomime resemble? Click here for more information.

9. Give 5 characteristics of Roman

mime.

Find out here.

What we think about when we

hear the word mime is not

necessarily what it meant in

Ancient Rome. Today,

Pantomime and Mime are

basically the same thing.

How did these terms differ in

Rome? The results may

surprise you.

Click on the picture to find out more about

it. Is it a mime or a pantomime?

Back to Romans played

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An interesting way to get rid of your

criminals

Naumachiae(pronounced no-

may-kee-ee) wereactual naval battlesto the death stagedon lakes, artificial

bodies of water, or inflooded arenas, such

as the Colosseum.

Back to Romans played

10. Who was the first naumachiae for and

what was the occasion?

Click on the picture to find out.

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Ancient Nascar

Romans heldchariot races in

buildings called

hippodromes.

Back to Romans played

11. What is the most famous

hippodrome called?

12. Why is it called a

circus?

13. How did spectators keep

track of the progress of the

race?Find out the answers to 11 through 13

by clicking here.

One of the most famous scenes in

movie history is from the 1959 film,

Ben Hur starring Charleton

Heston. Read more about the filmhere or check your local video store

to watch the epic yourself.

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More Bloody Entertainment

Like sporting events in many ancientcultures, Roman gladiatorialcombat originated as a religiousevent. These events were madeeven more popular by includingexotic animals in the battles, suchas elephants or tigers.

14. How is a defeated gladiators fate

determined?

Read here about the specific

gesture.

15. Where were gladiatorial battles

held?

Find out here.

In 2000, director Ridley

Scotts Academy Awardwinning film Gladiatordepicted a Roman general

betrayed and his family

murdered by a corrupt

prince, who then comes to

Rome as a gladiator to seek

revenge.

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Russell Crowe?

Winner of five Academy Awards Best Picture

Best Actor for Russell Crowe

Best Visual Effects

Best Costume Design

Best Sound

Nominated for

Best Supporting Actor for JoaquinPhoenix

Best Director for Ridley Scott.

But how historically accurate is thisfilm? Allen Ward from the Universityof Connecticut expresses his opinionof the film as It was the best of films.It was the worst of films. Read the

whole essay here.

16. What is your opinion based on Mr.Wards essay? When is historicalaccuracy necessary and when can we,as artists, take creative liberties?

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Anything else?

17-20. Tell me about four new things that you

learned about throughout this WebQuest, but did

not have a question over.