Theatre History Quiz 4 - French Neoclassicism

French Renaissance Historical Background

Reign and Marriage of Henry II to Catherine de’Medici

Fights between Catholics and Huguenots

Rise and Power of Cardinal Richelieu (1586-1642)

Versailles becomes the seat of power

Confrerie de la Passion (1402-1677)

monology on theatre in Paris; first authorized theatre troupe in Paris; monopoly over all acting in Paris in 1518

Hotel de Bourgogne

primary Renaissance performance venue in Paris; built for the Confrerie de la Passion

French Academy 1629

central authority of French Art

Comedie Francaise

national theatre of France, built in 1680 after the death of Moliere; first state theatre

Characteristics of neoclassicism in theatre

Verisimilitude

Decorum

Five act structure

Poetic Justice

Purity of form

Three “classical” unities - time, place action

Verisimilitude

the appearance of being true or real

decorum

the manner in which characters act according to their stature or class in the play

five act structure

exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution

poetic justice

literary device where virtue is rewarded and vice is punished

purity of form

the strict separation of tragedy and comedy into distinct, unmixed genres

three “classical” unities

time, place, action

Alexander Hardy

first professional dramatist

Pierre Corneille

Wrote Le Cid (not ideal neoclassicism)

Jean Racine

tragedian who wrote Phedra

Moliere-Jean-Baptist Poquelin

France’s “greatest” playwright

Classicism

A specific genre of philosophy, expressing itself in literature, architecture, art, and music, which has Ancient Greek and Roman sources and an emphasis on society. It was particularly expressed in the Neoclassicism of the Age of Enlightenment.

Features of Classicism

Interest in Antiquity

Order

Light

Universality

Unity

Reason

Harmony

Restraint

Romanticism

A creative movement of the 18th century (something of an answer to Classicism) characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of past and nature

Features of Romanticism

light vs dark

Emotion and passion

Individualism

Nature

Inspiration

Subjectivity