Question-Answer Exercise on Drama

Question-Answer Exercise

1. 1. Why do you think theatre in the west disappears after Seneca’s time?

Theatre in the west disappears after Seneca’s time because of the tough restrictions against writers. The ruling class is uncomfortable with writers who incorporate autocracies that the ruling class mated against the people. Essentially, Seneca ran afoul of emperors whom he focused on their psychopathic behaviors. Some of them, including Caligula and Claudius, endeavored to execute him for bashing them. Eventually, Nero orders Seneca to commit suicide, which he does according to stoicism (Rugnetta, “Roman Theater with Plautus” 9:05). Theatre disappears after Seneca’s death. Those whom he leaves behind lack the nerve to go against the emperors’ war against theatre.

1. 2. Do you think Hrotsvitha wanted to write plays?

Hrotsvitha did not want to write plays initially. She only resolved to venture into writing because she wanted to quench Catholic believers’ thirst for comedy. She understood that believers, just like herself, found the polished elegance of the style of pagan writers attractive (Rugnetta, “Hrotsvitha, Hildegard” 3:06). Unfortunately, they could only get secular comedy featuring obscene scenes. Even the most ardent Catholics had to consume secular content in plays by Plautus and Terence, often containing dirty jokes and adulterous themes. Hrotsvitha pioneered the “Sacred Comedies” genre, which was relatively more suited for Catholic believers (Rugnetta, “Hrotsvitha, Hildegard” 5:13). In essence, Hrotsvitha decided to become a writer because she found it necessary to produce non-secular verses, legends, and plays suitable for Catholic believers.

1. 3. What was the most intriguing information you learned from the video?

Watching the video was an insightful experience that gave me a blurred view of the history of plays. I found it intriguing that writers were writing plays as early as 254 BCE, the time of Titus Maccius Plautus, which is reportedly one of the earliest Greek writers. These early writers incorporated a wide array of themes in their comedy plays, including love, betrayal, and oppression against the weak. Their works significantly influenced Medieval and Renaissance writers, including Shakespeare (Rugnetta, “Roman Theater with Plautus” 3:08). It is strange that the same themes featured in Plautus’ comedy still feature and dominate in contemporary plays.