LITERARY GENRES
Lesson 3: Chronicle
Play, Three Unities, Masque
Brief Introduction (Simple
Explanation in 150-200 words):
In the Elizabethan period, drama developed into different forms. Three
important types were the Chronicle Play, the Three
Unities, and the
Masque.
·
A
Chronicle
Play is based on
historical
events, often
dramatizing the lives of English kings and promoting patriotism. Shakespeare’s
Henry IV and Richard III are examples.
·
The
Three
Unities are
classical rules for drama derived from Aristotle’s Poetics (Unity
of Action) and expanded by later critics (Unity
of Time and Place). They state that a play should have one action, take place in one location, and occur within one day.
·
A
Masque is a courtly entertainment that combines music, dance,
and poetry. It
was performed at royal
courts with
elaborate costumes and stage effects. Ben
Jonson was a famous writer of Masques.
These forms show the richness and variety of Elizabethan drama.
📝 2-Mark
Questions (Answer in 50
words):
1. What is a Chronicle Play?
Answer:
A Chronicle
Play is a
historical drama based on real events,
often focused on English monarchs. It promotes patriotism and national pride. Example: Henry IV by
Shakespeare.
2. What are the Three Unities
in drama?
Answer:
The Three
Unities are:
- Unity of
Action (one main plot),
- Unity of Time (within 24 hours),
- Unity of
Place (one setting).
3. What is a Masque?
Answer:
A Masque is a courtly entertainment combining music, dance,
and poetry, often with allegorical and mythological themes, performed for royalty.
4. Name one famous writer of
Masques in the Elizabethan period.
Answer:
Ben
Jonson was a
famous writer of Masques. His works include The Masque of Blackness.
5. Who formalized the concept
of the Three Unities in European drama?
Answer:
The French
and Italian dramatists of the Renaissance formalized the Three Unities, although Aristotle originally mentioned Unity of Action in his Poetics.
📝 3-Mark
Questions (Answer in 75
words):
1. Explain the main features
of a Chronicle Play.
Answer:
A Chronicle
Play dramatizes historical events, often portraying the lives of English monarchs and important national events. These
plays aim to inspire patriotism and national pride. They
often blend fact and
fiction,
focusing on the heroic
deeds, wars, and political intrigue of English history.
Example: Shakespeare’s Richard III
highlights the rise and fall of King Richard.
2. Describe the Three Unities
in drama.
Answer:
The Three
Unities are
classical rules for dramatic
structure:
- Unity of
Action: One main
plot, no subplots.
- Unity of Time: Action within 24 hours.
- Unity of
Place: Action in a
single location.
They were loosely followed in Elizabethan drama but strictly observed in French classical drama.
3. What are the main features
of a Masque?
Answer:
A Masque was an elaborate court entertainment combining music, dance, poetry, and acting. It was performed for royalty and featured mythological or allegorical themes. Lavish costumes, stage
designs, and special effects were common. Example: Ben
Jonson’s The
Masque of Blackness.
4. Why did Elizabethan
playwrights not strictly follow the Three Unities?
Answer:
Elizabethan playwrights like Shakespeare
believed strict adherence to the Three Unities limited dramatic
freedom. They preferred complex plots, multiple
locations, and extended timelines to explore human emotions and social issues more fully.
📝 6-Mark Questions
(150 words
with Side Headings):
1. Describe the features of a
Chronicle Play with examples.
1. Introduction:
A Chronicle Play dramatizes historical events, often focusing on national heroes and English kings.
2. Themes and
Purpose:
These plays aimed to inspire patriotism by showing heroic deeds, wars, and political events from English history.
3. Structure
and Content:
- Chronicle
plays often mixed fact and fiction.
- They
emphasized moral lessons and the responsibility
of rulers.
4. Examples:
- Shakespeare’s Richard III shows the rise
and fall of Richard III.
- Henry IV
portrays political intrigue and civil unrest.
5. Conclusion:
Chronicle Plays were
significant in shaping national identity and celebrating England’s history.
2. Explain the Three Unities
in drama.
1. Introduction:
The Three Unities are classical rules for dramatic construction.
2. Unity of
Action:
The play should have one main plot, without subplots.
(Aristotle emphasized this in his Poetics.)
3. Unity of
Time:
The action should take
place within 24 hours, to maintain realism.
4. Unity of
Place:
The play should occur in one location.
Later critics, especially French neoclassical dramatists, stressed these unities.
5. Conclusion:
Elizabethan playwrights did
not strictly
follow these
unities, preferring complex
storytelling.
Example: Shakespeare’s Hamlet
violates all three unities.
3. Describe the features and
importance of the Masque in Elizabethan drama.
1. Introduction:
A Masque was a form of courtly entertainment popular in the Elizabethan era.
2. Components:
- Combined
music, dance, poetry,
and acting.
- Featured
allegorical and mythological themes.
3. Spectacle
and Performance:
Masques had lavish costumes, elaborate sets, and stage machinery for special effects.
4. Purpose
and Audience:
- Performed
for royalty and nobility at court celebrations.
- Often
praised the monarch, reinforcing royal power
and virtue.
5. Famous
Writers:
Ben Jonson was the most
famous writer of Masques.
Example: The Masque of Blackness.
6. Conclusion:
Masques were visual spectacles reflecting artistic creativity and political power.
----------------
Dr. Noojilla Srinivas
Lecturer in English, Government College (Autonomous),
Rajahmundry
Phone: 7981862200
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