Answer the following questions about the RESTORATION THEATRE
1. Name important trends during the Restoration movement
2. Focus on the SERIOUS drama (heroic tragedy)
3. The restoration comedy (The Comedy of Manners) - the styles, characteristics and traits of this type of comedy
1. Important trends during the Restoration movement were:
- The revival of theater after the English Civil War and the closure of theaters during the Puritan regime.
- The influence of French neoclassical drama, particularly in terms of dramatic structure, rules, and conventions.
- The rise of heroic tragedy and heroic drama with themes that celebrated royalism, honor, and virtue.
- The emergence of Restoration comedy, also known as the Comedy of Manners, which satirized the fashionable society of the time.
- The increasing prominence of female actors on stage, with women finally being allowed to perform after the return of the monarchy.
2. Serious drama during the Restoration, specifically heroic tragedy, focused on themes of honor, virtue, and grandeur. The plays were typically written in verse and featured noble characters engaged in epic struggles. These tragedies often drew inspiration from classical sources, following the rules and conventions of neoclassical drama. The heroes were often portrayed as larger-than-life figures, with the audience meant to admire and aspire to their virtues.
3. Restoration comedy, also known as the Comedy of Manners, was marked by its witty dialogue, satirical depiction of contemporary society, and focus on the manners and social behavior of the upper class. It aimed to entertain and amuse the audience through its clever wordplay, sexual innuendos, and extravagant situations. The characteristics and traits of this type of comedy included:
- Stock characters, such as fops, dandies, and seductive women, who embodied exaggerated social types.
- The use of wit, satire, and double entendre to criticize the hypocrisy, manners, and morals of the upper class.
- Intricate and convoluted plots involving mistaken identities, disguise, and romantic entanglements.
- The inclusion of lively, fast-paced dialogue filled with banter, repartee, and wordplay.
- The portrayal of the Restoration society as a world obsessed with appearance, fashion, and social status.
- The exploration of themes related to love, marriage, and sexual intrigue in a lighthearted and humorous manner.