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Quiz about Theatre History  Native American
Quiz about Theatre History  Native American

Theatre History - Native American Quiz


This is a quiz on Native American theatrical practices. Enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by rj211. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
rj211
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
186,023
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
434
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Which of the following elements was NOT common in traditional Native American ritual and theatre? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The Navajo chantways were theatrical ceremonies performed to restore and maintain the world's balance. Up to how many nights could these ceremonies last? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The Mesoamerican Ballgame, popular throughout Mesoamerica, was played on courts of what shape? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In the Aztec culture, human sacrifice was used to honor many gods, including the god Tezcatlipoca, "The Smoking Mirror". In this ritual, a woman was sacrificed.


Question 5 of 10
5. From which culture did the text "Rabinal Achi" come? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651-1695) was a Mexican-born nun and author. Her "The Divine Narcissus" combined pagan traditions with what kind of traditions? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What was a common character in Native American rituals and dramas? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. A very simple dramatic tradition among Native American cultures involved individuals going into nature to have a transcendent interaction between the human and spirit worlds. What were these called? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Which is the best description of "Apu Ollantay"? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. What were "powwows"? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which of the following elements was NOT common in traditional Native American ritual and theatre?

Answer: literalism (rather than symbolism)

Traditional Native American theatre has generally been a total sensory experience; it engages sight, taste, touch, hearing, smelling, and kinesthetics simultaneously. Audience participation was also common, whether through actually going onto the stage to perform or simply by being emotionally engaged. Native American theatre was also generally planned and produced by the entire community, so there was an understanding of the illusion of theatre. Native American theatre was not, however, literal. On the contrary, it contained extensive symbolism, whether in the ritualistic acts themselves, or in the use of masks and animal characters.
2. The Navajo chantways were theatrical ceremonies performed to restore and maintain the world's balance. Up to how many nights could these ceremonies last?

Answer: 9

Not all of the chantways lasted that long, but some took place over nine days and consisted of over 90 hours of performance. The ceremonies included singing, offerings, blessing rituals, and more.
3. The Mesoamerican Ballgame, popular throughout Mesoamerica, was played on courts of what shape?

Answer: capital "i"

The court was shaped like a capital "i", with a central straight area capped at both ends with perpendicular playing areas. The game was somewhat like modern day soccer, and used a rubber ball made from the rubber tree. The game was frequently played to the death, and the audience would sit in reverential silence as they watched the game unfold.
4. In the Aztec culture, human sacrifice was used to honor many gods, including the god Tezcatlipoca, "The Smoking Mirror". In this ritual, a woman was sacrificed.

Answer: False

The sacrifice was male. A year before the sacrifice, the most physically perfect and attractive man was chosen from the prisoners to be the embodiment of Tezcatlipoca. He was treated like a god for a year, traveling between cities from festival to festival. On the day of sacrifice, he was mourned by priests.

The sacrifice itself consisted of cutting open his chest and removing the man's heart, which would then be offered to the sun.
5. From which culture did the text "Rabinal Achi" come?

Answer: Mayan

The dramatic text, which survived through performance even when the text was banned by Spanish authorities, interested itself in Mayan history and culminated in the beheading of a captive. Production of the play usually involved masks, dancing, and lengthy expressive speeches.
6. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651-1695) was a Mexican-born nun and author. Her "The Divine Narcissus" combined pagan traditions with what kind of traditions?

Answer: Christian

Sor Juana expertly melded the pagan traditions of her native Mexico with the Christian traditions espoused by its Spanish inhabitants.
7. What was a common character in Native American rituals and dramas?

Answer: Trickster

Caballeros were from Spanish Comedia. Rakes were from English Restoration theatre. The Bucco was from Roman theatre. The Trickster, common in stories and myths, was often a non-heroic protagonist. Frequently, the character would break boundaries in order to show why those very boundaries were necessary in real life.
8. A very simple dramatic tradition among Native American cultures involved individuals going into nature to have a transcendent interaction between the human and spirit worlds. What were these called?

Answer: vision quests

These were a communion between the human soul and nature, and were sometimes used as rites of manhood. They were dramatic in that the individual performed for himself a theatrical ritual.
9. Which is the best description of "Apu Ollantay"?

Answer: forbidden love eventually prevails

"Apu Ollantay" was from the Inca culture. Fifteen scenes long, it included a chorus and incorporated supernatural elements and dance and music. It tells the story of a General who defies society by falling in love with a princess. When the princess' father dies, the lovers are allowed to unite.
10. What were "powwows"?

Answer: group dances

Powwows incorporated music, dance and costume and were partially improvised.
Source: Author rj211

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ltc717 before going online.
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