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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In his last letter from "Letters on Language," Artaud says that in fact, the theater he is defining has to assume another _____ in order to function.
(a) Definition.
(b) Meaning.
(c) Civilization.
(d) Theme.

2. The _____ apportions the human breath into six principal arcana.
(a) Cabala.
(b) Hindu priest.
(c) Bible.
(d) Medical journal.

3. Of the word "cruelty," Artaud writes in his letters that the word represents "irreversible and absolute" what?
(a) Loathing.
(b) Rage.
(c) Determination.
(d) Inspiration.

4. How does Artaud claim musical instruments will be treated in the Theater of Cruelty?
(a) As characters.
(b) As objects and part of the set.
(c) As invisible.
(d) As external objects.

5. To whom does the author address the second letter from "Letters on Cruelty"?
(a) Aguste Francois.
(b) Mme. Richeliou.
(c) J.P.
(d) M. R. de R.

6. Writing of language in his first manifesto, Artaud states, "It is not a question of suppressing the spoken language, but of giving words approximately the importance they have ______."
(a) In dreams.
(b) In tribal rites.
(c) In movies.
(d) In physicality.

7. What does the author say of "Works" in his first manifesto?
(a) They will elicit new playwrights.
(b) They will not perform written plays.
(c) They will reinvent classics.
(d) They will perform classical plays.

8. Artaud claims that if the theater fails to successfully reproduce the works of the great classics, it is because we have lost the sense of their theater's what?
(a) Dynamic.
(b) Language.
(c) Importance.
(d) Physics.

9. Artaud claims in his first manifesto that Occidental theater should look at _____ theater for inspiration.
(a) Mexican.
(b) American.
(c) Oriental.
(d) African.

10. The author claims that actors in France no longer "know how to do anything but" what?
(a) Sing.
(b) Talk.
(c) Stand.
(d) Bore.

11. Artaud claims in his first letter of "Letters on Language" that while it still qualifies as "theater," a play which depends entirely on a scripted text is nothing but a _____ of theater.
(a) Bad attempt.
(b) Imitation.
(c) Perversion.
(d) Distraction.

12. In his third letter from "Letters on Language," Artaud states that he never meant for cruelty to be used sporadically, but rather as the _____ of his theater."
(a) Foundation.
(b) Accoutrement.
(c) Spectacle.
(d) Property.

13. Artaud claims that the psychological theater descended from whom?
(a) Racine.
(b) Jarry.
(c) Zola.
(d) Shakespeare.

14. What is the first note titled in "Two Notes"?
(a) "Monkey Business."
(b) "Thoughts on Film."
(c) "The Marx Brothers."
(d) "The Last Motion Picture Show."

15. What does Artaud say has "maintained us for ten years in an ineffectual torpor"?
(a) Movies.
(b) Opera.
(c) Musicals.
(d) Theater.

Short Answer Questions

1. In his second note of "Two Notes," Artaud writes, "everything that is ______ is sacred and since his gestures are so beautiful that they take on a symbolic significance."

2. Artaud claims that it is certainly with his ____ that the actor thinks.

3. To whom does the author write his third letter from "Letters on Cruelty"?

4. What does Artaud intend to do with the stage in the Theater of Cruelty?

5. What does Artaud assert is the principle concern of the actor physically?

(see the answer keys)

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