Drama – UGC NET English – Solved PYQs

1. Correct Answer (Barabas)

Explanation: The protagonist of Christopher Marlowe’s play The Jew of Malta is Barabas. In English literature at least, Barabas is the first stage-portrayed psychopath who preys on people’s needs to gain their trust before killing them, making him an intriguing character. He is too much absorbed by avarice and susceptible to interpretation as an anti-Semitic icon, much like Shakespeare’s Shylock, whose concept may have been inspired by Barabas.

Alun Armstrong of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Ian McDiarmid of the Almedia Theatre have both performed the part of Barabas. The play for the Marlowe project was directed by Jeff Dailey in November 1999 in New York City.

2. Correct Answer (Seneca)

Explanation: Seneca was a Roman playwright known for his tragedies. His works were characterized by themes of revenge, violence, and moral ambiguity. The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd shows clear influences from Seneca’s dramatic style, particularly in its themes of revenge, the use of soliloquies, and the exploration of moral dilemmas.

3. Correct Answer (John Ford)

Explanation: John Ford wrote the tragedy It’s a Shame She’s a Whore. In 1663, the play was first printed. John Mordaunt, the 1st Earl of Peterborough and Baron of Turvey in Bedfordshire, received a special dedication in Ford’s play.

4. Correct Answer (Andrew Marvell)

Explanation: In 1650, Andrew Marvell wrote An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell’s Return from Ireland. The poem is an ode commemorating Oliver Cromwell’s return to England following his successful military campaign in Ireland. Cromwell, who served as Lord Protector of England from 1653 to 1658, was a divisive figure in English history, and Marvell’s ode captures the conflicting emotions of the time.

The poem is divided into three sections, each dealing with a different aspect of Cromwell’s return. The first section focuses on the political ramifications of Cromwell’s victory in Ireland, lauding him as a national saviour and defender of people’s rights. The second section focuses on Cromwell’s military campaign, portraying him as a fearless and brilliant commander who inspired his troops to victory. The ode’s final section addresses Cromwell directly, urging him to continue his work and remain true to his ideals. The portrayal of Cromwell in Marvell’s An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell’s Return from Ireland is complex and nuanced. Although the poem celebrates Cromwell’s accomplishments, it also acknowledges the difficulties and dangers of his position, and suggests that his ultimate success may be determined by his ability to remain true to his principles. As a result, the poem provides a rich and multifaceted perspective on one of the most important figures in English history.

5. Correct Answer (Seneca)

Explanation: The writings of Seneca appear to have had the most influence on Thomas Kyd when writing The Spanish Tragedy. The drama takes its violent tragedy, themes of retribution, and the Ghost figure from Seneca.

The Viceroy’s son Balthazar, the Portuguese commander, was defeated in combat after killing the Spanish officer Andrea before being captured by the Spaniards. Onstage during the entire play, Andrea’s ghost and the personification of Vengeance both function as chorus.

6. Correct Answer (Volpone – Animal Imagery)

Explanation: The majority of the characters are named after animals that exhibit similar traits. For instance, Volpone is cunning and is called after a fox as such. The story’s overall concept is also comparable to an animal fable about a fox who fakes his own death in order to catch greedy birds.

Animal imagery is used extensively in Ben Jonson’s play Volpone to represent various characters and their traits. The fox represents the protagonist’s cunning and slyness, while the vulture represents greed and the desire for wealth. The goatrepresents the folly and gullibility of some of the other characters.

7. Correct Answer (Exposition – Conflict – Climax – Denouement)

Explanation: Stages of Shakespearean tragedies is mainly in the following sequence:

III. Exposition

II. Conflict

IV. Climax

I. Denouement

8. Correct Answer (Prolepsis)

Explanation: A prolepsis is a point in a narrative where the events of the story are told out of sequence and the chronological order is upset. Before returning to the story’s present to continue the sequence, the narrative ventures into its own future to reveal later occurrences, such as the discovery of the needle in the breeches of Gammer’s servant, Hodge.

12. Correct Answer (Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy)

Explanation: Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with various artistic ornaments, each of which can be found in a different section of the play; in the form of action rather than narrative; and through pity and fear that causes the proper purging of these emotions. I refer to language that has been “embellished” by adding song, harmony, and rhythm. I mean that some parts are conveyed through the use of poetry alone, while others are again done so with the use of song.

13. Correct Answer (Man)

Explanation: Hamlet expresses awe and admiration for the nature of humanity. He reflects on the noble qualities of human beings, emphasizing their ability to reason, their vast intellectual capabilities, and their capacity for expression and action. He compares humans to angels in their actions and to gods in their ability to comprehend and understand. By praising the inherent qualities of mankind, Hamlet appreciates the greatness and potential of human beings. Therefore, the correct answer is option (3) Man.

14. Correct Answer (Both A and R are correct)

Explanation: In John Webster’s play The Duchess of Malfi, Ferdinand, the brother of the Duchess, wants to prevent her from remarrying, so he sets up a group of madmen to entertain her. The madmen perform a grotesque dance, wearing strange costumes and masks, and sing incoherent songs. Ferdinand’s intention is to drive the Duchess mad with this strange entertainment.

Therefore, both the assertion (A) and the reason (R) are correct. The madmen are set upon the Duchess to drive her mad, which is Ferdinand’s purpose.

15. Correct Answer (All of these were Restoration playwrights)

Explanation: William Congreve, George Etherege, William Wycherley, and Thomas Otway were all prominent playwrights during the Restoration period in English literature, which spanned from the late 17th to the early 18th century.

(1) All of these were Restoration playwrights: This statement is correct. All four writers, Congreve, Etherege, Wycherley, and Otway, were associated with the Restoration era in English drama. They contributed to the development of the comedy of manners, a popular genre during that time.

(2) All of them were critics of Orwell’s regime: This statement is incorrect. George Orwell, the renowned author, lived in the 20th century, while these playwrights were active during the Restoration period, which occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries. There is no connection between their works and Orwell’s regime.

(3) All of them edited Shakespeare’s plays: This statement is incorrect. While these playwrights were contemporaries of William Shakespeare, there is no evidence to suggest that they edited his plays. Shakespeare’s works were well-established by the time these playwrights emerged.

(4) All of them wrote tragedies in the same age: This statement is incorrect. While Thomas Otway did write tragedies during the Restoration period, the other three playwrights, Congreve, Etherege, and Wycherley, were known for their contributions to the comedy of manners genre, which focused on satirical and witty social observations.

16. Correct Answer (Jeremy Collier’s attack on the immorality of Restoration theatre)

Explanation: Collier’s primary concern was the lack of moral guidance and the negative influence the theater had on the audience. He believed that the plays of the Restoration period were promoting immorality and profanity instead of inspiring virtuous behavior.

His pamphlet caused significant controversy and led to a moral and cultural debate about the role and responsibility of theater in society. It also had a substantial impact on subsequent reforms in English theater, leading to a shift towards more morally conscious and socially responsible plays in the following decades.

17. Correct Answer (Stage directions are often italicized in the text of a play in order to be spoken aloud)

Explanation: The statement that is NOT TRUE among those that explain “stage directions” in drama is:

(3) Stage directions are often italicized in the text of a play in order to be spoken aloud.

This statement is false because stage directions are not meant to be spoken aloud by the actors, but rather to provide guidance for their movements, actions, emotions, and other aspects of the performance. Stage directions are often italicized or set apart from the dialogue in some way to distinguish them from the spoken text.

18. Correct Answer (1-1, II-3, III-2, IV-4)

Explanation:

The correct matching of the playwright and the respective play is:

I. Tennessee Williams – A Streetcar Named Desire

II. Eugene O’Neill – Emperor Jones

III. Lorraine Hansberry – A Raisin in the Sun

IV. Arthur Miller – After the Fall

Therefore, the correct answer is option (2) 1-1, II-3, III-2, IV-4.

Tennessee Williams wrote A Streetcar Named Desire, a play that explores the lives of Southern women and their experiences of desire, repression, and fantasy. Eugene O’Neill’s play Emperor Jones is about the rise and fall of an African-American man who becomes a tyrant on a small island. Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun focuses on the experiences of an African-American family in Chicago and their struggle to achieve the American Dream.

Arthur Miller’s After the Fall is a semi-autobiographical play that explores his personal life, relationships, and struggles.

Emperor Jones – 1920

A Streetcar Named Desire – 1951

A Raisin in the Sun – 1959

After the Fall – 1964