Unit 6: Drama and Its Theories – Indian and Western for the UGC NET Performing Arts (Dance, Drama & Theatre) exam.
Each question reflects themes, terminology, playwrights and theoretical issues relevant to Indian and Western dramaturgy.
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The term Natya in Indian dramaturgy primarily means:
a) A ritual dance
b) A mirror of life and emotions
c) A musical concert
d) A sculpture exhibition
Answer: b) A mirror of life and emotions -
According to the Natyasastra by Bharata Muni, which of the following is not one of the four types of Abhinaya?
a) Āṅgika
b) Vācika
c) Drāmyika
d) Sāttvika
Answer: c) Drāmyika -
The Western concept of drama as “imitation (mimesis) of an action” was advanced by:
a) Zeami Motokiyo
b) Aristotle
c) Bertolt Brecht
d) Henrik Ibsen
Answer: b) Aristotle -
The “Rasa” theory in Indian drama refers to:
a) The dialogue of the hero
b) The audience’s aesthetic experience
c) The music of the play
d) The costume design
Answer: b) The audience’s aesthetic experience -
In Western dramaturgy, which of these is not one of Aristotle’s six elements of drama?
a) Plot (Mythos)
b) Character (Ethos)
c) Melody (Melos)
d) Ritual (Ritmos)
Answer: d) Ritual (Ritmos) -
The Sanskrit dramatic form labelled as Nāṭaka typically deals with:
a) Folk comedy
b) Heroic/epic themes with high character status
c) One-actor plays
d) Satirical farce
Answer: b) Heroic/epic themes with high character status -
The Western dramatic classification of melodrama is characterised by:
a) Subtle everyday realism
b) Exaggerated emotions and moral polarisation
c) Absurd dialogues and circular structure
d) Ritualistic dance and chant
Answer: b) Exaggerated emotions and moral polarisation -
Which one of the following Indian dramatists is known for the play Mudrarakshasa?
a) Kalidasa
b) Bhasa
c) Visakhadatta
d) Bhavabhuti
Answer: c) Visakhadatta -
The Western dramatic movement focusing on everyday common-life situations and psychology is called:
a) Realism
b) Symbolism
c) Expressionism
d) Absurdism
Answer: a) Realism -
In the Indian dramaturgical tradition, Bhava refers to:
a) The formal structure of the play
b) The performers’ costumes
c) The emotion or state that leads to Rasa
d) The audience seating arrangement
Answer: c) The emotion or state that leads to Rasa -
Which Western playwright is considered the father of modern realistic drama and wrote A Doll’s House?
a) Anton Chekhov
b) Arthur Miller
c) Henrik Ibsen
d) Luigi Pirandello
Answer: c) Henrik Ibsen -
The dramatic form of farce is characterised by:
a) Serious moral crisis
b) Improvisation and broad humour, improbable situations
c) Deep philosophical dialogue
d) Ritualistic chanting
Answer: b) Improvisation and broad humour, improbable situations -
The Sanskrit dramatist of Mṛcchakatika (“The Little Clay Cart”) is:
a) Bhavabhuti
b) Bhasa
c) Sudraka
d) Visakhadatta
Answer: c) Sudraka -
Which one of these “‐isms” emphasises the distortion of reality to reflect inner emotional or psychological truth?
a) Naturalism
b) Realism
c) Expressionism
d) Epic Theatre
Answer: c) Expressionism -
In Western drama, the unity of time means:
a) The action takes place in one location
b) The action takes place within 24 hours (or a short time span)
c) The play uses only one actor
d) The music and dialogue are simultaneous
Answer: b) The action takes place within 24 hours (or a short time span) -
In the Indian dramatic classification, Prahasana refers to:
a) Heroic epic play
b) Satirical farce
c) One-act romantic comedy
d) Mythological spectacle
Answer: b) Satirical farce -
The Western playwright Bertolt Brecht is primarily associated with which theatrical approach?
a) Realism
b) Theatre of the Absurd
c) Epic Theatre
d) Naturalism
Answer: c) Epic Theatre -
The Sanskrit dramatist known for Uttararamacharita is:
a) Kalidasa
b) Bhavabhuti
c) Bhasa
d) Visakhadatta
Answer: b) Bhavabhuti -
The Western dramatic movement labelled Absurdism often presents:
a) Linear cause-and-effect structure
b) Ritual dance and chant
c) Human existence as meaningless and cyclical, with minimal plot
d) Strong moral polarisation and triumphant hero
Answer: c) Human existence as meaningless and cyclical, with minimal plot -
According to the Natyasastra, the Abhinaya known as Aharya refers to:
a) Speech and song
b) Gesture and movement
c) Costume, make-up, scene-setting and props
d) Inner emotional expression
Answer: c) Costume, make-up, scene-setting and props -
The concept of Catharsis in Western drama denotes:
a) The aesthetic pleasure of Rasa
b) The moral purification of the audience through pity and fear
c) The symbolic representation of gods and spirit
d) The comedic relief after tragedy
Answer: b) The moral purification of the audience through pity and fear -
The Sanskrit dramatist Bhasa’s Urubhanga deals with:
a) The love story of Shakuntala
b) The defeat of Duryodhana (in Mahabharata)
c) The adventures of a forest hermit
d) Court intrigue in ancient India
Answer: b) The defeat of Duryodhana (in Mahabharata) -
The Western dramatist Samuel Beckett is best known for which major play?
a) The Cherry Orchard
b) Waiting for Godot
c) Death of a Salesman
d) A Doll’s House
Answer: b) Waiting for Godot -
The Indian dramatic form Bhāna signifies:
a) Multi-act heroic drama
b) One-actor play
c) Satirical farce for the masses
d) Religious temple ritual
Answer: b) One-actor play -
The dramatic category Tragicomedy combines features of:
a) Tragedy and farce
b) Melodrama and epic theatre
c) Tragedy and comedy
d) Naturalism and symbolism
Answer: c) Tragedy and comedy -
The Western dramatist Anton Chekhov is associated with which dramatic approach?
a) Melodrama
b) Realism
c) Farce
d) Absurdism
Answer: b) Realism -
In Indian dramaturgy, which of the following is not a recognized Rasa?
a) Śānta
b) Adbhuta
c) Vīra
d) Idylla
Answer: d) Idylla -
The Western dramatist Luigi Pirandello explored themes of illusion and identity in his play Six Characters in Search of an Author. That play is often considered part of:
a) Naturalism
b) Epic Theatre
c) Meta-theatre/Modernism
d) Classical Greek tragedy
Answer: c) Meta-theatre/Modernism -
The Sanskrit dramatist known for Venisamhara is:
a) Kalidasa
b) Bhattanarayana
c) Bhasa
d) Bhavabhuti
Answer: b) Bhattanarayana -
The Western dramatic movement of Symbolism emphasises:
a) Realistic depiction of everyday life
b) Musical and dance spectacle
c) Dream-like imagery and inner vision rather than external plot
d) Political critique through alienation
Answer: c) Dream-like imagery and inner vision rather than external plot -
In the Indian dramaturgy framework, the mode Vācika Abhinaya refers to:
a) Physical movement and gesture
b) Costume and scenery
c) Verbal expression (speech and dialogue)
d) Inner emotion and mental state
Answer: c) Verbal expression (speech and dialogue) -
The Western dramatist William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, King Lear and Othello, which are primarily examples of:
a) Farce
b) Comedy
c) Tragedy
d) Satire
Answer: c) Tragedy -
The Indian dramatic form Vyayoga is characterised by:
a) Love and romance in one act
b) Single-act heroic drama without female characters
c) Mythological folk performance
d) Temple ritual enactment
Answer: b) Single-act heroic drama without female characters -
The Western dramatic form where a hero suffers due to a tragic flaw (hamartia) is called:
a) Comedy
b) Tragedy
c) Melodrama
d) Farce
Answer: b) Tragedy -
Which of the following is NOT a feature of Epic Theatre (Brechtian)?
a) Alienation effect (Verfremdung)
b) Encouraging audience emotional identification with characters
c) Use of narration, projections, song to interrupt illusion
d) Social critique rather than catharsis
Answer: b) Encouraging audience emotional identification with characters -
The Sanskrit dramatist Kalidasa’s Abhijnanasakuntalam is best known for:
a) Political intrigue
b) Epic war scenes
c) Court romance and poetic imagery
d) Satirical comedy
Answer: c) Court romance and poetic imagery -
The Western dramatist Molière is primarily known for his contributions to:
a) Greek tragedy
b) French comedy of manners
c) Italian opera
d) German epic theatre
Answer: b) French comedy of manners -
The Indian dramaturgy mode Sāttvika Abhinaya deals with:
a) Physical gestures
b) Costume and scene-setting
c) Inner emotional states and their expression
d) Song and music
Answer: c) Inner emotional states and their expression -
The movement of Naturalism in Western drama is associated with:
a) Abstract symbolism
b) Scientific, deterministic presentation of life influenced by heredity and environment
c) Mythological spectacle
d) Musical theatre
Answer: b) Scientific, deterministic presentation of life influenced by heredity and environment -
In Western drama classification, which of these is an example of comedy?
a) Oedipus Rex
b) Tartuffe
c) Death of a Salesman
d) Waiting for Godot
Answer: b) Tartuffe -
The Sanskrit play Uttararamacharita dramatizes which mythological figure’s latter part of life?
a) Rama
b) Krishna
c) Arjuna
d) Yudhishthira
Answer: a) Rama -
The Western dramatist who wrote Death of a Salesman is:
a) Arthur Miller
b) Eugene O’Neill
c) Henrik Ibsen
d) Samuel Beckett
Answer: a) Arthur Miller -
The dramatic form Tragicomedy typically ends with:
a) The death of the hero only
b) Complete tragic ruin
c) A mixture of serious crisis and comic resolution or hope
d) Pure slapstick comic ending
Answer: c) A mixture of serious crisis and comic resolution or hope -
The Sanskrit dramatist Visakhadatta is best known for:
a) Love-romance plays
b) Social satire
c) Political intrigue and historical drama
d) Mythological dance pieces
Answer: c) Political intrigue and historical drama -
The Western dramatist known for The Bald Soprano and Rhinoceros is:
a) Samuel Beckett
b) Eugene Ionesco
c) Luigi Pirandello
d) Bertolt Brecht
Answer: b) Eugene Ionesco -
The Indian dramatic form Anka is usually:
a) A short piece with religious or moral theme
b) A five-act heroic drama
c) A one-actor satire
d) A farce with masked comedy
Answer: a) A short piece with religious or moral theme -
Which “ism” emphasises cyclical, meaningless existence, often minimal plot and dialogue?
a) Realism
b) Naturalism
c) Absurdism
d) Symbolism
Answer: c) Absurdism -
The Sanskrit dramatist Bhasa’s contribution is significant because:
a) He purely used mythological gods without human beings
b) He introduced realism and strong human emotion into Sanskrit drama
c) He wrote only one act plays
d) He composed musical operas
Answer: b) He introduced realism and strong human emotion into Sanskrit drama -
The Western playwright who pioneered meta-theatre and questions of author and character is:
a) Anton Chekhov
b) Luigi Pirandello
c) Arthur Miller
d) Henrik Ibsen
Answer: b) Luigi Pirandello -
The Sanskrit dramatic form Vyāyoga typically lacks:
a) Heroic characters
b) Female characters
c) Music
d) Moral lesson
Answer: b) Female characters -
The Indian dramatic element Vibhāva refers to:
a) The physical expression of emotion
b) The determinant or cause of emotion
c) The costume and scene design
d) The audience’s reaction
Answer: b) The determinant or cause of emotion -
In Western drama, the character of the protagonist’s flaw (hamartia) causes:
a) Comedy
b) Farce
c) His/her downfall (in tragedy)
d) A ritual dance
Answer: c) His/her downfall (in tragedy) -
The Western dramatist Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard is an example of:
a) Melodrama
b) Realist drama
c) Classical Greek tragedy
d) Epic theatre
Answer: b) Realist drama -
Which Indian dramatist wrote The Little Clay Cart (Mṛcchakatika) with its social realism and romance?
a) Kalidasa
b) Sudraka
c) Bhavabhuti
d) Visakhadatta
Answer: b) Sudraka -
The Western dramatic movement of Symbolism is often linked with which kind of theatrical style?
a) Direct realistic depiction
b) Mythology and spectacle only
c) Suggestive imagery, mood, and inner meaning rather than linear action
d) Pure comedic farce
Answer: c) Suggestive imagery, mood, and inner meaning rather than linear action -
The Sanskrit dramatist Bhavabhuti is noted for:
a) Light-hearted satire
b) Psychological depth and pathos in heroic tradition
c) One-act comedies
d) Folk dance plays
Answer: b) Psychological depth and pathos in heroic tradition -
The Western dramatist Bertolt Brecht’s technique of Verfremdungseffekt means:
a) Complete illusion and audience identification
b) Making the familiar strange so audience remains critical
c) Pure comedic relief
d) Escape-fantasy theatre
Answer: b) Making the familiar strange so audience remains critical -
The Indian dramatic mode of Angika Abhinaya refers to:
a) Inner emotional experience
b) Verbal expression
c) Body movements, gesture, facial expressions
d) Costume and adornment
Answer: c) Body movements, gesture, facial expressions -
The Western dramatic form of farce often uses which of these features?
a) Deep philosophical reflection
b) Minimal action
c) Mistaken identities, rapid pace, humorous complications
d) Ritual dance sequences
Answer: c) Mistaken identities, rapid pace, humorous complications -
The Sanskrit dramatist Kalidasa’s Vikramorvasiyam deals with:
a) Mythological themes and high poetic style
b) Social realism with middle-class characters
c) Satire of court life
d) Historical war scenes without romance
Answer: a) Mythological themes and high poetic style -
Which dramatic classification involves a “mixture of tragedy and comedy” and may not follow the rigid tragic ending?
a) Melodrama
b) Tragedy
c) Comedy
d) Tragicomedy
Answer: d) Tragicomedy -
In Indian dramaturgy, Anubhāva refers to:
a) The costume and make-up
b) The resultant expression of emotion (physical/behavioural manifestation)
c) The mental attitude of the actor
d) The audience’s delight
Answer: b) The resultant expression of emotion (physical/behavioural manifestation) -
The Western dramatist Molière’s The Misanthrope is an example of:
a) Tragedy
b) Melodrama
c) Comedy
d) Absurd theatre
Answer: c) Comedy -
The “ism” that presents theatre as a vehicle for social and political critique rather than escape is:
a) Realism
b) Naturalism
c) Epic Theatre
d) Symbolism
Answer: c) Epic Theatre -
The Sanskrit dramatist Battanarayana is best known for which play?
a) Mṛcchakatika
b) Venisamhara
c) Abhijnanasakuntalam
d) Uttararamacharita
Answer: b) Venisamhara -
The Western movement of Naturalism differs from Realism in that Naturalism:
a) Uses myth only
b) Emphasises determinate environment and heredity shaping human destiny
c) Avoids social context entirely
d) Focuses only on absurdity
Answer: b) Emphasises determinate environment and heredity shaping human destiny -
The Sanskrit dramatic form Samavakāra pertains to:
a) Historical council debates
b) Mythological spectacle with opulence
c) Satirical comedy for peasants
d) One-act romantic sketch
Answer: b) Mythological spectacle with opulence -
Which Western dramatist is renowned for the play The Caucasian Chalk Circle?
a) Arthur Miller
b) Eugene Ionesco
c) Bertolt Brecht
d) Anton Chekhov
Answer: c) Bertolt Brecht -
The Indian dramaturgical element Vyabhicharī Bhava refers to:
a) The permanent primary emotion
b) The mental state of the actor
c) The transitory or fleeting emotions assisting the main feeling
d) The physical gestures used on stage
Answer: c) The transitory or fleeting emotions assisting the main feeling -
The Western dramatist Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros is considered part of which theatre movement?
a) Realism
b) Naturalism
c) Absurdism
d) Epic Theatre
Answer: c) Absurdism -
In Indian drama, the term Śṛṅgāra Rasa refers to which flavour?
a) Heroic
b) Fear
c) Erotic/Love
d) Disgust
Answer: c) Erotic/Love -
The Western dramatist Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman presents:
a) Mythological heroism
b) Aristocratic downfall
c) Tragedy of the common man in a capitalist society
d) Farcical comedy of errors
Answer: c) Tragedy of the common man in a capitalist society -
In Indian dramaturgy, Sāttvika Abhinaya is often called the “inner” expression because it deals with:
a) Costume polishing and props
b) The actor’s inner psychological states manifested in subtle physical signs
c) Dialogue memorisation
d) Music and rhythm only
Answer: b) The actor’s inner psychological states manifested in subtle physical signs -
The Western dramatic classification Comedy of Manners is best illustrated by:
a) Molière’s plays
b) Sophocles’ tragedies
c) Brecht’s epic theatre
d) Beckett’s absurd plays
Answer: a) Molière’s plays -
The Sanskrit playwright who introduced characters from non-elite classes, emphasising social realism, was:
a) Kalidasa
b) Vishakhadatta
c) Sudraka
d) Bhavabhuti
Answer: c) Sudraka -
The “alienation effect” in Epic Theatre aims to:
a) Seduce audience emotionally
b) Distance audience so that they think critically rather than empathise blindly
c) Strengthen identification with the hero
d) Use farce for escapism
Answer: b) Distance audience so that they think critically rather than empathise blindly -
Which one of the following is not among the Navarasa in Indian dramaturgy?
a) Bībhatsa (Disgust)
b) Hāsya (Laughter)
c) Karuṇa (Compassion)
d) Ego (Asmita)
Answer: d) Ego (Asmita) -
The Western dramatist who wrote Tartuffe exposing religious hypocrisy was:
a) Shakespeare
b) Molière
c) Brecht
d) Ionesco
Answer: b) Molière -
The Indian dramatic form Ihamrga focuses on:
a) Temple ritual enactments
b) Love and adventure
c) Satirical folk performance
d) Heroic war drama
Answer: b) Love and adventure -
The Western dramatic movement that rejects logic and uses absurd situations to represent existential angst is:
a) Realism
b) Naturalism
c) Absurdism
d) Symbolism
Answer: c) Absurdism -
The Sanskrit dramatist Kalidasa used poetic imagery and nature symbolism. His Malavikagnimitram centers around:
a) A war between gods
b) A romance in a court setting
c) A farce of village life
d) A puppet theatre piece
Answer: b) A romance in a court setting -
The Western dramatist whose works include The Doctor in Spite of Himself (a farce) is:
a) Chekhov
b) Molière
c) Brecht
d) Ionesco
Answer: b) Molière -
In Indian dramaturgy, the term Garbhā refers to which stage in the play structure?
a) Opening
b) Crisis or middle portion
c) Conclusion
d) Introductory invocation
Answer: b) Crisis or middle portion -
The Western dramatist known for his psychological realism and plays like The Seagull is:
a) Ionesco
b) Chekhov
c) Pirandello
d) Miller
Answer: b) Chekhov -
The Indian dramatic element Anubhāva is best described as:
a) Costume design
b) The actor’s physical or verbal manifestation of emotion
c) The audience’s applause
d) The scene change between acts
Answer: b) The actor’s physical or verbal manifestation of emotion -
The Western dramatic movement of Realism emerged in response to:
a) Mythological spectacles
b) Romanticism and melodrama
c) Ritual dance theatre
d) Farcical comedy
Answer: b) Romanticism and melodrama -
The Sanskrit dramatist known for his courtly poetic style and work Vikramorvasiyam is:
a) Bhavabhuti
b) Bhasa
c) Kalidasa
d) Battanarayana
Answer: c) Kalidasa -
The Western dramatic classification Tragedy ends typically with:
a) A happy marriage
b) Hero’s downfall or existential loss
c) No plot resolution
d) Pure comic confusion
Answer: b) Hero’s downfall or existential loss -
The “raghuvamsa” and “kumarasambhava” poet who also dramatized myth was:
a) Vishakhadatta
b) Kalidasa
c) Bhavabhuti
d) Sudraka
Answer: b) Kalidasa -
In Indian dramaturgy, the climactic phase of the drama, after the crisis and before the resolution, is called:
a) Mukha
b) Avamarsha
c) Nirvahana
d) Pratimukha
Answer: b) Avamarsha -
The Western dramatist who wrote Mother Courage and Her Children and utilised songs, projections and narration as techniques is:
a) Arthur Miller
b) Bertolt Brecht
c) Eugene Ionesco
d) Luigi Pirandello
Answer: b) Bertolt Brecht -
The Sanskrit dramatic form Bhāna often features:
a) Multiple actors, large ensemble, mythological theme
b) A single actor monologue with minimal stage – focused on a contemporary story
c) Dance and mime only, no dialogue
d) Shadow-puppet technique
Answer: b) A single actor monologue with minimal stage – focused on a contemporary story -
The Western “ism” that emphasises suggestion, mood, and symbol rather than direct representation is:
a) Naturalism
b) Realism
c) Symbolism
d) Epic Theatre
Answer: c) Symbolism -
The Sanskrit dramatist Sudraka’s work is notable because it:
a) Strictly follows Vedic ritual
b) Combines social realism, romance, and folk elements
c) Uses only mythological gods
d) Was written in Pali language
Answer: b) Combines social realism, romance, and folk elements -
The Western dramatic classification of melodrama typically includes:
a) Complex psychological realism
b) Comic, absurd scenarios
c) Highly emotional situations, clear hero/villain lines, music cues
d) Intertwined myths and dance rituals
Answer: c) Highly emotional situations, clear hero/villain lines, music cues -
The Indian concept of Moksha as a purpose of drama implies:
a) Entertainment only
b) Material wealth for actors
c) Spiritual liberation or insight through aesthetic experience
d) Political propaganda
Answer: c) Spiritual liberation or insight through aesthetic experience -
The Western dramatist Luigi Pirandello’s work explores above all:
a) Heroic war themes
b) Irony of identity and the boundary between reality and illusion
c) Simple farce of village life
d) Mythological gods’ interventions
Answer: b) Irony of identity and the boundary between reality and illusion -
The Sanskrit dramatist Bhavabhuti’s Malatimadhava is a play that emphasises:
a) Satire of court life
b) Mythological epic war scenes
c) Romance combined with sorrow and spiritual themes
d) Folk comedy only
Answer: c) Romance combined with sorrow and spiritual themes -
The Western dramatic movement that presents theatre as didactic and deliberately non-illusive is:
a) Realism
b) Naturalism
c) Epic Theatre
d) Farce
Answer: c) Epic Theatre -
The Indian dramaturgical concept Nirvahana refers to which part of the play?
a) Introduction and invocation
b) Crisis moment
c) Falling action and final resolution or dénouement
d) Chorus interlude
Answer: c) Falling action and final resolution or dénouement