STUDY
GUIDE
#3
LATE 17TH & 18TH CENTURY I.
Neoclassic Rules of Drama
A. Verisimilitude – FR. “the appearance of TRUTH”
1) Reality – “Confident”
2) Morality – “Poetic Justice”
3) Generality (or Abstraction)
B. Purity of Dramatic Form
1) Tragedy
2) Comedy
3) Mixed Forms
C. Decorum
1) Permanent Aspects of Human Nature
2) Universality Versus Individuality
D. Purpose of Drama – To Teach and to Please (Entertain)
E. 3 Unities: Time, Place and Action
F. Five Act Structure
II.
Moliere (Jean Baptiste Poquelin)
A. Background & Contributions
B. Comedie Francaise (1680) 1st National theater - “le maison de Moliere.”
III.
Comedy
A. Review Aristotle’s elements of Comedy.
B. Define Social Satire & Comedy of Manners.
C. Comic Premise: “The idea or concept which turns the accepted notion of things upside down
and makes this notion the basis of the play.”
D. Review Italian “Commedia dell’arte.”
E. Additional Vocabulary: French Scene, High Comedy, Low Comedy, Slap Stick, Farce,
and Stock Characters.
Student Study Guide #3 Neoclassicism & Tartuffe TA 125 Dramatic Literature Sp. 2015
Study Questions “Tartuffe” by Moliere (Jean Baptiste Poquelin) 1. Describe Madame Pernelle. Of what transgressions does she accuse each member of Orgon’s household? 2. According to Dorine, Orante (an acquaintance) owes her virtue to what? 3. Give an example of Pernelle’s own hypocrisy. 4. Describe the extremes of Orgon’s devotion to Tartuffe. 5. What is Cleante’s advice throughout the play? How does his temperament differ from that of Orgon. 6. What plan does Orgon have for Marianne’s marriage. How does Dorine intercede? What is her prediction’s for Marianne’s future if she obeys her father’s wishes? Explain how Marianne’s fate affects Damis. 7. Describe the personalities, relationship, and “game playing” of Marianne and Valere. Who brings them back together? What is her plan? 8. Give examples of Tartuffe’s deception and treachery throughout the play. 9. How is Tartuffe’s true nature finally made know to Orgon? 10. What mistakes has Orgon made which put Tartuffe in control of his future? 11. How does Madame Pernelle react to the news of Tartuffe’s villainy? 12. Describe the deus ex machina of the play. 13. Note any resemblances to “commedia dell’arte” stock characterizations in Tartuffe. Student Study Guide #3 Neoclassicism & Tartuffe TA 125 Dramatic Literature Sp. 2015