Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Drama in the Renaissance
Do you like to watch plays acted out on stage? Many people do. This combination of literature and entertainment has been popular off and on for hundreds, even thousands, of years.
The ancient Greeks are often given credit for starting the tradition of presenting plays for an audience to enjoy. In the 5th century BC, Greeks in their togas and sandals enjoyed evenings in an outdoor theater. There they could sit in a semicircle around an open-air stage and watch the performance. The performances would include a chorus that sang or chanted and perhaps three actors who took on all of the speaking parts.
Ancient Romans had a dramatic tradition of their own. In the first century AD, Seneca, the Roman philosopher, wrote dramas full of action, revenge, and heroics. These dramas were meant to be read, rather than performed on stage. They were known as closet dramas.
