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- 1. Multiple Choice
Romans were always entertained by writers reciting in public.
True: The Romans were great lovers and supporters of literature.
True: The Romans enjoyed all forms of entertainment
False: Sometimes recitals of literature were annoying to the passerby.
False: Roman writers would not recite unfinished works in public
- 2. Multiple Choice
Writers often first read their work to a selected audience, usually his patron or his close friends.
True: Writers often preferred the comfort of a private recital
False: Most writers preferred to read their works on street corners
False: Most writers would not read a work to anyone, unless it was finished.
False: Most writers did not recite their works; only published them.
- 3. Multiple Choice
A recitatio was:
Any reading of a writer's work
a private reading of a writer's work in his own home.
a written copy of the writer's work
a public reading of a writer's work in front of an invited audience
- 4. Multiple Choice
Which of the following are true about recitationes? (Choose all which apply)
It might take place in the author's home, his patron's, home or an auditorium.
A recitatio was open to all; no invitations required.
recitationes were always only attended by a few people.
Attendees at a recitatio were charged admission to cover the cost of the event.
- 5. Multiple Choice
The writer always read his own work at a recitatio.
True: An author new his work better than anyone else.
True: If another person read the work, people would not buy it.
False: Sometimes an author would have another person read his work.
False: It was common for a writer to hire a professional reader to read at a recitatio.
- 6. Multiple Choice
Which of the following are true about recitatones (check all which apply)
An author might plant friends or hired clappers in the audience to applaud at appropriate times.
A short introduction (praefatio) would be given at the beginning.
Recitationes only lasted a few hours.
Recitationes sometimes lasted into a second or third day.
- 7. Multiple Choice
All of the following hosted recitationes (that we know about) except:
Emperor Domitian
Emperor Claudius
Martial
Pliny the Younger
- 8. Multiple Choice
All Roman authors attached great importance to recitationes.
True: Roman writers found recitationes to be valuable tool in honing their craft.
True: Roman writers enjoyed the fame which came from presenting to an audience of senators.
False: Although they had some benefits, many writers mocked or disregarded recitationes.
False: No Romans writers valued recitationes.
- 9. Multiple Choice
What needs of the Roman literary world did recitationes fill? (Check all which apply)
They allowed poets to feel important
They brought an author's work to the attention of a large number of people.
They allowed an author to see if a work was worth publishing.
They allowed a chance for an author to receive comments and criticism of the work.
- 10. Multiple Choice
Recitationes encouraged authors to write what pleased them.
True: The recitatio was a way for an author to share his passion for a topic with an audience of like-minded individuals.
True: A recitatio was only used to perform works that an author really cared about.
False: Authors performing at recitationes only performed works by other authors.
False: Authors often wrote and performed works at recitationes which pleased their audience, not themselves.
- 11. Multiple Choice
From the audience's perspective, a recitatio provided which of the follwing? (Check all that apply)
A useful way to peruse an author's work.
An opportunity to heckle up-and-coming authors
A place to score a free meal
An event which was always pleasing to the audience members.
- 12. Multiple Choice
Roman books: (check all which apply)
Were very similar to our books today.
Were scrolls
made it difficult to sample or browse an author's work.
Had a cover with the title printed on it.
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