What were the comparitive merits of Sophocles? In what did theatrical representations in Greece differ from ours? French Tragedy. Have the French produced great tragic poets? How have they improved upon the ancients? What are Corneille's distinguishing excellencies? What were the comparative merits of Racine? What, of Voltaire? English Tragedy. What is the general remark upon English tragedy? What are the distinguishing and peculiar merits of Shakespeare? Which of his plays are esteemed the highest? What other English writers of merit do you recollect? What are their several merits and defects? What is the difference between Greek, French and English tragedy? Comedy, In what is comedy useful? Is ridicule a proper test of truth? Is comedy confined to any age or country? Have all comic writers followed this rule ? In what is the perfection of comedy to be found? How does a masterly writer give us his char acters? What style should comedy be written in ? Ancient Comedy. What was ancient comedy? What are the several excellencies and faults of Aristophanes? What alteration took place in comedy after the age of Aristophanes? What was this kind succeeded by? Who was the most celebrated writer of this kind? What were the peculiar excellencies of Plautus and Terence? Spanish Comedy. Who were the chief comedians of Spain? For what was Don Lopez peculiarly celebrated? French Comedy. What is the character of the comic theatre of France? Who is their most celebrated comic writer? For what was he most eminent? What are bis capital defects? English Comedy. Why may we expect great originality in comic characters in England? Is the taste for comedy pure among the English? Was this the case in the first age of English comedy? What is said of Shakespeare's comedies? What of Beaumont and Fletcher's? What took place after the restoration of Charles II. respecting plays? How long did this continue? What is said of Dryden's comedies? What is said of Cibber? What of Vanburgh? To what have French writers attributed the profligate manners of London? What has taken place of late years respecting comedy? To what are the English indebted for this? How does it seek to merit praise? Are the French pleased with this? Why? |