A、The rituals could be performed anywhere. B、Music, dance, masks and costumes were frequently used. C、The entire community parti

There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted is based on the assumption that drama evolved from rituals. This view goes as follows. In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world as unpredictable, and they sought various means to control these unknown and feared powers. Eventually stories arose and explained the mysteries of the rituals. As time passed, some rituals were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, persisted and provided material for art and drama. Those who believed that drama evolved out of rituals also argue that those rituals contained the seed of theater, because music, dance, masks, and costumes were almost always used. Furthermore, a suitable site had to be provided for performances,and when the entire community did not participate, a clear division was usually made between the “acting area” and the “watching area.” In addition, there were performers. Wearing masks and costumes, they often pretended to be other people, animals, or supernatural beings. They expressed the desired effect— success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, and the revival of the Sun. What they did was just like an actor might do. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities. Another theory traces the theater’s origin from the humans’ interest in story-telling. According to this view, tales about the hunt or war are gradually elaborated by a storyteller and then went through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person.
16. What is the most popular theory about the origin of drama in ancient Greece?
17. What did ancient people do with the natural forces of the world?
18. Why did rituals contain the seed of theater according to some people?
19. What did performers do in rituals?