Pantomime
Read Pantomime and check the IELTS Reading answers. A pantomime performance is a unique blend of eccentricity and absurdity, a wild mixture of songs, jokes, outrageous costumes and slapstick physical humour. For many British children, their first family trip to see a pantomime in the Christmas holi…
Passage preview
A pantomime performance is a unique blend of eccentricity and absurdity, a wild mixture of songs, jokes, outrageous costumes and slapstick physical humour. For many British children, their first family trip to see a pantomime in the Christmas holiday season is their introduction to the magic of the theatre. But what has become a quintessentially British form of entertainment is more than just simple fun. As an art form, pantomime presents a tale of good and evil, where hope finally triumphs after danger and virtual despair.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- ambiguity noun
The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness or uncertainty of meaning
Pantomime explores the ambiguity of gender roles through men dressed as women on stage.
- anarchic adjective
With no controlling rules or principles; characterized by disorder, rebellion, or chaos
Grimaldi's anarchic activities on stage provided a fantasy world where the government had no power.
- denounced verb
Publicly declared to be wrong or evil; criticized severely and formally
By limiting shows to Christmas, pantomime was no longer denounced as a threat to serious theatre.
- disreputable adjective
Not considered to be respectable in character or appearance; having a poor reputation
In early Italian shows, rich old men were often portrayed as cowardly and disreputable characters.
- eccentricity noun
The quality of being unconventional and slightly strange in behavior or appearance
The pantomime is celebrated for its eccentricity, featuring wild mixtures of songs and absurd humor.
- exemplify verb
To be a typical example of something; to illustrate by giving an example
The character of the Dame serves to exemplify the inherent absurdity and joy of the genre.
- ingenious adjective
Innocently clever, original, and inventive; showing high intelligence in solving problems
The plots often featured ingenious servants who would outwit their masters to find food and money.
- interwove verb
To blend or connect different elements, themes, or stories closely together
Early harlequinades interwove classical Latin poems with the improvised traditions of Italian comedy.
- ludicrous adjective
So foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing; ridiculous
The performances offered ludicrous commentaries on everything from high fashion to new forms of transport.
- quintessentially adverb
Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class; purely and essentially
Pantomime has evolved into a quintessentially British form of entertainment during the Christmas season.
- satirist noun
A person who uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices
Joseph Grimaldi became a famous satirist, mocking the ruling classes and new technological fashions.
Answers with explanations
- 14. iv
This paragraph introduces the concept of pantomime through the lens of **children** and their 'first family trip'. This connection to the **young age** of the audience and their initial 'introduction' to theatre matches the heading 'Discovering pantomime at a young age'. Answer: iv.
- 15. ii
The text focuses on the origins of commedia dell’arte, noting that performances were held in **streets and marketplaces**, which are **outdoor** venues. It also mentions standard roles like rich old men and young lovers, fitting the idea of a 'standard set' of characters. Answer: ii.
- 16. viii
This paragraph describes how John Rich created harlequinades by **interweaving** two distinct sources: a Latin **poem** and Italian **commedia**. This 'cleverly mixed' approach represents a 'successful merging of artistic sources'. Answer: viii.
- 17. v
The text details how critics 'bitterly attacked' pantomime. David Garrick's solution was to **change its identity** by moving it to the Christmas season to stop it from being 'denounced'. This was his strategy for **dealing with a negative attitude**. Answer: v.
- 18. iii
The paragraph explains that Grimaldi's character was a 'satirist' who offered 'commentaries' on the **ruling classes** and provided a fantasy of revenge against a **repressive government**. This directly links the art form to **political issues**. Answer: iii.
- 19. i
The text describes the Dame as a character facing 'poverty' (provoking **compassion/sympathy**) while remaining 'talkative and eccentric' (provoking **laughter/amusement**). This dual emotional response is the central theme of the paragraph. Answer: i.
- 20. vi
The final paragraph addresses the **current popularity** of pantomime ('as popular today as they have ever been') and explores why it remains significant in modern society. This reflects the 'continuing appeal' (heading vi). Answer: vi.
- 21. Masks
The question asks what actors used to hide their identities. The text mentions '**masks**' allowed them to perform without 'fear of being recognised'. The noun **masks** is the only logical fit for a physical object used to disguise an identity in this context. Answer: MASKS.
- 22. Poem
The blank requires a noun for a written work from many centuries earlier. The passage identifies '**poem**' (specifically Ovid's *Metamorphoses*) as the ancient element combined with the 16th-century commedia. This matches the chronological description in the question. Answer: POEM.
- 23. Policemen
The question asks for the 'victims' of the Clown. The text states the Clown would chase and imprison '**policemen**'. As a plural noun representing the targets of the Clown's on-stage mischief, **policemen** fits the grammatical and contextual requirements. Answer: POLICEMEN.
- 24. D
The description matches Dan Leno. The passage states he focused on **working-class women** and the 'difficulties of **poverty**', which represents the **less wealthy** sections of society. Other performers like Rich or Grimaldi focused on myth or political satire respectively. Answer: D.
- 25. A
The description matches John Rich. His harlequinades included '**magic** wands', 'mechanical serpents', and 'flying vehicles', which are **supernatural** or fantastical elements. Grimaldi and Leno's characters were more grounded in human anarchy or social poverty. Answer: A.
- 26. C
The description matches Joseph Grimaldi. The text explicitly states that although his character (the Clown) committed 'crimes' like stealing and imprisoning police, he was '**never caught or sent to jail**', meaning he was not **punished**. Answer: C.