WAEC 2018 Literature in English · Question 22

A dramatic performance with ONLY bodily movements and no speech is a _____________

Options

  1. A.Farce
  2. B.Mime
  3. C.Slapstick
  4. D.Burlesque

Answer: B. Mime

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the term for a dramatic performance that uses only bodily movements (gestures, facial expressions, actions) with no speech.

Step 2: Explain the concepts Let's look at each option:

  • Farce: A comedy built on exaggerated, absurd situations, mistaken identities, and improbable events. It uses dialogue and action.
  • Mime: A performance where a story or idea is told entirely through gesture, movement, and facial expression, without words.
  • Slapstick: Comedy based on rough physical action, such as falling, hitting, or chasing. It is physical, but it often includes speech and is a style of comedy, not a form defined by silence.
  • Burlesque: A work that mocks a serious subject or style by exaggerated imitation. It is a form of satire and uses speech.

Step 3: Match the definition The key phrase is "ONLY bodily movements and no speech." The only form defined by the complete absence of speech is mime.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is B. Mime.

Tip: Remember "Mime = Mute." Mime artists stay silent and let their bodies do the talking. In Literature in English, watch for definitions that stress "no words" or "silent." Slapstick and farce may be physical, but they are not silent by definition.

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