Victorian burlesque

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/victorian-burlesque

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the period of prominence?Mid-19th century, with significant presence in Victorian England and New York
2. What is the thematic elements?Mocked theatrical conventions, employed risqué humor, and featured spectacular staging and costumes
3. Why did Victorian burlesque use funny songs and costumes?It used silly songs and costumes to poke fun at big operas and ballets, making the shows more fun and easier for everyone to enjoy.
4. How did Victorian burlesque change the way people saw opera and ballet?It took parts of famous operas and ballets, changed the words and music, and turned them into comic musical plays, showing that even grand stories could be playful.

Pastiche: An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period, often for humorous effect.
Risqué: Slightly indecent or likely to offend, especially in a playful or suggestive way.
Subversion: Undermining the power and authority of an established system or institution, often through indirect or deceptive means.