Question

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word restrained. Write your definition, along with the words or phrases that were most helpful in arriving at

your conclusion. Then consult a dictionary to confirm your understanding.

The literature and other art of the ancient and classical periods is characterized by a formal and restrained style. A glance at any piece of classical Greek or Roman art or architecture makes that style clear. It is
perfectly balanced and symmetrical and hardly adorned, which can be seen in the Parthenon, a famous Greek temple built in 480 BCE. Classical artists strove to achieve an ideal, and therefore did not include excess features that could throw the piece off balance or reveal any awkward human flaw. Likewise, classical authors employed a restrained style in their poetry and prose. True to the philosophy of the time, they prized balance and order in their language and
in the structure of their poems and plots. Dramas follow Aristotle's unities, strict rules that dictated that a play must focus on one action over the course of one day in a single location. All the messy action happens offstage and then is described in formal language for the audience by a member of the chorus. In epic poems, passionate actions are often counseled against or result in terrible consequences.

Answer 1

The word 'restrained' means controlled, not excessive, and characterized by formality and simplicity, as suggested by phrases relating to balance and symmetry in the text. The Classical Period and Neoclassical art movements corroborate this sense of restraint with their emphasis on order and simplicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the context clues in the text, the word restrained refers to something that is controlled, not excessive or overdone, and characteristically formal and simple. The words and phrases that help determine this meaning include 'perfectly balanced and symmetrical,' 'hardly adorned,' 'not include excess features,' 'balance and order,' and 'follow Aristotle's unities.' These phrases depict restraint as an intentional limitation to achieve a specific, balanced aesthetic. A dictionary confirms that 'restrained' means holding back, controlled or kept within limits. This would be in line with the classical revival or Neoclassicism, which emphasized order, symmetry, and simplicity.

The Classical Period in Greek culture, referred to by LibreTexts™, is recognized for its influence on art and architecture with a formal and restrained style. An example of restrained sculpture is the 'Severe Style,' which transitioned from the Archaic to more idealized forms. Additionally, Neoclassicism during the Enlightenment and the features of classicism further corroborate the restrained nature of the art from these periods, drawing from harmony, proportion, balance, and simplicity.