Question

What is the role of the harlequin in the given sentence?

1) To serve food to the dinner guests
2) To entertain the dinner guests
3) To clean the dining area
4) To prepare the dinner menu

Answer 1

The harlequin's role in Italian comedies was to entertain, often using humor and mischievous behavior, rather than serving, cleaning, or preparing food or menus for guests. Therefore, the correct answer is to entertain the dinner guests.

Step-by-step explanation:

The role of the harlequin in Italian comedies, and more broadly in performance arts, was that of an entertainer. Harlequins often appear in scenarios requiring comedic relief or intricate trickery, hence they were associated with charming deception or mischievous antics. In the context where harlequins are included in a scenario such as a dinner event, their primary role would be to entertain the dinner guests, making option 2 the correct answer.

With a rich history in theater and visual arts, such as in the Cubist works of Gris, harlequins are depicted with vibrant, checkered costumes and engage in activities to delight and amuse the audience.