SSC MTS Tier 118 Feb 2026Shift 2Reading Comprehension
Artaud and the Theatre of Cruelty

Antonin Artaud was associated with Surrealism and avant-garde theatre. His eventual departure from Surrealism made him develop the Theatre of Cruelty and publish its theories in the work called Theatre and Its Double. He removed the barrier between the performers and the audience. He made use of oversized props, lighting effects, groans, screams and verbal incantations to strike the audience's emotions and senses with an array of technical effects in order to make them face the unreal, ugly and grotesque pain. The whole idea of the theatre of cruelty was to leave a lasting impact on the psychology of the audience.

What led Antonin Artaud to develop the Theatre of Cruelty?

Answer और ExplanationAnswer and explanation

Answer: (D) His departure from Surrealism, which pushed him toward formulating a radical, sensory-driven performance style

passage में लिखा है “His eventual departure from Surrealism made him develop the Theatre of Cruelty.” यानी Surrealism से अलग होने के बाद ही उन्होंने Theatre of Cruelty विकसित किया। विकल्प D इसी बात को दोहराता है। शांत और चिंतनशील कथावाचन (calm, reflective storytelling) उनकी चौंकाने वाली शैली (shocking style) से बिल्कुल उल्टा है।

“His eventual departure from Surrealism made him develop the Theatre of Cruelty.” Option D restates this. Calm, reflective storytelling is the opposite of his shocking style.

बाकी Options उत्तर क्यों नहीं हैंWhy the other options are not the answer

A'rejection of traditional naturalism inspired by Stanislavsky's methods' क्रांतिकारी रंगमंच का उचित कारण प्रतीत हुआ। परंतु passage Theatre of Cruelty को Artaud के Surrealism से अलग होने से जोड़ता है।'rejection of traditional naturalism inspired by Stanislavsky's methods' sounds like a fitting reason for a radical theatre. But the passage links the Theatre of Cruelty to Artaud's departure from Surrealism.
B'psychological realism' और 'calm, reflective storytelling' गंभीर और नाटकीय प्रतीत हुए। परंतु Artaud की शैली झकझोरने वाली और इंद्रियगत थी, अतः शांत कथा-वाचन उसके विपरीत है।'psychological realism' and 'calm, reflective storytelling' sound serious and theatrical. But Artaud's style was shocking and sensory, so calm storytelling is the opposite.
C'revive classical Greek theatre' रंगमंच सुधारकों का परिचित लक्ष्य प्रतीत हुआ। परंतु passage में इसका उल्लेख नहीं है; Surrealism से Artaud का अलग होना उन्हें Theatre of Cruelty तक ले गया।'revive classical Greek theatre' sounds like a familiar goal for theatre reformers. But the passage does not mention it; Artaud's departure from Surrealism led him to the Theatre of Cruelty.

Source: SSC MTS Tier 1 · 18 Feb 2026 · Shift 2। Solution: Prashant Sir, Ramban।Source: SSC MTS Tier 1 · 18 Feb 2026 · Shift 2. Solution by Prashant Sir, from Ramban.