History of Medieval Drama
From Roman Spectacle to
Miracle, Morality and Mystery
Plays
Roman Times
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Early Church Fathers
tried to suppress
spectacles of later Roman
empire
Christian emperors
banned public acting
Cessation of drama in
western Europe until 10th
century CE
Dramatic Liturgy and Liturgical Drama
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drama revived within
the liturgy of 10C
Christian Church
“dramatic” elements
in the services
from ritual to drama
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the Easter Quem
quaeritis trope
illustrates bible story
11th and 12th Century Drama
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Easter, Christmas and Innocents’
Day drama
“non-liturgical” dramatizations of
other stories from the Bible, e.g.
Temptation of Adam and Eve, Daniel
in the Lions’ Den, Raising of
Lazarus
significant embellishment of Biblical
text
sophisticated creations of learned
men; works of wisdom and piety, not
designed to educate laity
began to be staged outside the
church
Miracle Plays
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Miracle Play = saint’s play
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popular from 12th century CE
dramatization of life, martyrdom
or miracles of a saint
emphasis on lurid adventure and miraculous
happenings fantastic stories, highly
sensational
free of Biblical constraints that characterized
most church drama, but combined tale of
adventure with act of worship often performed
in church on the saint’s (feast) day
The Morality Play
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new genre for theatre in early 14th century
dramatization of spiritual crisis in the life of a
representative individual Christian
allegorical method of presentation - personified
abstractions representing good and evil [Death
shown as a person for ex]
designed to instruct the faithful in correct
behavior
a formative influence on Renaissance drama
EVERYMAN
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Themes: Way to Salvation, Death, Worldly
Encumbrances, The Sacraments, Priesthood, Power
of the Church, Grace & Works.
Symbols: Characters (Everyman et. al.), Book of
Reckoning, The Journey, The Scourge, The Hole
Passages: Death Arrives, EM appeals to Goods, Good
Deeds is bound, Confession & Penance, Digression on
Priests, EM enters the grave.
Structure: Allegory, Morality Play.
Context: Sacramental System,
Rise of Merchants,
Mystery Plays
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14C - 16C in northern England (200 years)
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drawn from books of the Bible; portrays divine history of
the world
very long, up to 16 hours
divided into episodes, or pageants
staged outdoors
in the vernacular (Middle English),
not in Latin
whole community was involved
(church/town)
notable for scope, scale
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How were Mystery Plays Staged?
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pageant wagons
drawn in a procession
through the town
individual fixed
scaffolds
acting in the round
(arena theatre)
methods of
production may have
varied