Middle Ages
Middle Ages Roman society was scattered, but the main focal point stability was the Roman Catholic Church. Church’s power was centralized in Rome under Pope. Society was primary agrarian. Developed the Feudal system or Feudalism. Three major categories of people; Lords and counts controlled large areas if land and protected less wealthy landholders. Vassals – lessor lords who controlled smaller areas of land. Agreed to provide military service Peasants or serfs – attached to their lord’s land and required to work. Wider spread of knowledge. By the year 1500 there were over 100 universities in Europe. Rebirth of Towns Main form of expression was religion. Religious communities served as centers of scholarship and intellectual life.
Hrosvitha (Ros-ve-ta)
Hrosvitha (Ros-ve-ta) Earliest Known Female Dramatist. Nun in a convent in Germany who wrote plays patterned on those of the Roman dramatist Terence. Wrote six plays in the Terentain manner but using Christian stories. No evidence that her plays were intended for performance or even received performance in her own time
Liturgical Drama
Liturgical Drama Medieval drama was mostly religious, with most of the drama of the period being presented in the sanctuaries of churches and cathedrals. Mostly presented in monasteries, but as urban centers began to emerge, services incorporating the small dramas of the tropes were produced in churches and cathedrals.
Liturgical Drama Most of the dialogue would not have been understood by the audience as they were written in Latin. By the 13th century dramas would be presented in the languages spoken by ordinary people.
Vocabulary Vernacular – term for everyday speech.
Religious Vernacular Drama Three forms of dramas emerged; Cycle Miracle Morality
Mystery or Cycle Plays Plays filled with anachronisms Mystery plays dramatized series of biblical events, from the creation to the last judgement. Short dramas presented as part of a sequence. When a number of plays were presented in sequence they constituted a cycle Plays filled with anachronisms
Vocabulary Vernacular – term for everyday speech. Anachronisms – presenting characters and events outside their proper historical sequence.
Mystery or Cycle Plays Plays filled with anachronisms Mystery plays dramatized series of biblical events, from the creation to the last judgement. Short dramas presented as part of a sequence. When a number of plays were presented in sequence they constituted a cycle Plays filled with anachronisms Plays highlighted the spectacular Comedy was introduced to make the plays more appealing. Plays did not carry author names. All author’s listed as Anonymous English mystery plays are grouped in a series named for the places they were performed
Second Shepherds’ Play From the Wakefield Cycle
Miracle Plays Another form of religious drama. Instead of biblical tales, based on the lives of saints. So similar to mystery plays that there wasn’t any distinction between them till the 1700s.
Mortality Plays Attempts to teach a moral lesson through the use of allegorical characters.
Vocabulary Vernacular – term for everyday speech. Anachronisms – presenting characters and events outside their proper historical sequence. Allegory – people represent ideas; one character stands for charity, another for integrity, greed, ect
Mortality Plays Attempts to teach a moral lesson through the use of allegorical characters. Characters often undertake a journey though which they learn the moral lesson. Also called station dramas because during the journey the protagonist is confronted by a series of crises that can be seen as analogous to Christ’s journey through the “stations of the cross” Main characters are ordinary men and woman, rather than saints or biblical figures. Frequently the basis of these dramas is the struggle between two forces, one good and the other evil, for the soul of the main characters.
Everyman