History of Medieval Drama Cuyamaca College中世纪戏剧史Cuyamaca学院.pptVIP

History of Medieval Drama From Roman Spectacle to Miracle, Morality and Mystery Plays Roman Times EVERYMAN 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 14C - 16C in northern England (200 years) 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 How were Mystery Plays Staged? pageant wagons drawn in a procession through the town individual fixed scaffolds acting in the round (arena theatre) methods of production may have varied * * 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 drama revived within the liturgy of 10C Christian Church “dramatic” elements in the services from ritual to drama the Easter Quem quaeritis trope illustrates bible story 11th and 12th Century Drama 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 Miracle Play = saint’s play popular from 12th century CE dramatization of life, martyrdom or miracles of a saint emphasis on lurid adventure and