📚Middle English Literature Unit 8 – Middle English Drama: Mystery & Morality Plays

Historical Context

• Mystery and morality plays emerged in the Middle Ages as a form of religious instruction and entertainment for the largely illiterate population
• The plays were typically performed by trade guilds or religious organizations, often as part of religious festivals such as Corpus Christi
• The Church initially encouraged the development of these plays as a means of teaching biblical stories and moral lessons to the masses
• Over time, the plays began to incorporate more secular elements and humor, leading to some tension with religious authorities
• The plays were performed in vernacular Middle English, making them accessible to a wide audience
• The plays often drew large crowds and were an important part of medieval social and cultural life
• The plays were performed on pageant wagons that moved from one location to another, allowing for multiple performances in a single day

Key Characteristics

• Mystery plays focused on dramatizing stories from the Bible, particularly the creation, fall of man, and life of Christ
• Morality plays were allegorical works that personified virtues and vices, often depicting the journey of a representative human character (Everyman)
• The plays were typically divided into individual episodes or pageants, each depicting a specific biblical story or moral lesson
• The plays often featured anachronisms, blending contemporary medieval elements with biblical settings and characters
• The language of the plays was often simple and direct, using rhyme and meter to aid memorization and performance
• The plays frequently employed humor, satire, and even slapstick comedy to engage the audience and convey their messages
• Special effects, such as trapdoors and pyrotechnics, were sometimes used to enhance the spectacle of the performances
• Music and song were integral parts of the plays, helping to set the mood and convey emotions

Major Mystery Plays

• The York Cycle, a collection of 48 plays covering biblical history from creation to the Last Judgment
  • Notable plays include "The Creation and Fall of the Angels" and "The Crucifixion"
• The Wakefield Cycle, also known as the Towneley Plays, consisting of 32 plays
  • Famous for its lively dialogue and humorous depictions of biblical characters, such as Noah's wife in "The Flood"
• The Chester Cycle, a series of 24 plays performed by trade guilds
  • Known for its detailed stage directions and elaborate sets, as seen in "The Antichrist" play
• The N-Town Cycle, a collection of 42 plays that may have been performed in various cities
  • Features a mix of biblical and apocryphal stories, such as "The Woman Taken in Adultery"

Popular Morality Plays

• "Everyman," the most famous morality play, depicting the allegorical journey of the title character towards death and judgment
  • Emphasizes the importance of good deeds and the sacraments in attaining salvation
• "The Castle of Perseverance," an elaborate play featuring a battle between virtues and vices for the soul of Mankind
  • Staged with a complex set featuring a castle, scaffolds, and a bed for Mankind
• "Mankind," a shorter play that focuses on the temptation and fall of the title character
  • Notable for its bawdy humor and the character of Titivillus, a comic devil who collects idle words
• "Wisdom," a play that explores the relationship between the soul and the divine wisdom of God
  • Features allegorical characters such as Anima (the soul) and Mind, Will, and Understanding

Themes and Symbolism

• The struggle between good and evil, often personified through virtues and vices
• The importance of repentance, confession, and the sacraments in attaining salvation
• The transitory nature of earthly life and the inevitability of death and judgment
• The role of free will in shaping one's spiritual destiny
• The dangers of sin and temptation, often represented by demonic characters like Lucifer or Titivillus
• The power of divine mercy and the possibility of redemption through Christ's sacrifice
• The use of allegorical characters to represent abstract concepts, such as the Seven Deadly Sins or the Four Daughters of God (Mercy, Peace, Righteousness, and Truth)
• The depiction of everyday medieval life and occupations within the context of biblical stories

Staging and Performance

• Plays were typically performed outdoors, often in public spaces such as town squares or churchyards
• Pageant wagons, mobile stages that could be moved from one location to another, were commonly used
  • Each wagon represented a specific location or scene, such as Heaven, Hell, or Earth
• Actors were usually amateur performers drawn from the local community, such as guild members or clergy
• Elaborate costumes and props were used to enhance the visual spectacle of the plays
  • Masks, wigs, and false beards were employed to help actors portray multiple characters
• Special effects, such as trapdoors, pulleys, and pyrotechnics, were used to create dramatic moments
  • The "Hell Mouth," a large, monstrous prop representing the entrance to Hell, was a popular feature
• Music, both instrumental and vocal, was an integral part of the performances
  • Songs were used to convey emotions, advance the plot, and engage the audience

Literary Techniques

• Allegory: the use of characters, events, and symbols to represent abstract ideas or moral principles
• Typology: the interpretation of Old Testament figures and events as prefigurations of New Testament counterparts
  • For example, the sacrifice of Isaac foreshadowing the crucifixion of Christ
• Anachronism: the inclusion of elements from the contemporary medieval world in the depiction of biblical stories
  • Such as Noah's wife using a spinning wheel or references to medieval occupations
• Rhyme and meter: the use of poetic devices to structure the dialogue and make it easier to memorize and perform
  • Many plays were written in rhyming couplets or stanzas
• Vernacular language: the use of Middle English rather than Latin, making the plays accessible to a wider audience
• Humor and satire: the incorporation of comic elements, often through slapstick or bawdy jokes, to engage and entertain the audience
• Repetition and recapitulation: the use of repeated phrases, themes, or plot points to reinforce key messages and aid comprehension

Legacy and Influence

• Mystery and morality plays played a significant role in the development of English drama, paving the way for later works like Elizabethan theater
• The plays helped to popularize the use of vernacular English in literary and dramatic works
• The allegorical and didactic elements of morality plays influenced later works, such as Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene"
• The plays' emphasis on spectacle and special effects contributed to the development of stagecraft and theater technology
• The use of anachronisms and contemporary references in the plays anticipated techniques used in later historical dramas
• The plays' blending of religious and secular elements foreshadowed the complex relationship between faith and art in English literature
• The plays' focus on the human condition and the struggle between good and evil continues to resonate with audiences and inspire modern adaptations and interpretations
• The communal nature of the plays' production and performance reflected the importance of civic engagement and shared cultural experiences in medieval society