8.1 Origins and development of medieval drama

Medieval drama emerged from religious services, evolving into elaborate performances. Liturgical dramas on church steps gave way to vernacular plays, making stories accessible to wider audiences. This shift reflected growing literacy and cultural participation.

Cycle plays, organized by craft guilds, covered biblical events on pageant wagons. These community events paved the way for more secular themes. Morality plays and social commentary emerged, setting the stage for Renaissance drama and Shakespeare's works.

Origins of Medieval Drama

Religious Roots of Medieval Drama

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• Liturgical drama emerged from religious services in the medieval church
  • Dramatizations of biblical stories and religious themes performed by clergy
  • Intended to educate the largely illiterate population about Christian teachings
• Feast days, such as Easter and Christmas, became occasions for more elaborate liturgical dramas
  • Clergy would reenact events like the Nativity or the Resurrection
  • These performances gradually moved from inside the church to the church steps or churchyard to accommodate growing audiences

Development of Vernacular Drama

Rise of Vernacular Language in Drama

• Vernacular drama developed as performances began to be written and performed in the common language of the people (Middle English) rather than Latin
  • Reflected the growing literacy and cultural participation of the laity
  • Made the plays more accessible and engaging for wider audiences

Cycle Plays and Their Organization

• Cycle plays, also known as mystery plays, were extensive series of biblical dramas
  • Covered major events from the Creation to the Last Judgment
  • Divided into individual episodes called pageants, each depicting a specific story or scene
• Cycle plays were often organized and performed by craft guilds
  • Each guild was responsible for a specific pageant that usually had some connection to their trade (e.g., the shipwrights' guild performing Noah's Ark)
  • This sponsorship was a matter of civic pride and religious devotion for the guilds

Staging and Performance of Cycle Plays

• Pageant wagons, mobile stages on wheels, were used to transport the scenery and actors from one location to another
  • Allowed the cycle plays to be performed at multiple locations throughout a city
  • Each wagon would stop at a designated spot, perform its pageant, then move on to the next location while the following pageant took its place
• The cycle plays were major community events, often taking several days to complete the entire cycle
  • Involved the participation of a large portion of the town's population as actors, stagehands, and audience members

Transition to Secular Drama

Secularization of Dramatic Themes and Forms

• Over time, medieval drama began to incorporate more secular themes and influences
  • While still often religious in nature, plays started to include comic elements, social commentary, and contemporary references
  • Morality plays emerged, which were allegorical dramas that personified abstract qualities such as virtues and vices (e.g., Everyman)
• The secularization of drama reflected broader social and cultural changes in the late medieval period
  • Growing urban populations, increasing wealth and education among the middle classes
  • Weakening of the Church's authority and the rise of humanist thought
• This shift towards secular themes and forms paved the way for the development of Renaissance drama in the 16th century
  • Playwrights like Shakespeare would draw upon the dramatic traditions established in the medieval period while exploring a wider range of human experiences and emotions