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Tuesday, Oct. 2 - Theater. 3 types. Miracle plays Mystery plays Morality plays. Miracle plays.
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3 types • Miracle plays • Mystery plays • Morality plays
Miracle plays • “A miracle play presents a real or fictitious account of the life, miracles, or martyrdom of a saint. By 1200’s, they had been divorced from church services and were performed at public festivals. Almost all surviving miracle plays concern either the Virgin Mary or St. Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor.” • (Encyclopedia Brittanica online)
more • “Both Mary and Nicholas had active cults during the Middle Ages, and belief in the healing powers of saintly relics was widespread.” Characters included “the devil, a woman falsely accused of murdering her own child, and a pregnant abbess.” • “ Typical of these is a play called St. John the Hairy. At the outset the title character seduces and murders a princess. Upon capture, he is proclaimed a saint by an infant. He confesses his crime, whereupon God and Mary appear and aid John in reviving the princess, which done, the murderer saint is made a bishop.”
Why people knew Bible stories: medieval theater • Nothing like we have • Connected to the church
Mystery Plays • Put on by guilds (= “mysteries”) • On top of a wagon (which sometimes would be paraded into town) • Told Biblical stories to illiterate people • Very elaborate, involving hundreds of people • Still ongoing in places like York and Chester
Wagons • Sometimes quite simple
Evolved until it is more elaborate 2012 York Mystery Cycle • York Mystery Cycle • What does this remind you of?
York mystery plays • Each guild puts on one part, such as Guild of Goldsmiths – Coming of the 3 Kings • Guild of Shipwrights – Building of the Ark • Guild of Butchers – Death of Christ
The “stars” • God • Jesus • Martyred saints • Eve being tempted by Satan • Fall of Adam • Noah and the Ark
First in Latin, then English • Characters: • Vices (Ignorance, Greed, Riot) • Virtues (Humility, Good Deeds) • The Devil
Everyman may go to the devil A Simple Everyman Play