Pre-Shakespeare
Plays
Drama & Theatre
1200s: Drama=Liturgy (in church)
LatinBiblicalShortSung in chantsTheatre as prayer
LatinBiblicalShortSung in chantsTheatre as prayer
1400s: Miracle & “Mystery” Plays
= a play of the miracle in the life of Jesusi.e. The Second Shepherd’s PlayDrama as pageantLocal vernacular (Latin to English)Pedagogical tools, like sermonsLively and engagingPerformed by Guilds: trade groups (cf
Midsummer Night’s Dream)
= a play of the miracle in the life of Jesusi.e. The Second Shepherd’s PlayDrama as pageantLocal vernacular (Latin to English)Pedagogical tools, like sermonsLively and engagingPerformed by Guilds: trade groups (cf
Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Mystery Plays, cont’d
Religious, serious Dialogue Chauvenistic Pageant: songs,
music=spectacle Comic:
farcical/burlesque “realistic” Feast Day
celebrations
Religious, serious Dialogue Chauvenistic Pageant: songs,
music=spectacle Comic:
farcical/burlesque “realistic” Feast Day
celebrations
Cycles: a series of playsPresent all of Sacred History Creation of world to End of
Time Emphasis on human history:
Fall of mankind Consequences of the fall Original Sin redeemed
NativityIncarnationPassion of Christ
Present all of Sacred History Creation of world to End of
Time Emphasis on human history:
Fall of mankind Consequences of the fall Original Sin redeemed
NativityIncarnationPassion of Christ
1500s: Luther’s Time
Drama = SermonStaged debate
StaticHumorlessMoralisticVery serious
Drama = SermonStaged debate
StaticHumorlessMoralisticVery serious
Morality Plays
Use of allegory, even in namesEverymanGood DeedsDeathKnowledge
Laid the groundwork for later plays
Use of allegory, even in namesEverymanGood DeedsDeathKnowledge
Laid the groundwork for later plays
Also Interludes
Dialogue between two or more persons
Performed during a break in a royal or noble banquet
Began as shorter morality plays, became increasingly secular and comedic
Dialogue between two or more persons
Performed during a break in a royal or noble banquet
Began as shorter morality plays, became increasingly secular and comedic
1600s: Shakespeare’s Time
Begins 1576 “The Theatre”
Drama = Spectacle, Anything Goes, BIG Longer plays More characters Longer time span
Does not follow the unities
Time Place Action
Begins 1576 “The Theatre”
Drama = Spectacle, Anything Goes, BIG Longer plays More characters Longer time span
Does not follow the unities
Time Place Action
Historical Context
England demonstrates political and naval strength
Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1587
Defeats Spanish Armada, 1588
England demonstrates political and naval strength
Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1587
Defeats Spanish Armada, 1588
UNIVERSITY WITS
University grads in 20s and 30s
Greatest: Christopher Marlowe “Kit”1564-1593 (@29)
Younger than Shakespeare with R&J
“Dr. Faustus”
University grads in 20s and 30s
Greatest: Christopher Marlowe “Kit”1564-1593 (@29)
Younger than Shakespeare with R&J
“Dr. Faustus”
ELIZABETHAN DRAMADefining Characteristic: Tragic
HeroTragedy: Universal pattern of divine and
human justice Tragedy teaches
Affirmation of God’s goodness and
His power to punish the wicked and avenge the righteous
Tragic conflict caused by human forces
Emphasis on moral responsibility
Defining Characteristic: Tragic Hero
Tragedy: Universal pattern of divine and
human justice Tragedy teaches
Affirmation of God’s goodness and
His power to punish the wicked and avenge the righteous
Tragic conflict caused by human forces
Emphasis on moral responsibility
MAJOR THEMES in Elizabeth Drama
Good opposing evil
Fall of the hero and rise of the villain
Revenge and counter-revenge
Comic intrigue
Good opposing evil
Fall of the hero and rise of the villain
Revenge and counter-revenge
Comic intrigue