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