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Middle Ages/Medieval Theatre

Middle Ages/Medieval Theatre. 500-1500 A.D. Rules Against Drama. The Church took over many functions of leadership in Europe in the absence of a powerful monarch or government.

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Middle Ages/Medieval Theatre

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  1. Middle Ages/Medieval Theatre 500-1500 A.D.

  2. Rules Against Drama • The Church took over many functions of leadership in Europe in the absence of a powerful monarch or government. • Church leaders believed that since Greek dramas were filled with pagan gods & legends, all plays should be kept away from people. • Rules were made against drama & against those who participated in it, which lasted several hundred years. Salisbury Cathedral, England http://www.stonehenge-stone-circle.co.uk/bath-guided-tours.htm

  3. Theodora, the Byzantine Queen • During the Byzantine Period (Eastern Roman Empire), laws were changed so that Emperor Justinian could marry the actress Theodora. • She influenced many of his political decisions. She also helped to make acting in plays more popular than ever. • Some believe she helped abolish the laws against acting and theatre. http://www.kingsacademy.com/mhodges/11_Western-Art/09_Byzantine/09_Byzantine.htm

  4. Theatre Seen as an Advantage http://www.claymoreslinger.com/medieval_costume.asp • The Church’s official language was Latin, but the Byzantine people could only understand Greek. • Few people could read the scriptures for themselves. • Theatre became a way for the Church to communicate religious messages to the general public in a clear & powerful way. • This brought people together from many different lands & languages.

  5. Tropes & Pantomime • Trope – The first of the Church dramas; short musical plays based on important Biblical events. • Pantomime – Later, Church actors acted without using words so everyone could understand the action. • Mime – Pantomime performer. • Music was often added to make the plays & pantomimes more interesting. http://department.monm.edu/theatre/Rankin/Classes/THEA171/Lectures/medieval%20mansions.htm

  6. Three New Kinds of Plays Drawing of a mystery play • Mystery – Focused on the mysterious nature of God’s power. Ex. The Mystery of Adam – Stories of Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, & prophets who foreshadow the coming of Christ. • Miracle – Focused on the accomplishments of apostles & saints. • Morality – Attempted to teach a moral lesson to the audience by using allegorical (symbolic) characters. http://www.props.eric-hart.com/education/medieval-theatre-and-trade-guilds/

  7. Everyman, A Morality Play Everyman and Death • A symbolic character in a morality play may have represented all mankind, or a vice/virtue like greed, anger, or mercy. • The most popular medieval morality play, Everyman, is a symbolic drama of how God sends Death to make Everyman, a sinful human, account for his deeds. EM seeks help from characters such as Fellowship, Worldly Possessions, Wisdom & Good Deeds. In the end, he regains his faith & is saved, and Death is defeated. http://www.msuiit.edu.ph/ipag/studies/drama/topics/everyman.html

  8. Hrosvitha, World’s First Female Playwright • A nun from Gandersheim, a tiny hamlet in northern Germany. • All 6 of her plays survive. • She did not live long enough to see grand productions of her plays. • Her plays were published nearly 500 years after her death. • They were popular & influenced the way many writers of the day wrote. Her contributions to ministry & drama would last forever. http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/place_settings/image.php?i=17&image=482&b=bio

  9. Answer in Complete Sentences!! • 1.) Why was it difficult for Justinian to marry Theodora? • 2.) What was the official language of the medieval Church? • 3.) What is a mime? • 4.) What were the three new types of plays started after tropes? • 5.) What was the name of the most popular medieval play? What kind of play was it? • 6.) Which woman had the greatest influence on church drama? In your own words, explain why.

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