Medieval Drama

1
Medieval Drama
2

• After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 600s
  AD, came a period known to us as the DARK AGES.

• The Church was the only stable government.

3
During the dark ages, the suppression of science
and exploration resulted in hundreds of years of
disease and ignorance.
Almost all Medieval art, such as paintings and
music, centered on religious subjects.
This was because the church, whose hold on
society was extremely tight, demanded that it be
so.
4
EXAMPLES OF MEDIEVAL ART
5
(No Transcript)
6
The church disapproved of performing and visual
arts that took subjects other than the Bible
stories of their focus.
Eventually, because of the churchs disapproval,
theatre all but disappeared (around 500 to 800
AD).
Between 925 and 975, drama becomes re-introduced
into the church services. Theatre was reborn
within the very institution that helped to shut
it down.
7
The church had little choice in re-introducing
drama It couldnt stop the PAGAN rites (pagans
where people who did not acknowledge the God of
Christianity).
Churches started to dramatize EASTER. This,
eventually, led to Christmas, the Raising of
Lazarus and the Driving of the Money Changers
From The Temple.
Thus, the whole story of the life and death and
resurrection of Jesus could be presented in
dialogue in the church for the enlightenment of
the ignorant population in the dark ages.
8
Dramatic forms during the Middle Ages included
pageants consisting of Miracle and Morality
plays.
Pageants were a lengthy series of plays (usually
good vs. evil Bible stories approved by the
church).
Morality plays were intended to teach moral
lessons to common people.
Miracle plays depicted lives of saints and church
figures.
These plays were acted on wagon stages pulled
past the audience lining the village street.
Church officials and wealthy or
politically-connected viewers sat high on
bleachersto enjoy the best view.
9
Whether in church or on a pageant wagon, a lack
of stage scenery caused the audience to use their
imaginations.
Stock characters in painted faces evolved,
especially in roles intended to portray evil
figures, angels or even God.
Womens roles were always played by men and boys,
as had been the case from the time of Ancient
Greece.
10
MEDIEVAL DRAMA NOTES
1. Church was in absolute power during the
medieval period (middle ages). ALL ART FORMS HAD
TO BE RELIGIOUS BASED.
2. The church got rid of drama, but had to bring
it back to get the common people to come back so
they could teach them.

• Drama forms of the Medieval period
• Morality plays plays intended to teach moral
  lessons to the common people.
• Miracle plays plays that told the story of
  saints or church figures.

4. The main theme of Medieval Drama GOOD
REWARDED EVIL PUNISHED!!
5. Pageants plays performed on wagons that
were pulled past the audience lining the streets.