Mystery plays, together with miracle plays, are among the earliest formally developed plays of medieval Europe, staging Bible stories in churches as tableaux accompanied by antiphonal song, on subjects including the Creation, Adam and Eve, the murder of Abel and the Last Judgment. They were often performed together in cycles that could last for days.
Facts
Place of OriginMedieval Europe; living tableaux were introduced into church services as early as the fifth century, developing from simple liturgical tropes into more elaborate drama. 1 Notable ExampleThe York cycle of forty-eight pageants, one of four complete or nearly complete extant English biblical play collections, alongside the Towneley, Ludus Coventriae and Chester cycles. 1 Defining TraitA form of medieval religious drama that represented Bible stories, such as the Creation, the murder of Abel and the Last Judgment, as tableaux in churches with accompanying song, often performed together in cycles lasting for days. 1 Connections
Sources
1. Mystery Play (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section
Medieval mystery plays focused on the representation of Bible stories in churches as tableaux with accompanying antiphonal song. They told of subjects such as the Creation, Adam and Eve, the murder of Abel, and the Last Judgment. Often they were performed together in cycles which could last for days.
'English mystery plays' section
There are four complete or nearly complete extant English biblical collections of plays. A collection is the York cycle of forty-eight pageants; there are also the Towneley plays of thirty-two pageants; the Ludus Coventriae; and the Chester cycle of twenty-four pageants, now generally agreed to be an Elizabethan reconstruction of older medieval traditions.
'Origins' section
As early as the fifth century, living tableaux were introduced into sacred services. The plays originated as simple tropes, verbal embellishments of liturgical texts, and slowly became more elaborate.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.