Module 2: History of Drama
2.2. Drama of the Middle Ages

Medieval drama has a rich history, dating back to the earliest Christian rites in Europe. In the middle of the X-XI centuries, the mysteries began-dramatic performances based on biblical stories. They were presented in temples and churches, and served an educational purpose for the illiterate population.

Mystery plays were one of the main forms of medieval drama and were cycles of dramatic performancesй. They were intended for the education and moral education of a medieval audience.

The authors of the mysteries remained anonymous, and the works were created collectively by ecclesiastical communities or guilds of artisans. However, we do know that the mysteries were developed and performed in various parts of Europe, including France, England, Germany, and other countries.

Well-known mystery centers were the York Mystery Cycles in England and the Grenoble and Rouen cycles in France. These cycles included a number of representations, starting with the creation of the world and ending with the judgment of God and the Day of Judgment. They usually consisted of several parts and could last for several days.

The authorship of the mysteries remains unknown, because they were created and performed by groups, which is why they are often called "anonymous mysteries". These works were an important part of the medieval dramatic tradition and influenced the development of European theater.

In the Middle Ages, moralizing games and morales also appeared, which included allegorical characters representing virtues and vices. These performances were used for moral and religious instruction.

Moralitety (or moralitety) is another form of medieval drama that developed in parallel with the mysteries. Moralities were allegorical representations in which characters represented virtues and vices, fought for a person's soul, and taught moral lessons.

The authors of the moralities remained unknown, like the authors of the mysteries, and these works were also created by collectives or guilds. Moralities were popular in the XIV-XVI centuries and were widely distributed in Europe.

Well-known examples of moralities are "Everyman" and "Mankind". "Everyman" is an allegorical morality play in which the character Everyman represents humanity and faces the challenge of death. This work is one of the most famous and influential moralists of the time.

The authors of moralities sought to convey moral lessons and moral values through theatrical art and allegorical characters, which made them an important part of the medieval dramatic tradition.

In the 14th century, comedies and farces became popular in Europe, which were often presented at festive events. By this time, professional acting troupes had also begun to appear.

Comedy in medieval drama was a variety of works that were focused on the sexual attraction and laughter of the audience. Some characteristics and features of comedy in medieval drama:

1.       Satire: Comedies often contained satirical elements that criticized various aspects of society, religion, or politics. These works could use humor and irony to express their views.

2. Humorous characters: Medieval drama comedies often featured colorful and humorous characters, such as clowns, comic servants, or absurd figures. Their actions and dialogues made the audience laugh.

3.     Intrigue and Confusion: Comedy plots could involve intricate intrigue, misunderstandings, and confusion, which created comic situations.

4.    Masks and costumes: Actors in comedies often used masks and costumes to enhance the comic effect and exaggerate their characters.

5.     Public performances: It is important to note that medieval drama was often presented in streets, squares, or churchyards, and it was accessible to a wide audience, including both educated and uneducated people.

Famous comedies of medieval drama included works such as "Lazarillo de Tormes", a 16th-century Spanish work, or "Il Generale", a 13th-century Italian comedy.

Comedy in medieval drama served both as entertainment and as a means of expressing the socio-cultural and political ideas of the time.

Farces in medieval drama were light comedic works that were focused on creating laughter and entertaining the audience. Characteristics and features of farces in medieval drama:

1.   Brevity and lightness: Farces were short and funny plays that were usually several minutes or hours long. They were intended for brief entertainment.

2.     Humorous scenarios: The plots of farces were often based on absurd and comical situations. These could include misunderstandings, confusion, and comical twists and turns.

3.     Comic characters: The farces featured vivid and caricatured characters. They were often stereotypical, but they also made the audience laugh.

4.    Physical humor: Farces could contain physical humor, such as falls, fights, or other comic elements that required acting skills.

5.     Satire and parody: Some farces have used satire and parody to criticize various sociocultural phenomena or societal shortcomings.

6.     Use of dialects and accents: Actors could use different dialects and accents to create a comic effect and enhance the characters.

Farces were popular in medieval Europe and provided an opportunity for people of various social classes to enjoy humor and satire. Famous examples of the farces of medieval drama are "Le Farce de Maître Pathelin" and "Till Eulenspiegel".