Concetti Chiave
- Miracle plays originated as religious performances commemorating Christian events, initially held in churches and later staged outdoors by trade guilds.
- Actors in miracle plays were typically paid but not considered professional, often performing on movable stage wagons known as pageants.
- Morality plays featured characters representing human vices and virtues, marking an early step towards psychological character interpretation, with "Everyman" being the most famous.
- The plot of "Everyman" revolves around a middle-class merchant summoned by Death, realizing that only Good Deeds will accompany him, highlighting themes of materialism and divine authority.
- Interludes, developed in the 15th century, were short plays featuring both serious and comic elements, often performed by small acting companies in noble households.
Origins of miracle plays
Miracle plays were linked to religion to commemorate christian events.
At first they took place in churches, then outside. They were Staged by members of trade guilds on pageants (movable stage wagons). Actors were generally paid but not regarded as professional actors.
Morality plays: characters were personifications of human vices and virtues (1st step towards a psychological interpretation of characters). The plots were invented. The most popular is everyman.
The Actors were an association formed to act often under protection of a lord.
Plot of everyman
Everyman: it is a work of the end of 15 century. It appeared first on the continent (in fact it was a dutch play) and then in England. It was first transmitted by the oral tradition and then entered in the theatres financed by town artisants and merchants.it can be considered as a dramatic version of ars moriendi (the art of dying) and timor mortis (the fear of death).
Plot: everyman is summoned by death and finds out that none of his friends will accompany him. He asks fellowship, beauty strength but they desert him. Only good deeds is faithful to him and he realizes that none of the things he loved during his hearty life will help him. He’s a merchant (middle class) and makes profits. God is vindictive and harsh while everyman is honest and has lived his life with little excesses. God is cruel because men are too linked to material things. He’s the image of authority that denies the middle class the right to enjoy what they conquered in life.
Characteristics of interludes
Interlude: it was developed in the 15th century and consisted in a short play. Actors took part at a Small acting company and acted in the lord’s house. There were both Serious and comic elements with witty games of words. The Technics used: the vice (dramatic); the disguise.
Domande da interrogazione
- What were the origins and evolution of miracle plays?
- What is the significance of the play "Everyman" in the context of morality plays?
- How did interludes differ from other theatrical forms of the 15th century?
Miracle plays originated as religious performances to commemorate Christian events. Initially held in churches, they later moved outside and were staged by trade guild members on movable stage wagons. Although actors were paid, they were not considered professionals.
"Everyman," a late 15th-century play, is a notable morality play that personifies human vices and virtues, marking a step towards psychological character interpretation. It explores themes of mortality and materialism, depicting Everyman's realization that only good deeds accompany him in death, highlighting the futility of earthly attachments.
Interludes, developed in the 15th century, were short plays performed by small acting companies in a lord's house. They combined serious and comic elements with witty wordplay, utilizing techniques like dramatic vice and disguise, distinguishing them from other theatrical forms of the time.
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