Medieval Theatre

Allegory, fictional literary narrative or artistic expression that conveys a symbolic meaning parallel to but distinct from, and more important than, the literal meaning. Allegory has also been defined as an extended metaphor. The symbolic meaning is usually expressed through personifications and other symbols. Related forms are the fable and the parable, which are didactic, comparatively short and simple allegories.

The art of allegory reached its height during the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century), especially in the work of the Italian poet Dante and the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, and during the Renaissance (14th century to 17th century). Two early examples of allegory are Le Roman de la Rose (13th century) by the French poets Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meunand The Vision of William Concerning Piers the Plowman (14th century), better known as Piers Plowman, which is attributed to the English poet William Langland. The former is an allegory of human love, the latter an allegorical protest against the clergy. In The Faerie Queene (Books I-III, 1590; Books IV-VI, 1596), the English poet Edmund Spenser conceals, beneath a surface of chivalric romance, a commentary on religious and ethical doctrines and on social conditions in 16th-century England. One of the greatest of all allegories is Pilgrim's Progress (first part published in 1678; second part published 1684) by the English writer John Bunyan, a prose narrative symbolically concerning the search for spiritual salvation.

Although modern authors generally favor less abstract, more personal symbolism, allegories are still written. One extremely popular example is Animal Farm (1945) by the English writer George Orwell.

Allegory can also be used as a technique for critical interpretation, even of works that were not originally intended to be allegorical. Thus, underlying beliefs that are present in a text without an author's conscious awareness can be examined as a way of better understanding the culture from which the text comes. In art, an allegorical painting or sculpture is one that has a symbolic meaning underlying the surface image.

Metaphor, use of a word or phrase denoting one kind of idea or object in place of another word or phrase for the purpose of suggesting a likeness between the two. Thus, in the biblical Book of Psalms, the writer speaks of God's law as “a light to his feet and a lamp to his path.” Other instances of metaphor are contained in the sentences “He uttered a volley of oaths” and “The man tore through the building.”

Simile, specific comparison by means of the words “like” or “as” between two kinds of ideas or objects. Examples of the simile are contained in the sentence “Christianity shone like a beacon in the black night of paganism” and in the line by the English poet William Wordsworth: “But, like a thirsty wind, to roam about.”

The Middle Ages

The theater was at its peak during the ancient Greek era. Theater continued during the Roman Empire, but was never as important as it had been earlier. We refer to the era after the fail of the Roman Empire as the Medieval Ages, the Middle Ages, or sometimes the Dark Ages. The church became the major force in the lives of the people at this time. At first the leaders of the church outlawed theater. They believed that it was vulgar and evil. Only a few groups of strolling players continued to perform.

After many years, the theater was reborn as part of the church services. At first, the priests enacted a short scene within the mass. The earliest of these scenes was the story of Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb at Easter. Later, other masses also had short scenes included. The name given to a short biblical scene was trope.

The tropes were very popular. The priests soon realized they were a valuable way to tell the stories of the Bible. In time, the tropes became more elaborate, and the priests began to present more than one trope at a time. Soon the priests were presenting several tropes together to help celebrate certain festivals. The tropes that were shown together became known as cycles. The clergy built a small stage for each cycle inside the church. Each cycle told a complete story, and the congregation moved from one stage to the next to see each cycle.

Many of the clergy believed that staging the tropes was important but was taking too much of their time. Eventually, Pope Innocent II ordered that the tropes be moved outdoors. Members of the craft guilds (which trained and organized workers in each major occupation) replaced the clergy in the preparation of the tropes.

This new arrangement worked well. The clergy was able to devote more time to other church work. The members of the guilds were able to give their time working on the cycles as a means of helping the church. At times, workmen built small sets on a large platform on the steps to the church. They then presented a cycle in front of each set. The audience gathered in front of the platform to watch the entire series of cycles.

In other towns, cycles were presented on several carts, called pageant wagons. These carts resembled floats in today’s parades. The audience gathered at several locations. Each pageant wagon stopped at each location. They presented their trope and then moved to the next location and presented it again. Then the wagon following them presented the next trope in the cycle. All of the wagons stopped at each place until they had presented all the cycles at all of the locations.

Theater had regained importance by the end of the Middle Ages. At the end of the era, writers began producing secular or non-religious plays again.

Middle Ages Worksheet Name:

Theatre Arts I Period:

After reading the handout, please answer the following questions:

1. What is the period following the fall of the Roman Empire known as (give 3 names)?

2. Why was theater outlawed for a time?

3. Who were the only performers in the early Medieval era?

4. In what institution was theater reborn?

5. What was a trope?

6. What was a set of tropes performed together known as?

7. Where were the tropes originally presented?

8. To whom did the clergy turn production of scenes over? Why?

9. What was the function of the pageant wagons?

10. What types of plays were becoming popular by the end of the MiddleAges?