Medieval theatre - Anul I literatura (Nicolaescu), Engleza A PDF

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Anul I literatura (Nicolaescu), Engleza A...

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Mode of community life and self-expression (ritualized) Peak- 14th century; wane- 16th century (Reformation, professional theatre) Where :ubiquitous ( outdoors : market-place and town fairs, commons, indoors: banquet hall, inns, universities) • When : seasonal (Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday,-spring festivals) Types of medieval theatre • • •

Folk-games (reprocessed pagan rituals): Robin Hood Plays, Maygames (maypole dance), Sword dance, St George and the Dragon – the fool= centre of vitality • Cycles: Biblical subject matter (the life of Christ or of saints, the Genesis, the 2 nd Judgment=> the History of the World) • Moralities: non-biblical topics, abstractions, psychomachia, moral message, the Vice figure Everyman •

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Dies irae- God’s wrath, to follow God versus to follow the World, Man’s obedience Memento mori- the Dance of Death, the brevity of life versus everlasting death/life Ars moriendi- fear of unexpected death=> the need for a timely preparation for death (Knowledge, Good Deeds, Rituals), preparation for death >> denial of worldly pleasures (Riches, Kindred, Fellowship) and radical disentanglement and separation from the World ( 5 Wits, no partner on the journey => solitude and Angst) PEDAGOGY OF FEAR The final reckoning- God’s overwhelming presence/God- the supreme judge and ruler – not Christ the man=> man’s awareness of finitude and his helplessness in front of the angry God (major message – see PROLOGUE) – God ~ a feudal Lord, Death = his captain and also the one who starts the initiation process for Everyman – Everyman = a subject/vassal, a fool (stupidus), an initiand, – Who are the vices? Is there a relation vice –fool? Double books: religious pageants; courtyards – Symbolic vertical structure: Heavens, the Earth, Hell Indoors : undefined space in a hall, dubbing, quick change of costumes, scarcity of properties Close audience-actors communication –audience all around, actors mingle with them => topical issues intermingled with the general (biblical/abstract) subject matter, – costumes: not-historical but symbolic – Acting style – presentational, not mimetic, strict conventions (high vs. low characters) The use of prologues and epilogues...