Emergency Lesson Plan

Instruction Sheet

Medieval Theatre:
Mystery, Miracle, Morality

Lesson Overview
A look at the three types of plays performed in the Medieval Theatre era.

Objectives
To read and respond to the Medieval Theatre Handout. To reinforce elements of the three types of
plays performed in the Medieval Theatre era.

Instructions
Read the handout Medieval Theatre: Mystery, Miracle, Morality.
Based on the given information, answer the questions on the Medieval Theatre Response Sheet.
Hand in the Medieval Theatre Response Sheet (Remember to write your name at the top) at the
end of class.

Materials Needed
Medieval Theatre Handout.
Medieval Theatre Response Sheet.
Paper.
Pen.

Theatrefolk
Original Playscripts
PO Box 1064
Crystal Beach, ON, L0S 1B0, Canada
1-866-245-9138
www.theatrefolk.com
 Medieval Theatre: Mystery, Miracle, Morality

The Last Supper

The Resurrection
In England, Mystery Plays were performed on
pageant wagons. Each wagon held a different story
and moved from location to location around the
town. Each wagon was also the responsibility of a
different trade guild (such as bakers, blacksmiths,
carpenters, and plasterers.) The guild produced
the play, took care of the wagon, built the sets, and
made the costumes. Guilds often received stories
Three types of plays grew out of the Medieval related to their craft.
period: Mystery, Miracle, and Morality. All three The shipwrights performed Noah's Ark.
flourished in different areas of Britain and Europe
and yet each had a short life. In England, for The goldsmiths performed the Three Wise
example, the plays were either changed or banned Men.
as Protestantism came into power.
The shepherds performed The Nativity.
Mystery Plays
Were the plays always serious?
Mystery Plays were based on scenes and stories
There is a misconception that Mystery Plays,
from The Bible and were often performed
because of their origin and subject matter, were
together in a series called a cycle. Depending on
dour and serious. Certainly some were. But as they
the cycle, the series could take all day, or span
moved away from the church's control, the more
multiple days. There are four intact cycles that
secular they became, and elements of humour
remain from the era: Wakefield, York, Chester, and
found their way through. For example, in The
N-town. The Wakefield Cycle was the most comedic
Second Shepherds Play, a shepherd and his wife
and irreverent of the four, often mentioning
steal a sheep and try to hide it for comic effect.
contemporary events. Chester was the most faithful
They pretend the sheep is their newborn son.
to the religious nature of the original stories. In the
N-town Cycle, N stands for the Latin word nomen Even in the Medieval era, theatre had to relate to
which means name. Any town could use their own its audience. The Medieval audience could not read
name for that cycle. Cycles could range from the or write. For the most part they were blue collar
Fall of the Angels to Judgement Day. A common working men and women. In order for the plays
theme of Mystery Plays was to show a fall, then to connect to the audience, they had to speak the
Redemption. Story examples include: language of the audience, have modern references,
and feature characters who were familiar to their
Adam and Eve
audience.
Abraham and Isaac

Theatrefolk
Original Playscripts
PO Box 1064
Crystal Beach, ON, L0S 1B0, Canada
1-866-245-9138
www.theatrefolk.com
 Medieval Theatre: Mystery, Miracle, Morality

The Origin of the term Mystery Play Morality Play represents all humanity: Everyman,
Mankind, Humanum Genus. The theme of every
There are a number of different views as to how Morality Play dealt with the struggle for salvation
Mystery Plays came to be called such. What can man do to be a Christian and save his
The word mystery also means religious soul? The main character must make a conscious
truth. decision against temptation to be saved, thus
showing the free will of man. It's the universal
From the French mystre, meaning secret. battle between good and evil. Vice versus virtue.
Which will mankind choose?
That it has to do with the trade guilds who
performed the plays. Craftspeople were Morality Plays usedallegory. Allegory is often seen
called misterium. in Medieval Drama, where a message or meaning is
expressed through symbolic representation: ideas
Miracle Plays
and values, vices and virtues become personified.
The Miracle Plays were some of the earliest in Some examples: the character of Knowledge
the era, developing during the 12th century. In inEveryman,The Seven Deadly Sins inThe Castle
some areas the terms Miracle and Mystery are of Perseverance,Mercy and Mischief inMankind.
interchangeable when describing Medieval drama,
As with Mystery Plays, it's easy to assume that
particularly in reference to English plays. But
Morality Plays are serious from beginning to end.
true Miracle Plays have their own focus. Instead
Many used humour to tell their story. The main
of Bible stories, they dramatized the lives, the
character in Everymanhas to find a companion to
legends and miracles of Roman Catholic saints.
go with him to God. His cousin explains he can't
This type of religious drama flourished in France
go because he has a cramp in his toe
with writers such as Jean Bodel and Rutebeuf.
Some of the saints most typically portrayed were
the Virgin Mary, St. George, and St. Nicholas.
Few examples exist today. Miracle Plays were
eventually banned in England because of their
Roman Catholic leanings.
Morality Plays
Continuing the development of Medieval
Drama, Morality Plays emerged during the
15th century. The Castle of Perseverance is often
described as the first and most complete Morality
Play while Everymanis the best known. Morality
Plays differ from Mystery and Miracle in that
they focused neither on The Bible nor the saints
but on the common man. The main character in a

Theatrefolk
Original Playscripts
PO Box 1064
Crystal Beach, ON, L0S 1B0, Canada
1-866-245-9138
www.theatrefolk.com
Medieval Theatre Response Sheet Name:_________________________________
Use the back if necessary.

1. How many Mystery Cycles remain intact to this day? What are their names?

2. What was the name of the first Morality Play?

3. What does allegory mean?

4. Name two examples of Bible stories used in Mystery Plays.

5. How were Mystery Plays performed?

6. Who produced the Mystery Plays?

7. What is the definition of a Miracle Play?

8. Where did Miracle Plays flourish?

9. Name two writers of Miracle Plays.

10. What is the best known Morality Play?

11. Who is the main character in every Morality Play.

12. What is the main theme in a Morality Play?

13. What is one possible origin for term Mystery Play?

14. Give an example of an allegorical character.

15. What does nomen mean?

16. Why were Miracle Plays eventually banned in England?

17. True or False? Mystery Plays were always serious. Explain your answer.

Theatrefolk
Original Playscripts
PO Box 1064
Crystal Beach, ON, L0S 1B0, Canada
1-866-245-9138
www.theatrefolk.com