mystery play
Medieval religious theater
A mystery play is a medieval dramatic form depicting biblical stories, especially episodes from the life of Christ or the Old Testament.
These plays were performed by trade guilds in towns across Europe, often on wagons that moved through the streets.
The term comes from an old sense of mystery meaning craft or trade guild, not from the modern sense of something unknown.
The York mystery plays are still performed today.
Repeating sequence of events
- guildsCraftsmen's mutual aid societies
- Corpus ChristiLatin for Christ's body
- craftsmenSkilled manual trade workers
- wagonWheeled hauling vehicle
Chester · York · Wakefield · pageant · tableaux · townsfolk · feast · civic
Those playing roles
- stageRaised performance platform
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
- costumesClothes for assuming roles
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
rehearsal · troupe · mansions · processional · vernacular · guildsmen · outdoor · street theater
Intense emotional drive
- crucifixionExecution by cross
- resurrectionRevival from death
- nativityState of being born
- miracleSupernatural occurrence beyond explanation
creation · fall · exodus · Noah · Abraham · prophets · apostles · Last Judgment
Moral goodness or merit
- viceBad habit or deputy
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- EverymanArchetypal human figure
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
conscience · sin · redemption · salvation · penance · good · evil · personification
Quantity of matter
- church dramaPerformance in worship setting
- tropesRecurring thematic conventions
- EasterResurrection commemoration day
- ChristmasWinter nativity celebration
Latin · clergy · cathedral · chant · religious instruction · feast days · church year
cycle
Repeating sequence of events
- guildsCraftsmen's mutual aid societies
- Corpus ChristiLatin for Christ's body
- craftsmenSkilled manual trade workers
wagon · Chester · York · Wakefield · pageant · tableaux · townsfolk · feast · civic · patronage
actors
Those playing roles
- stageRaised performance platform
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
- costumesClothes for assuming roles
dialogue · rehearsal · troupe · mansions · processional · vernacular · guildsmen · outdoor · street theater · episodes
passion
Intense emotional drive
- crucifixionExecution by cross
- resurrectionRevival from death
- nativityState of being born
miracle · creation · fall · exodus · Noah · Abraham · prophets · apostles · Last Judgment · Cain and Abel
virtue
Moral goodness or merit
temptation · conscience · sin · redemption · salvation · penance · good · evil · personification · Death
mass
Quantity of matter
- church dramaPerformance in worship setting
- tropesRecurring thematic conventions
- EasterResurrection commemoration day
Christmas · Latin · clergy · cathedral · chant · religious instruction · feast days · church year
mystery playfarce
Absurd, laughable situation
vaudeville · burlesque · satire · pantomime · interlude
mystery playcommercial theater
Profit-motivated live performance venue
Greek tragedy · classical drama · Broadway show · repertory theater · avant-garde theater
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