The most significant contributions to the development of theater came from the Medieval Age. The rebirth of theater began at this time within the Church as a way to supplement the mass with religious based performances. As the performances developed and became increasingly complex, drama became increasingly secular which allowed for the expansion of topics outside of the religious realm. The medieval theater, while a setback from the great dramas of the Greek and Roman periods, gave major contributions such as the use of the vernacular and the development of more detailed and symbolic costumes.
The Church in the medieval age helped to establish the return of dramas as it incorporated elements as supplementation to the Mass. These plays were based on religious ideals and their plot was usually always based off of a Biblical story, such as the Passion. The redevelopment of the theater in the Church was significant in that it brought back drama but it was only used as a springboard to revitalize and expand theater throughout the Renaissance and Elizabethan age. The theater saw increasing secularization in the later part of the medieval age as plays were performed outside of the Church and covered less religious topics. The medieval age saw some of most important time in the history of drama as the theater returned after the Dark Ages and began its great expansion across Europe.
The medieval age also saw some of the greatest contributions to theater. The biggest influence on later theater was the changing of the language used in the plays from Latin to the vernacular. This was crucial in spreading drama as it allowed the lower classes to understand the performances and contributed to the expansion of theater across Europe in the R...
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... the Renaissance and Elizabethan age to build upon it. The medieval age saw the return of theater in the Church but would become increasingly secularized as theater expanded and matured. However the Church was instrumental in bringing about the return of drama in the medieval age which is what this time period is most remembered for. The change in the language from Latin to the vernacular and the development of costumes and props were major contributions that aided the expansion of the theater as well. No props, language, or costume has had a bigger impact on theater than one person, William Shakespeare. He is the most influential single figure in the entire history of drama and will always be remembered for his fantastic works. The theater has been influenced by countless elements and playwrights that have all contributed to the modern theater that is around today.
Elizabethan reign saw a sudden rise in the standards of the drama. The number of dramatic works increased along with the quality of writing.
In this textbook, Kenneth Muir compared the differences that existed in theatre during Shakespeare’s time and in modern theatre. Kenneth particularly analyzed the tastes, culture and styles used by the Elizabethan artists. However, the book also adopted a critical approach that sought to review the make-believe world that existed in the play. The book also analyzed the reality of the characters as well as their relevance in the contemporary world. Kenneth Muir was a literary scholar that concentrated on Shakespearian content for several years. The author was also a playwright and a poet. The book was written in a professional manner that covered the comparison in an elaborate manner.
In each and every culture theater exists. However, they are not always portrayed in the same way and could take up many different forms. What differ them from others is influenced by the convention of what governs them. What happen on stage depends on the conventions of the theater. Convention is define as “Rules governing a given style of theater, such as fourth-wall verisimilitude or bare stage. These rule should not be violated, but often are, as when actors “break” the fourth wall by delivering a line directly toward the audience” (Altshuler and Janaro 208). The condition governing the staging and performance are known as theatrical conventions, in which what the audiences agree to accept as what is real (Altshuler and Janaro 173). In comparing an Elizabethan and a modern theater to each other there are many differences and similarities between the two. By comparing William Shakespeare “Hamlet” to Lorraine Hansberry “A Raisin in the Sun”, we can see that there is a major difference between the two
Tragedies in the Greek and Renaissance theater were very effective in portraying the social and religious constraints that tainted society. Both playwrights, through the use of their ingenuity and vast literary knowledge were able to perfect and display such flawless spectacles. The differences and similarities between Greek tragedy and Renaissance tragedy, although vast, can be narrowed down to the audience. Greek and Renaissance theater targeted very different audiences that demanded a certain type of play in order to be entertained.
Secular drama, which prospered between 1550 and 1700 and was developed by Spain along with religious drama and was created by the same artists. Secular plays also known as
Plays at this time were a representation of life. People, at this time, did not have modern visual luxuries upon which to garner entertainment. Plays, as well as playwrights, were supposed to bring life to the people and life to the story,
The sixteenth century period and the influence of the Elizabethan era would have affected the way Shakespeare wrote his plays. The technological advance since the sixteenth century is considerable. We believe Shakespeare's theatre relied on theatrical effects as minima, and that play's relied entirely on the language.
The 19th century changed people’s perspectives on theater. Theaters grew in size, plays became more professional, and costumes became more extravagant. Theater in the 19th century was influenced by the advanced changes, technology and society. Theater had a big impact on how people viewed things.
theater in the Medieval Era. During this time is when plays started involving violence into the play.
Elizabethan times in the 1600s was a progression for the world of the theater. A period named after Queen Elizabeth I of England, it is from this period that modern day society has its foundation for the entertainment industry. From the violence that was prevalent because of the Black Death, people turned to the theater for its poetry and romance. During this time period, there were two types of theatrical performances that were available for the people’s viewing, comedies or tragedies. These two genres were never really intertwined until the time of William Shakespeare. His play, Romeo and Juliet, is an example of both a comedy and a tragedy. It starts off as a comedy with Romeo weeping like a baby because of his love Rosaline, who did not love him back and ends as a tragedy when Romeo and Juliet, a pair of star crossed lovers, commit suicide because the lost of each other. It was also during Shakespeare’s time that writer were finally acknowledged by the people. Before this time, writers were not considered upper classman. Another group of people that began to rise into a higher social class were the actors. Actresses were not present back then because women were not allowed on stage. It was considered unladylike to have a female actor. Men played all the parts. Theater owners were dependent on actors to make them a profit. Rehearsals for the plays were fairly short, only lasting for about a week. The performances themselves would only show for three to four days.
Shakespeare's works have been a major influence on theatre. Not only did Shakespeare create some of the most admired plays in literature, he also transformed theatre by expanding expectations through characterisation, plot, action, language, and genre. He raised the status of popular theatre, permitting it to be admired by all.
William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Johnson are names that have resonated through the centuries. Not since ancient Athens has there been such gluttony of talent, producing stories for the ages. Might Athens be were these Englishmen found their inspiration? Greece produced its share of legendary playwrights; Sophocles and Euripides are two of the most famous. There are far m Elizabethan England gave birth to some of the most famous names in theatre. ore similarities between Elizabethan and Greek Theatre then there are differences. The influence of both eras is felt even today, stage productions of Shakespeare and Euripides are performed from London too Broadway and everywhere in between. I believe that both eras have influenced modern theatre simply because the Greek so obviously influenced Elizabethan theatre.
Both medieval theatre and that of the renaissance, in particular commedia dell’arte, had symbolic characters. In commedia, each actor would play a character who took on a stereotype of society; the Capitan was a egotistical forgein military leader who was actually a coward, the Zani embodied the many migrants who worked the land or sold at the market. In medieval morality plays, the lead character would meet personified versions of morals, allowing him to choose the church chosen path of God. These symbolic characters allowed those within the audience to understand the bigger picture, and see themselves within the play. These two different forms of theatre where also shown outside, with the morality and cycle plays (though beginning in churchs for the pilgrims) shown on large moving floats, allowing each set and scene to play out as it passed the onlooking crowd. Commedia would also show outside, usually in marketplaces or outside pubs. This was to gain the highest amount of viewers possible. Both times of theatre had traveling troupes of actors, and it was through medieval plays that those who travelled for commedia were able to
In conclusion, the morality plays of the 14th, 15th, and 16th century medieval periods have a rich history behind them. The morality plays did not only entertain the higher, educated classes of the medieval times, but they taught Christian morals and values to the uneducated lower class of people. Without the morality plays, the underclass people would of never learned about their religion and in result many things in the church may not be how we know it now. The morality plays also persuaded modern drama and that too, may of been very different from what it is today if it wasn't for the medieval morality plays. All in all, morality plays were important for the cultural growth of the western world.
Theatre first came about from all different cultures acting out part of their bible, or performing rituals to the Gods. It was not until the middle ages when dramatists wrote about all aspects of life. Theatre has therefore changed continuously to suit the demands of each new age for fantasy, spectacle, or serious drama.