Drama and Imagery in English Medieval Churches

This 1963 book shows how dramatic elements in the imagery of medieval churches conveyed the same religious themes as plays of the period.

M. D. Anderson (Author)

9781107613768, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 March 2013

286 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.42 kg

Originally published in 1963, this book sets out to show that dramatic elements in the imagery of medieval churches, whether stained glass, wall paintings or sculpture, were intended to convey the same traditional themes of religious thinking as plays of the same period. The text shows how these two forms of popular instruction developed side by side and how a study of church imagery can close gaps in our knowledge of ways in which plays were composed, staged and dressed. Conversely, observations are also made regarding the ways in which stage directions in play texts can be used to explain curious features in the decoration of churches. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in medieval drama and religious iconography.

List of illustrations
The starting point
Part I. The Organisation of the Plays: 1. The liturgical drama
2. The transitional plays
3. The guild plays
Part II. From Dramatic Sermon to Morality Play: 4. The dramatic sermon
5. The painted sermons and the pater noster plays
6. The ancestry of Everyman
Part III. The Mystery Plays: 7. A puppet-show of the lost Norwich plays
8. Theatrical characters and incidents
9. Stage settings
10. Stage effects
11. Costumes and attributes
12. The stage demon
Part IV. The Lost Miracle Plays: 13. Plays about single miracles
14. Saints' plays
Appendices
Notes and bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Architecture [AM]