Document Type

Book Review

Publication Date

10-2012

Keywords

Miracle plays, Medieval France

Abstract

The miracle plays of the fourteenth century brought sacred and secular narratives to the stages of medieval France. These relatively short performances present an episode in the life of a model Christian who faces a particularly difficult conflict or threat from within the social hierarchy of the medieval era or from among the dark forces emanating from hell. Predictably, divine intervention sustains the protagonist’s righteousness, remorse, steadfastness, or courage so that s/he triumphs against these threats. Given their proclivity for this authoritative and moralistic backdrop, miracle plays tend to share a number of thematic and dramatic conventions. Alongside divine mediation we find rhymed couplets, contemporized narratives, integrated sermons and hymns, as well as a speech-then-action performance style, all characteristics common to these productions

Publication Title

H-France Review

Volume

12

Issue

134

Required Publisher's Statement

Copyright © 2012 by the Society for French Historical Studies

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Mysteries and miracle-plays, French--History and criticism; French literature--To 1500--History and criticism

Subjects - Names (LCNAF)

Harvey, Carol J., 1941-. Medieval French Miracle Plays

Geographic Coverage

France

Genre/Form

reviews (documents)

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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