Theatre and Religion in the Middle Ages (U01391)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : LLC-3-U01391

This course examines the sometimes vexed and paradoxical relationships between theatre and religion. Although the Christian Church officially condemns theatre, its own practices of devotion and ritual help to create a type of 're-birth' of theatre through the very institution that set out to ban it. The course examines Liturgical Drama in English and certain key Christian rituals like those of the Annunciation, Good Friday and Easter Sunday will be highlighted as influencing specific dramatic conventions of Liturgical Drama and exercising influence beyond it. The gradual shifts from the confines of the church to the broader socio-political arena will be touched on through reference to the corpus of Mystery Plays and Morality Plays. Instances of this tense but creative relationship between drama and religion in other historical periods - classical Greek tragedy to the 20th century - will be drawn on in an attempt to provide a wider historical and theoretical context for the course.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Passes in English or Scottish literature 1 and English or Scottish or American literature 2, with a mark of 50 or above at the first attempt in the second year course.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Numbers are limited to 15, with priority given to students taking degrees involving English or Scottish Literature and Visiting Students placed by the Admissions Office. Students not in these categories need the written approval of the Head of English Literature before enrolling. In the case of excess applications places will be decided by ballot.

? Costs : Essential course texts

Variants

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

Theatre and Religion in the Middle Ages (VS1) (Not being delivered)

Subject Areas

Home subject area

English Literature, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

- To provide students with awareness of the structural and constitutive relationship between theatre and religion
- to introduce some theoretical models from anthropology and classical studies
- to provide a general survey while also using contemporary theory about the performative nature of culture
- to re-examine or introduce the Bible as a literary text