Liturgy and Drama in the Anglo-Norman Adam

Description

The starting point for this study of 'Adam' was the production in 1967 of the integral text, in English, under the title of the 'Tale of Adam'. In the course of preparation and rehearsal, many questions were raised which could not be satisfactorily answered in the light of previous work on the play. It is my hope that future students of the 'Ordo representacionis Ade', whether readers, actors or spectators, will find the answers to at least some of their queries in this book which may perhaps best be described as a 'Companion to Adam' or 'Glossa Adae'. 'Adam' is one of the best known and most neglected masterpieces of French literature. Although it has been consistently acclaimed by scholars and amateurs of medieval drama, since it was first edited in 1854, there is still no definitive edition of the unique MS2. Translations and adaptations, particularly of the first act, have proliferated in both French and English; numerous productions have been mounted in Europe and the United States, over the last forty years; yet not one full-scale study of the play has ever appeared. Introduction 1 The Triple play 3 Section One: Sources and Parallels I. The Bible and liturgy 6 II. Latin and vernacular drama 16 III. The temptation of Adam and the Old English Genesis 18 The Originality of Adam 21 Section Two: Staging and Production 23 I. Time and place of performance 24 II. The Décor 29 III. Costumes 34 IV. Speech, mime and music 42 The Iconography of Adam 47 Section Three: Theme and Structure 51 I. The Fall of Man 54 1) The forging of the bond 54 2) The breaking of the bond 61 3) The punishment 77 4) Cain and Abel 83 II. The Prophets of Redemption 93 The Unity of Adam 113 i) Feudal Unity: Covenant and Bond 113 ii) Theological Unity: the classic doctrine of the Atonement 114 iii) Formal Unity: Word and Image 116 Conclusion Author and Audience 118 A classical Christian tragedy 120 Notes Introduction 122 Sources and Parallels 125 Staging and Production 135 Theme and Structure 154 Conclusion 171 Tables 173 Bibliography 177