Here is my presentation on the paper, " The Renaissance literature " on the topic of " The Origin of the Drama and various periods in development of the Drama. "

2. ● Name :- Nirali Makvana
● Class :- M. A Sem 1
●Paper :- The Renaissance literature
●Topic :- The Origin of Drama
●Roll no. :- 21
●Submitted to :- Department of English ( Maharaja
Krishnakumarsinhaji Bhavnagar university)
●Enrollment no. :- 2069108420200023

3. What is Drama ?
Drama
“ Composition in Verse or prose intended to
portray life or character or to tell a story
usually involving conflicts and emotions
through action and dialogue and typically
designed for theatrical performance.”

4. The Origin of the Drama
☆ The Origin of the Drama is deep rooted in the
religious predisposition of mankind.
☆ The ancient Greek and Roman dramas were
mostly concerned with religious ceremonials of
people.
☆ It was the Religious elements that resulted in
the development of drama.
☆ That’s why the clergy tried to find out some
new method of teaching and expounding the
teaching of the Bible to the common people.

5. ☆ First the deed, then the story, then the play that seems to be the natural
development of the drama in its simplest form.
☆ Gods and Heroes are often represented at the yearly festivals.
☆ To act a part seems as natural to humanity as to tell a story; and originally the
drama is but an old story retold to the eye.
☆ We have the Gospel. Around the life and literature sprang up a great religion.
☆ Its worship was at first simple, the common prayer, the evening meal together,
the remembered words of the master and closing hymn.

6. Periods in the development of the drama
The Religious period of the drama
●In Europe, as in Greece, the drama had a distinctly religious origin.
● The first character were drawn from the New Testament.
● The object of the first plays was to make the church service more impressive
or to emphasize moral lessons by showing the reward of the good and the
punishment of the evil doer.
● Reform seemed impossible; the corrupt drama was driven from the stage and
Plays of every kind were forbidden.

7. Miracle and Mystery plays
● In France the name “ Miracle ” was given to any
play representing the lives of the saints.
●The Mystery represented scenes from the life of
christ or stories from the Old Testament associated
with the coming of Messiah.
●The name Miracle was used indiscriminately for all
plays having their origin in the lives of the saints.
●The name Mystery, to distinguish a certain class of
Plays, was not used until long after the religious
drama had passed away.

8. The Moral period of the drama
☆ Morality plays or drama popular in Europe especially during the 15th
and 16th Centuries.
☆ The Characters personify qualities or abstractions.
☆ The morality play guides the protagonist as he attempts to live a holy
life dedicated to God.
☆ The protagonist experiences trials and tribulations and struggles with
sin and temptation on his journey to redemption.

9. The Artistic period of the drama
☆ The Artistic is the final stage in the development of the English
drama.
☆ Its chief purpose is not to point a moral but to represent human life
as it is.
☆ The motive is always subordinate to the chief end of representing life
itself.
☆ The first true play in English with a regular plot, divided into acts
and scenes, is probably the comedy, “ Ralph Royster Doyster ” written
by Nicholas Udall.