The Wakefield Cycle: The Second Shepherds' Play

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Questions and Answers

What is the name of the medieval mystery play cycle that includes The Second Shepherds' Play?

York Cycle

Wakefield Cycle (correct)

Coventry Cycle

Chester Cycle

What is the characteristic of the 13-line stanza in The Second Shepherds' Play?

It has an ABAB CDDDC ABAB rhyme scheme (correct)

It has a consistent line length throughout

It has an AABB CCDD EE rhyme scheme

It has a variable number of lines per stanza

What is the main theme of The Second Shepherds' Play?

The importance of guilds in medieval society

The struggle for social justice

The power of religion in redemption (correct)

The significance of the Corpus Christi festival

What is the name given to the unknown author of several plays in the Wakefield Cycle?

The Wakefield Master Signup and view all the answers

Who performed the medieval mystery plays?

Guilds of craftsmen Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the medieval mystery plays?

To educate the masses about the Bible Signup and view all the answers

What do the shepherds discover in the cradle at Mak's cottage?

A sheep Signup and view all the answers

What is the central theme of this play?

Redemption through forgiveness and suffering Signup and view all the answers

What do the shepherds bring to the baby Jesus?

Cherries, a bird, and a ball Signup and view all the answers

Why do the shepherds humiliate Mak?

Because he fooled them initially Signup and view all the answers

Who appears to the shepherds while they are resting?

An angel Signup and view all the answers

What is the tone of the play according to the summary?

Entertaining with a didactic message Signup and view all the answers

What is the main complaint of the second shepherd, Gib?

His wife's controlling nature and bad looks Signup and view all the answers

What is the occupation of Mak, the thief, in the play?

Yeoman Signup and view all the answers

Why do the shepherds allow Mak to sleep with them for the night?

He complains about his wife Signup and view all the answers

What is the plan devised by Mak's wife to hide the stolen sheep?

To pretend it's a baby in a cradle Signup and view all the answers

What is the biblical reference made by the third shepherd, Gill?

Noah's flood Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Second Shepherds' Play

A medieval mystery play part of the Wakefield Cycle, written in stanzaic form with a 13-line stanza and a specific rhyme scheme.
Performed during the Corpus Christi festivities by guilds, often with a direct link between the scene and their craft.

Plot Summary

The play opens with three shepherds, Coll, Gib, and Gill, delivering soliloquies about their miserable lives, complaining about the cold, poverty, marriage, and hardship.
The shepherds meet and go off singing together.
A thief, Mak, disguises himself as a yeoman and is initially fooled by the shepherds, but eventually steals one of their sheep.
Mak's wife comes up with a plan to hide the sheep in a cradle, pretending it's a baby, in case the shepherds search the house.

Themes and Redemption

The play explores overt religious themes, focusing on redemption through forgiveness and suffering.
The shepherds, despite their tough lives, ultimately achieve redemption through forgiveness.
The play teaches lessons about Christianity, highlighting the importance of forgiveness and redemption.

Performance and History

Mystery plays, like The Second Shepherds' Play, were popular during the 14th and 15th centuries, depicting stories based on the Bible.
The play was performed by guilds on wagons or large platforms, traveling from town to town, entertaining audiences with a didactic message.
The Wakefield Cycle, containing The Second Shepherds' Play, is one of four English mystery cycles, alongside Chester, Coventry, and York.

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Description

Test your knowledge about The Second Shepherds' Play, a medieval mystery play part of the Wakefield Cycle. Learn about the author, the manuscript, and its significance in the context of English mystery cycles. Explore the world of medieval drama and literature!