We've seen religious teaching and theology make its way into the street already, as, for example, in the description of Waldo's encounter with the minstrel singing the St. Alexis poem, in Francis's early preaching of repentence and in later Franciscan and Dominican preaching, in eucharistic processions and so on. Medieval drama represents a fairly late development in the popularization of theology for urban audiences, emerging in the later part of the fourteenth century. What sets dramatic presentations like the York Corpus Christi Cycle apart from other public presentations of Christian thought is the extent of active lay participation in the preparation as well as the reception of it and the immensity of the event (the York cycle is thought to have taken approximately 14 hours to play out, staged across the space of the entire town!).
As you read the text of the York cycle, keep in mind the interplay between the learned clergymen writing and masterminding the drama, the guilds and merchants underwriting and staging it, and the fluid audience engaging with it. The emphasis on the visual which we spoke about last week will also be relevant this week, as the actors and producers of the play help the audience bring the life of Christ and salvation history from Adam to judgment before the eyes quite literally. That being the case, it is worth thinking about the outline of the cycle. Think about what sorts of religious perspectives would have been highlighted by the material presented in the cycle:
| Barkers | 1. Creation of Heaven and Earth |
| Plasterers | 2. Works of the Next Five Days |
| Cardemakers | 3. The Making of Adam and Eve |
| Walkers | 4. Prohibition of the Tree of Knowledge |
| Coupers | 5. Deception of the Devil in the Serpent |
| Fourbours | 6. Assignment of Work to Adam |
| Glovers | 7. Cain Kills Abel |
| Shipwrights | 8. Noah Makes the Ark |
| Fysshemangers Maryners |
9. The Ark of Noah in the Flood |
| Parchemeners | 10. The Sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham |
| Hosyers | 11. Pharoah with Moses and the Children of Israel |
| Spicers | 12. Gabriel's Annunciation to Mary |
| Founders | 13. Joseph Agrees to Aid Mary |
| Tielers | 14. The Child is Born in Bethlehem |
| Chandelers | 15. The Shepherds |
| Masons | 16. Herod interrogates the Three Kings |
| Goldsmyths | 17.Gifts of the Kings |
| House of St. Leonard, now Masons |
18. Presentation of Christ in the Tmeple |
| Marsshalls | 19. Flight to Egypt |
| Gyrdelers | 20.Slaughter of the Innocents |
| Sporyers | 21. Christ with the Doctors in the Temple |
| Barbours | 22. Christ Baptized by John |
| Taverners | 23. Wedding at Cana |
| Smyths | 24. Temptation of Christ in the Desert |
| Cornreors | 25. Transfiguration of Christ |
| Irenmangers | 26. Banquet at the House of Simon |
| Plummers | 27. The Adulterous Woman |
| Hartshorners | 28. The Raising of Lazarus |
| Skynners | 29. Jerusalem and Citizens |
| Cuttellers | 30. Judas Sells Christ |
| Bakers | 31. The Supper of Christ & Disciples |
| Waterleders | 32. Washing the Apostles' Feet |
| Cordewaners | 33. The Capture of Christ |
| Bowers | 34. Christ before Caiaphus |
| Tapiters | 35. Christi before Pilate |
| Lyttesters | 36. Presentation of Christ before Herod |
| Cukes | 37. Judas repents before the Jews |
| Sausmakers | 38. Hanging of Judas |
| Tylemakers | 39. Condemnation of Christ by Pilate |
| Turnors Bollers |
40. Flagellation and the Crown of Thorns |
| Shermen | 41. Christ Being Led and the offering of Veronica |
| Milners | 42. Dividing Christ's Clothing |
| Payntors | 43. Nailing Christ on the Cross |
| Latoners | 44. Lifting Christ on the Mount |
| Bouchers | 45. Christ on Calvary |
| Sadelers | 46. Harrowing of Hell |
| Wryghts | 47. Resurrection of Christ |
| Wyredrawers | 48. Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene |
| Wolpakkers | 49. Appearance of Christ along the Road |
| Scryveners | 50. Appearance of Christ to Doubting Thomas |
| Taylors | 51. Ascension of Christ to Heaven |
| Potters | 52. Descent of the Holy Spirit |
| Drapers | 53. Translation of the Virgin Mary |
| Masons | 54. Glorification of Mary's Body |
| Weavers | 55. Assumption of the Blessed Mary |
| Hostlers | 56. Coronation of the Same |
| Mercers | 57. Final Judgment |