Harrowing of Hell (drama)

Harrowing of Hell (drama)

The "Harrowing of Hell" is a eighth-century Latin piece in fifty-five lines found in the Anglo-Saxon "Book of Cerne" (folios 98v–99v). It is probably a Northumbrian piece, written in prose and verse, where the former serves either as a set of stage directions for a dramatic portrayal or as a series of narrations for explaining the poetry.

Three voices appear in the work: those of Adam, Eve, and a narrator. The prose of the "narrator" appears in the "Book of Cerne" in red ink setting it off from the rest of the text. The prose portions are rhythmic and may therefore have been sung, even if they were primarily directorial. Besides the three main soloists, the piece was designed for a full choir ("antiqui iusti"). The piece may be either an early oratorio or the earliest surviving piece of Christian drama intended to be performed.

The "Harrowing of Hell" has two sources: a lost Latin homily, which survives in translation as the seventh of the Old English "Blickling Homilies", [This itself draws on homily 160 of Pseudo-Augustine.] and a Roman psalter also in the "Book of Cerne". David Dumville (1972) provides a critical edition of the Latin text and Dronke (1994) provides some English translation.

The fifty-five lines recount how Jesus Christ descended into hell to release the "prisoners", the just who were held by Satan. In typical medieval representations of this event, Adam and Eve are released immediately, but in the "Harrowing of Hell" they must wait and beg before they too are finally saved. The plea of Eve goes as follows:The piece ends abruptly here, the rest apparently being lost, but if a comparable Old English piece is any indication, Eve's plea is successful.

References


*Dronke, Peter (1994). "Nine Medieval Latin Plays". Cambridge Medieval Classics, I. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0 521 39537 2.
*Dumville, David N. (1972). "Liturgical Drama and Panegyric Responsory from the Eighth Century? A Re-examination of the Origin and Contents of the Ninth-Century Section of the Book of Cerne." "Journal of Theological Studies", 23:2, pp. 374–406.

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Harrowing of Hell — • This is the Old English and Middle English term for the triumphant descent of Christ into hell (or Hades) between the time of His Crucifixion and His Resurrection, when, according to Christian belief, He brought salvation to the souls held… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Harrowing of Hell — The Harrowing of Hell, depicted in the Petites Heures de Jean de Berry, 14th c. illuminated manuscript commissioned by John, Duke of Berry. The Harrowing of Hell (Latin Descensus Christi ad Inferos the descent of Christ into hell ) is a doctrine… …   Wikipedia

  • Harrowing of Hell — (Anastasis, Descent into Limbo)    In medieval Christian tradition, the soul of Christ was believed to have descended into hell after his crucifixion and before his resurrection, and to have delivered from their imprisonment the souls of the… …   Encyclopedia of medieval literature

  • Liturgical drama — or religious drama, in its various Christian contexts, originates from the mass itself, and usually presents a relatively complex ritual that includes theatrical elements.In the Christian tradition, religious drama stemmed out of liturgy at the… …   Wikipedia

  • Recovery (TV drama) — Infobox Television Film name = Recovery caption = Tennant and Parish format = Drama runtime = 90 minutes (approx.) creator = director = Andy DeEmmony producer = writer = Tony Marchant starring = David Tennant, Sarah Parish music = country = UK… …   Wikipedia

  • Book of Cerne — The Book of Cerne (Cambridge University Library, MS L1. 1. 10) is a ninth century Anglo Saxon prayer book. It was apparently made between 820 and 840 for Bishop Æthelwold of Lichfield (818 30). It is the only surviving illuminated manuscript that …   Wikipedia

  • painting, Western — ▪ art Introduction       history of Western painting from its beginnings in prehistoric times to the present.       Painting, the execution of forms and shapes on a surface by means of pigment (but see also drawing for discussion of depictions in …   Universalium

  • Christian mythology — is the body of myths associated with Christianity. In the study of mythology, the term myth refers to a traditional story, often one which is regarded as sacred and which explains how the world and its inhabitants came to have their present… …   Wikipedia

  • N-Town Plays — The N Town Plays (also called the Hegge Cycle and the Ludus Coventriae cycle) are a cycle of 42 medieval Mystery plays from between 1450 and 1500. Contents 1 The manuscript 2 Location 3 Date 4 Source …   Wikipedia

  • Miracle Plays and Mysteries — • These two names are used to designate the religious drama which developed among Christian nations at the end of the Middle Ages Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Miracle Plays and Mysteries     Miracle Plays a …   Catholic encyclopedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”