The Concept of Memory in Medieval Christian Thought and Mystery Plays: The York Cycle

Abstract

Memory was a significant concept in Medieval Christian philosophy. The scholastic thought, which was based upon religion and reason, justified the importance of memory with reference to them, as well. It was also for this reason that the improvement of memory was a frequently addressed subject during this period. Regarding the tradition of religious drama, which emerged in the same period, as a means of improving the memory, therefore, this study focuses on this question: How could such an understanding of drama became widespread, for it made intense use of images, themselves placed outside of reason, and at the same time had religion as its subject, besides being approved by the religious authorities? In this context, the study examines The York Cycle, an example of British religious drama tradition, as a manifestation of the understanding of memory in the period.

Keywords

• Ortaçağ
• Tiyatro
• Ortaçağ Felsefesi
• Ortaçağ Tiyatrosu
• İngiliz Tiyatrosu
• Bellek