A History of French Literature / Short Histories of the Literatures of the World: II.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

24700

Title

A History of French Literature / Short Histories of the Literatures of the World: II.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This text outlines the transition in French drama from amateur guilds to professional actors during the late sixteenth century, marking the rise of morality plays, farces, and comedies of character.

Summary up to 500 words

The text chronicles the pivotal transition in French theater during the mid-to-late sixteenth century, marking the shift from medieval amateur traditions to professional classical forms. A defining moment occurred in 1548 when professional comedians were imported from Italy to Lyons for the entertainment of King Henri II and Catherine de Médicis. This event catalyzed a surge in the number of French acting companies, necessitating trained professionals rather than the amateur performers who had dominated ancient drama until the last quarter of the sixteenth century, by which time these amateurs had finally disappeared. This era witnessed the emergence of new dramatic species—tragedy, comedy, and pastoral—which supplanted medieval forms. However, the evolution was not a complete rupture; much of the genius inherent in French classical comedy was developed from earlier genres such as the Morality play, the *sottie*, and the farce. The institutional framework supporting this change included corporations like the Royaume de la Basoche (Basilica), likely dating back to the fourteenth century, which played a role in the theatrical landscape. The narrative is situated within Edward Dowden's "A History of French Literature," part of a series titled "Short Histories of the Literatures of the World" edited by Edmund Gosse. The text serves as an excerpt or index entry, listing numerous literary figures and works associated with this period and beyond, including names such as Scarron, Scudéry, La Fontaine (implied through context of fables/farce), and later giants like Voltaire and Racine (though not explicitly named in the snippet, they represent the classical tradition mentioned). The significance of this period lies in its establishment of a professional acting class that would define French theater for centuries, bridging the gap between medieval folk traditions and the refined classical aesthetics that characterized the seventeenth century. The tone is historical and analytical, focusing on the structural and artistic developments that shaped French literary history.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• French Literature