Shepherds’ and Advent Fast: Liturgical Renewal in English and Castilian Pastoral Drama of the Late Middle Ages

Abstract

One of the characteristic features that reveal the new spiritual state of the shepherds in medieval Nativity plays is that they are able to envisage the coming of Christ in the light of Old Testament prophecies. A contemporary reader or spectator must have found such prophetic announcements rather surprising, particularly because they are spoken by rustic characters. This article analyzes this religious renewal in a series of English and Castilian plays in the light of the liturgical texts set aside for Advent and Christmastide. This religious renewal is clearly evident when the rustics recite a comprehensive account of messianic prophecies after the Annunciation. It is the purpose of this work to study the characters’ emphasis on prophecy and typology as well as their previous behaviour and practices, which seem to be is incongruous with such a learned attitude, although they lend themselves to a liturgical interpretation.