Biblical influences in English drama, 1550-1625

Abstract

The Reformation and the Renaissance gave a vigorous impetus to the position of man at the centre of the cosmos. Humanistic influences pervaded politics culture and the arts. With the gradual decline of the Mystery Cycles and the Morality Plays drama seemed to have lost its biblical and theological imp111scs The thesis, however, thro11gh a parn11e1 study between the biblical cycle of Sin-Redemption-Resurrection and the recurrent plot-movement found in the works of the major Elizabethan and Jacobean playwrights establishes the wide ranging influence of the Bible that persisted in English Renaissance Drama. Such affinities between the Bible and drama are not only restricted to frequent references and allusions but are also evident in principle exposition.