Masque [Mask, Maske]

Literary/ Cultural Context Essay

Dawn Lewcock (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. WORLD HISTORY AND IDEAS: A CROSS-CULTURAL VOLUME.

Domains

Theatre

Dates

Date of occurrence 1500

Places

Genres and Modes

Masque

Resources

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A masque is a specific theatrical genre. According to the

Oxford English Dictionary

the name was originally a different spelling of “mask” and meant “to conceal from view”. In 1514 it was being used for entertainment in dumb shows of music and dancing in which the participants were disguised. By 1562 songs and dialogue had been added, and by 1605 it also stood for the dramatic text of the masque. In England, the presentation of a masque was usually for a royal occasion, although sometimes put on by a member of the nobility, for celebration of a wedding or something similar, when there was often a royal guest to be entertained. These entertainments were performed by amateurs, the patron paid for the costumes and staging and probably for a producer or designer, and it is thought…

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2796 words

Citation: Lewcock, Dawn. "Masque [Mask, Maske]". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 March 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=699, accessed 25 November 2024.]