Specifically, what are the anachronistic elements in the play? Besides contributing to the humor, what thematic or other function do they serve?
ENGL 201 | British Literature to 1800
Myra Seaman | Fall 2012
Specifically, what are the anachronistic elements in the play? Besides contributing to the humor, what thematic or other function do they serve?
The assorted curses and swearing by the shepherds are anachronistic, in that they reference Christ’s Passion (or crucifixion) before he’s born. To speculate about their purpose, I think they might allow the audience of the time to identify more easily with the shepherds than if they had been portrayed “accurately” as “heathens” living before Christ’s birth. Much of the humor is written to elicit the sympathy of the common man, such as the farmer or shepherd, who toils for his lord.
Along with the anachronisms Kati-Jane mentioned, there is also a reference to England in line 353. Considering England hadn’t been established as a nation at the time of Christ’s birth, this is a sure anachronism. The reason for these out-of-place elements is to connect the past to the present, allowing readers to relate with the shepherds. Of course if these elements are noticed, the reader can be amused by the ridiculous notion that England was around at the time.
I agree. I think the anachronistic is placed in the story purposely. I think it helps the reader understand and relate to the subjects more fully and easily. Along with England and the mentions of oaths to Jesus and Mary; the feudal system wasn’t in place yet either. The Creation and Fall, Redemption from Christ, and the Last Judgment seem to happen in the present of the story as well. These are all common knowledge matters of the time. This leads me to believe the use of anachronisms was just to aid understanding.
The anachronistic moments serve the purpose of demonstrating to the audience that it is not when these events took place that is important, it is because they happened at all that they are important. It is a very fundamental way to express to the audience that the events themselves carry weight, not the time frame in which they occurred. Furthermore, to elaborate on what others have said before me, the anachronisms might be present in order to simplify the history of events that took place and allow for a clear means of conveying the playwright’s message–this could prove especially important when considering that the play was geared toward the illiterate. The anachronisms could have simply made the work easier to understand by “dumbing” it down for the audience.