English Literature / Unit 5 ENL 0411 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Second Shepherds' Play
Captions available
The idea
The Wakefield Master's Second Shepherds' Play sets the Nativity among poor northern shepherds. The thief Mak steals a sheep, and his wife Gill hides it in a cradle as their newborn. The farce of the false birth contrasts with the true Nativity at the end.
In practice
A stolen sheep in a cradle, then the manger.
Where people slip
Comedy and devotion share one play.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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