Abele spelen
Encyclopedia
The Abele Spelen are a collection of four plays contained in the valuable Hulthemse Handschrift
. This manuscript dates from 1410 and is in the collection of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek
, the Royal Library in Brussels
, Belgium
, hs. 15.589-623.
The word ‘abele’ means ‘noble’, the word ‘spelen’ means ‘plays’. In this sense the word ‘noble’ is used as the opposite of ‘religious’. They are the oldest plays of worldly, non-religious nature known in the Dutch language
. The subject of all the plays is love
.
The four plays are:
They date from around 1350 and are among the oldest known West-European theatre of worldly nature.
All four contain a love theme in the style of the hoofse liefde, Courtly love
(from the word ‘hof’ meaning ‘court’): respectively the amorous pairs are Esmoreit and Damiët, Gloriant and Florentijn, Lanseloet and Sanderijn, Winter and Somer. The latter being an allegory
.
Usually the performance of every ‘abel spel’ was followed by a sotternie, a farce
. Because of the noble nature of the play, the same theme was played out in a more populistic and explicit form.
These farces belong to the different Abele Spelen:
It has been suggested that there used to be 6 Abele spelen because of the number of sotternieën belonging to them.
Van Hulthem (manuscript)
The manuscript known as the Van Hulthem manuscript is a masterpiece of medieval Dutch literature. Its contents of over 200 stories from around Brussels, Belgium was summarized in the following slogan: 'all of life’s intensity in one volume'....
. This manuscript dates from 1410 and is in the collection of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek
Royal Library of Belgium
The Royal Library of Belgium is one of the most important cultural institutions in Belgium. The library has a history that goes back to the age of the Dukes of Burgundy...
, the Royal Library in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, hs. 15.589-623.
The word ‘abele’ means ‘noble’, the word ‘spelen’ means ‘plays’. In this sense the word ‘noble’ is used as the opposite of ‘religious’. They are the oldest plays of worldly, non-religious nature known in the Dutch language
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
. The subject of all the plays is love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
.
The four plays are:
- EsmoreitEsmoreitEsmoreit is a Middle Dutch drama. It is one of the four abele spelen that are contained in the Hulthemse handschrift and consists of 1018 lines in rhymeThe other abele spelen are: Gloriant, Lanseloet van Denemerken and Vanden Winter ende vanden Somer...
(1018 lines) - GloriantGloriantGloriant is a Middle Dutch drama. It is one of the four abele spelen that are contained in the Hulthemse handschrift and consists of 1142 lines in rhymeThe other abele spelen are: Esmoreit, Lanseloet van Denemerken and Vanden Winter ende vanden Somer...
(1142 lines) - Lanseloet van DenemerkenLanseloet van DenemerkenLanseloet van Denemerken is a Middle Dutch drama. It is one of the four abele spelen that are contained in the Hulthemse handschrift and consists of 925 lines in rhyme...
(925 lines) - Vanden Winter ende vanden SomerVanden Winter ende vanden SomerVanden Winter ende vanden Somer is a Middle Dutch drama. It is the shortest of the four abele spelen that are contained in the Hulthemse handschrift and consists of 625 lines in rhyme...
(625 lines)
They date from around 1350 and are among the oldest known West-European theatre of worldly nature.
All four contain a love theme in the style of the hoofse liefde, Courtly love
Courtly love
Courtly love was a medieval European conception of nobly and chivalrously expressing love and admiration. Generally, courtly love was secret and between members of the nobility. It was also generally not practiced between husband and wife....
(from the word ‘hof’ meaning ‘court’): respectively the amorous pairs are Esmoreit and Damiët, Gloriant and Florentijn, Lanseloet and Sanderijn, Winter and Somer. The latter being an allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
.
Usually the performance of every ‘abel spel’ was followed by a sotternie, a farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
. Because of the noble nature of the play, the same theme was played out in a more populistic and explicit form.
These farces belong to the different Abele Spelen:
- LippijnLippijnLippijn is a Middle Dutch sotternie or farce. This sotternie is contained in the Hulthemse handschrift, and follows the abele spel Esmoreit and consists of 199 lines in rhyme....
(199 lines) (with Esmoreit) - Buskenblazer (208 lines) (with Gloriant)
- Die Hexe (112 lines) (with Lanseloet van Denemerken)
- Rubben (245 lines) (with Vanden Winter ende vanden Somer)
- Truwanten (incomplete)
- Drie daghe here (incomplete)
It has been suggested that there used to be 6 Abele spelen because of the number of sotternieën belonging to them.