Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which religious plays were important in Middle Breton literature?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Brittany
The old walled city of Saint-Malo, Brittany région, France.
In Middle Breton literature, which spanned from the 11th to the 17th century, the most significant religious works were mystery plays. Three plays are considered the most important products of this period:
- Buez santez Nonn ("Life of St. Nonn")
- Burzud bras Jesuz ("The Great Mystery of Jesus")
- Buhez santes Barba ("Life of St. Barbara")
These works were part of a broader tradition of religious literature that included long poems, such as "Tremenvan an itron gwerches Maria" ("The Passion of the Virgin Mary"), "Pemzec levenez Maria" ("The Fifteen Joys of Mary"), and "Buhez mabden" ("The Life of Man"). Additionally, prose works like the "Life of St. Catherine, Virgin and Martyr" and various translated religious texts, such as "The Mirror of Confession" and "Christianâs Doctrine," were also prominent during this era.1