Final answer:
True statements about the evolution of liturgical dramas include their expansion into vernacular languages, increased thematic diversity beyond the life of Jesus, and the involvement of lay performers. These changes helped transform the liturgical drama into a genre accessible to a wider audience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The evolution of liturgical dramas from the "Quem Quaeritis" trope included significant changes. Initially, these dramas were performed in Latin within the church context, but over time, they evolved in several notable ways. To answer the question regarding the true statements about their evolution:
- They were originally written in Latin and in prose, but eventually, they were written in vernacular language and sometimes in verse. This allowed for wider audience accessibility and understanding, as Latin was not spoken by the general populace.
- While the initial focus of liturgical dramas was the Easter narrative and the life of Jesus, they later expanded to include a variety of religious themes, such as events from the lives of saints and stories from the Old Testament. This expansion came with the development of Mystery plays and Morality plays.
- The practice of clergy as actors evolved, and by the 12th century, performers included laymen, and the performances moved beyond the church to more public spaces. This increased the diversity of performances and made them accessible to broader audiences.
The statement that 'The priest-performers sought to embody the characters they performed through costume, vocal modulation, and staged movements' is indeed accurate, and it illustrates the transition towards more elaborate and theatrical presentations.