Final answer:
Cycle plays were medieval religious dramas that portrayed Biblical events and sought to educate the audience about Christian doctrine through performances. They included both Mystery Cycles, which depicted sequential Bible stories, and Morality plays, which featured allegorical characters. Similar forms of religious drama, like the autos sacramentales, were also found in Spain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cycle plays, particularly prevalent during medieval times, were a form of religious drama focused on portraying Biblical events. These plays, which include Mystery Cycles and Morality plays, covered subject matters from the Creation story to Doomsday, offering theatrical presentations of Biblical history. They featured stories from the life of Christ, events involving saints, or narratives from the Old Testament. The Feast of Corpus Christi became a significant occasion for the airing of such plays, with laymen performing in local languages outside of the church setting.
Mystery Cycles consisted of a series of short plays or pageants, which were performed sequentially. These plays represented various Bible stories, translating Christian theology into dramatic form meant to educate and engage the community in their faith. Morality plays, such as the well-known Everyman, utilized allegorical characters to impart moral lessons and Christian doctrine.
In Spain, similar developments took place with the staging of autos sacramentales, religious dramas associated with the Eucharist and Communion that were performed on moveable wagons or carros. These plays also featured allegorical characters and were intended to guide audience members to be better members of society.