Adam de la Halle, Jeu de la feuillée or The Play of the Bower (c. 1276) and The Play of Robin and of Marion (1283)—The works of this dramatist and poet include a satiric drama set in contemporary Arras, naming and assigning recognizable traits to 49 citizens, and a musical comedy where spoken dialogue alternates with singing.

Jehan Bodel, Play of St. Nicholas (c. 1191)—This trouvère and minstrel composed the first non-biblical play written entirely in a vernacular language, Picard French. It is a dramatized miracle play celebrating the heroic victory of Christian forces over Moslems, called Saracens.

The Castle of Perseverance (1415)—This morality play, the oldest play text in Middle English, had 35 speaking parts and was designed to be performed in the round.

Hildegard of Bingen, Ordo virtutum or Service of the Virtues (1155)—The Abbess Hildegard composed this work for the...