French Neoclassical Theatre

As a movement, Neoclassicism involved all forms of art (theatre, literature, and architecture) and drew upon classical Greek and Roman models as examples of perfection. It originated in the writings of fifteenth-century Italian scholars and came to dominate the stage in seventeenth and eighteenth-century France. This guide will explore the strict rules of French Neoclassical Theatre and the three playwrights who dominated the era.

Terminology

• Académie Française: the French Academy; the French institute overseeing matters pertaining to the French language.
• Alexandrine: a single verse or line of poetry, which counts a total of twelve feet (syllables).
• French Wars of Religion: a long period of war and unrest between Catholics and Huguenots in France between 1562 and 1598.
• Jesuit: a member of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests founded in 1534 to carry out missionary work.
• Theorist: an individual who develops an abstract idea or set of ideas about a particular subject.
• Verisimilitude: the appearance of being true or real.

Key Dates & Events

• 1562 - 1598 - French Wars of Religion.
• 1606 - 1684 - Life of Pierre Corneille.
• 1622 - 1672 - Life of Molière.
• 1635 - Corneille wrote his first tragedy, Médée.
• 1637 - Corneille's Le Cid premiered at the Théâtre du Marais in Paris.
• 1639 - 1699 - Life of Jean Racine.
• 1625 - Cardinal Richelieu became Chief Minister of France.
• 1635 - Establishment of the Académie Française.
• 1664 - Jean Racine's first play, the tragedy La Thébaïde ou les frères ennemis (The Thebans or the Enemy Brothers) was produced by Molière's company at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal in Paris.
• 1664 - Molière's controversial play Tartuffe premiered.