Study Questions for the Wakefield Second Shepherds' Play

• What is a mystery play?  Who performed these plays? 
• What sorts of things are Coll, Gib, and Daw complaining about at the beginning of the play?  What is the relevance of these complaints?
• Why does Mak steal a sheep?  What does he do with it? 
• Is this play funny?  Do you expect a play about Christ's Nativity to be funny?  Is there a point at which the mood of the play changes?  What is the relationship between the serious and comical parts of the play?
• Why do you think so little attention is given to the actual Nativity scene in this play?
• Do you think this play is meant to be entertaining or instructional?

Click here to read the text of the Wakefield First Shepherds' Play.