Kelsey Reichard

Connie Hecker
Theatre 211
3 November 2014

Jousting
An audience, daring fights, weapons, and horseplay. When hearing this, many different plays or
productions can come to mind. These are all elements that can be found in shows, especially the works
of William Shakespeare. However, these also can be found in other forms of entertainment, not only in
theatre, but the sport of jousting. Though jousting is considered a sport, it can be seen as a type of
dramatic theatre through its use of spectacle, a narrator and the audience, the involvement of royalty,
and the use of jousting in modern day.
Much like theatre, jousting is a spectacle and form of entertainment. Though, the intial
intentions of jousting were very different. When first developed during the Middle Ages, jousting was
a training ground for knights to use to prepare for battle, for them to practice to be on horseback and
combat. By 1066, it morphed into a form of entertainment (History of Jousting). Though the first
account was different than we believe it to be today. It was far more violent, as they did not have a
divider between contestants, and they would just charge head on toward their opponent. However,
when it became more of the spectacle, the actual violence decreased; though, injuries and deaths still
were considered a common thing (Barber). It became more about the performance of the knights. The
joust became more of a choreographed dance between fighters. Like with theatre, song and poetry
were often incorporated in the tournament as well, to be performed by the knights to show off their
skillset. Afterwards, there was dancing, pagentry, and rounds of feasts. Much like theatre festivals,
tournaments were a production that took months of preparation and planning to be able to happen
(Barber). Both festivals took place over several days, with different challenges or performances each

day. They would need sponsers for the men who were challenged, as playwrights would be in need of
sponsers to be able to put up their play at a festival. Those jousting were then put on display in an
arena of sorts, much like a theatre in the round.
The audience is the one of the most important parts of theatre, as well as in jousting. People
would gather from far and wide to come see jousting tournaments. Audiences are able to cheer on and
influence the winner, as like with theatre; the applause or laughter driving the actors. Much like with
sporting events where the people in the stadium help to bring more out in the athletes, the same kind of
effect happens with those on stage or those actively jousting. The audience could be seen as a type of
chorus, as with Greek theatre. They help to advance the plot or demonstrate what others should be
thinking or feeling. They interact with the actors in times where they need, as do the knights with the
audience that they perform before.
Royalty played a large part in jousting as well. Jousting was a sport that many royals enjoyed
as spectators, especially in the Renaissance-era. It was often brought to court as entertainment and
sometimes even royals would be a part of. Unfortunately, it sometimes brought about terrible injuries
or deaths, the most notable being the death of King Henry II of France, who was killed from a spliter to
the eye and into the brain, when celebrating the marriage of his daughter to the King of Spain (History
of Jousting). Much like theatre, there was a threat of the danger of jousting that it became banned by
King Henry II in the 12th century. This ban was later lifted, though the dangers were very real.
Though created and most popular in Renaissance times, jousting has carried its way through
time and is still prevelant today. Festivals, such as the Renaissance festival held in Maryland or the
Medieval Times theaters, feature events such as jousting tournaments. The tournament is entirely a
spectacle used for entertainment. The spectators are drawn in, chosen to cheer for certain knights,
with a jester to help lead the crowd along. Medieval Times is theatre that allows people to sit, eat, and
watch as knights perform in the round to compete for a maiden. These kinds of festivals represent the
more production side of jousting that is still in today's culture. There is still also the sport of jousting as

well. Jousting is never to be forgotten, as it actually is the state sport of Maryland. Tournaments are still
held in the fall, where many gather from different states to compete. It has changed, completely
removing the violence, and instead the competetors attempt to spear small rings. While it has changed
much from when it was first created in the Middle Ages and its popularity has decline, jousting is
something that has still remained for its sport and entertainment.
Theatre and jousting are very different. One features athletes and the other actors. They do
however have some of the same intentions. The most important being to entertain, and both actors and
athletes strive to perform. Theatre is far more spectacular in its intentions to tell a story and bring
characters to life. Jousting, especially the true early forms of it, does not have these elements. When
performed today, there can be a little bit of story attached, such as knights competing for the hand of a
maiden, but the true goal is entertainment. People enjoy jousting and theatre for their theatricality
without the reality of the situation. It allows people to have fun and experience these violent displays of
entertainment without the actual injury. Theatre and jousting are things that represent parts of life that
either could be or were real, whether being past or present, and allow audiences to be able to take a part
in it.

WorksCited
Barber,RichardW.,andJulietR.V.Barker.Tournaments:Jousts,Chivalry,andPageantsinthe
MiddleAges.NewYork:Weidenfeld&Nicolson,1989.Print.
FrankA.Domnguez."JoustinginMedievalandRenaissanceIberiabyNoelFallows(review)."La
cornica:AJournalofMedievalHispanicLanguages,Literatures,andCultures42.2(2014):
169172.ProjectMUSE.Web.6Nov.2014
"HistoryofJousting."HistoryofJousting.History.com,n.d.Web.03Nov.2014.
"MILITARYTOURNAMENTS."Saturdayreviewofpolitics,literature,scienceandart61.1599
(1886):8434.ProQuest.Web.6Nov.2014.