“Masque” is an English noun that usually refers to a type of elaborate, often masked, dramatic entertainment from the 16th–17th centuries, and more generally to a masquerade or masked performance.

Basic meaning

  • A masque is a short, usually allegorical court entertainment that combines music, dance, costumes, and acting, often with the performers wearing masks.
  • In modern extended use, it can also mean a masked ball or a festive event where people appear in disguise, similar to a masquerade.

Historical context

  • Masques were especially popular in Renaissance and early modern Europe, notably in the courts of England during the reigns of James I and Charles I.
  • They often included mythological or symbolic themes designed to flatter a royal patron or celebrate important political or social occasions.

How it differs from “mask”

  • Mask is the object: something worn over the face for protection, disguise, or performance.
  • Masque is the event or art form: the whole dramatic or festive entertainment built around masked or costumed performance.

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