Oxford Reference Online defines cycle as: “A group of works, usually narrative poems, that either share a common theme or subject (e.g. the Trojan war, Charlemagne, the Knights of the Round Table), or are linked together as a sequence. In addition to epics , sagas , romances , and chansons de geste , which scholars have categorized into different cycles, the mystery plays of the Middle Ages that were performed as a sequence during the same festival at a particular place are referred to as the York Cycle, the Chester Cycle, etc. The term is also applied to sequences of sonnets by the same author, and sometimes to sequences of novels or stories”
This definition came up when I searched “Chester Cycle”. I was fascinated that the definition that came up was just “cycle”. When reading the entry one can see that the definition is for a mystery play cycle. Not just a cycle in the dryer. The other definitions that I have seen of cycle plays are similar and line up with the ORO definition.
"cycle" The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Chris Baldick. Oxford University Press, 2008. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Central Washington University. 5 December 2010 <http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t56.e281>
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