Medieval Morality Plays
Throughout time, there have been many books, plays, songs, pamphlets, sermons, lectures, etc. written. These writings were all written with some kind of purpose to either inform, persuade, entertain, or teach their audience. One such form of literature not too widely known about is that of the . These plays were not aimed to entertain, but to teach morals and religion to the uneducated lower classes of people in medieval Europe. The morality plays were also quite necessary to teach and inform the underclass people, through the thoughtful persuasion of play entertainment.
Morality plays, as said above, were most popular and most widely present in medieval times. They were also found in the ...
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to the miracle plays rather than the mystery plays. (1). The main difference between the morality and the miracle plays is that the morality plays were allegorical, not historical like the miracle plays. (1). The morality plays were also known to be more on the entertainment side than the miracle and mystery plays. (1).
The content of the morality plays is what played a hand in the persuasion of its audience. They taught their audiences because their main object was both religious and ethical and easy to grasp for the uneducated population whom largely went to its productions. (Warren 1). The plays also often examined the Christian character so that the flaws and strengths can be pointed out. (1). The plays were centered mainly on faith, dogma, and the application of the Christian doctrine to common folk life. (1). The characters of the morality plays were usually abstract qualities such as greed, friendship, love, death, etc. (1). There were many other cases when the characters of ...
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and the conflict of vices and virtues. The other form of plot was the coming of death. (Warren 2). English morality plays didn’t really get into all aspects of the plot structure and setup. (2).
During the medieval period, there were many morality plays written about many different parts of the Christian life. Sad enough though, many of the morality plays have been lost and sections out of a numerous plays have also been lost. For example, the earliest know morality play, "Pride of Life", has many lost parts to it. (Warren 2). Another morality play, entitled "Creed", is also now lost. (2). The earliest known English morality play, "Lord’s Prayer", which was written in the ...
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"Medieval Morality Plays." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 20 Jul. 2007. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Medieval-Morality-Plays/68298>
"Medieval Morality Plays." Essayworld.com. July 20, 2007. Accessed April 27, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Medieval-Morality-Plays/68298.
"Medieval Morality Plays." Essayworld.com. July 20, 2007. Accessed April 27, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Medieval-Morality-Plays/68298.
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