Impact of Religion on Medieval Society: Morality Plays and Everyman

1. Medieval Journal #9 In our society, does religion impact the way we live and how we choose to spend our time? Does religion have an impact on our social lives and entertainment? Do you think that religion should play a part in determining what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in our society?

2. Morality Plays • Also referred to as Moral Drama • A popular theatrical form throughout medieval Europe. • Morality plays always focus on the battle between good and evil as they both try to control human souls. They always aim to show the importance of choosing a moral life. • Before the 15th century the church did not approve of public entertainment and strongly disapproved of the theater. • The only form of theatrical performance that they permitted was the short, religious dialogues during Mass.

3. These dialogues gradually became longer and more elaborate, including costumes and props. Dramatists then began performing them outside of the church, in public places (ironically) • Morality plays still taught religious and moral lessons and had their roots in the church, but they were performed in public. Therefore, they became a bridge between the secular and the sacred. • Morality plays are allegories (stories that have both a literal and a symbolic meaning) The symbolic meaning always teaches a moral lesson to the audience. • Within these allegories, most writers of morality plays used personification to give human form to abstract concepts and qualities. Example: Death and Good Deeds are abstract concepts that are portrayed in human form in Everyman.

4. Everyman • The most famous of the medieval morality plays. • Thought to be an English translation of the Dutch play Elckerlijk, written in 1495. Although it is possible that Everyman was actually written first. • The protagonist, Everyman, learns of his impending death and is abandoned by most of his companions. The play depicts his journey from fear to faith in God.

5. In a small group of 2 or 3 people, discuss the moral lesson in Everyman. What would the original dramatists want the medieval people to learn from this play? • Share your ideas about the personification in the play. Do you think that this is an effective tool to use to get the moral message across? Why or why not?

6. Timed Writing Assignment • You have 15 minutes to write an essay from the following prompt. There are 10 points available. Remember to use quotations from the play to support your ideas.

7. The protagonist, Everyman, says these words; “O all thing faileth save God alone – Beauty, Strength and Discretion. For when Death bloweth his blast They all run fro’ me full fast.” (Everyman lines 257 – 260) What does Everyman mean when he says this? Discuss both the literal and symbolic meaning of this statement, with reference to the text as a whole. Remember to comment on the use of personification in the text.