• Notes taken from The Norton Anthology of English Literature (9) Everyman
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  • Everyman:
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  • data of the manuscript:  about 1485
  • kind of drama:    medieval morality play
  • performers of the mysteries and morality plays:    trade guilds
  • primary purpose of the plays:    religious
  • characteristics of the mysteries:     Biblical events
  • characteristics of the moralities:     allegorical Christian moral stories
  • intent of the morality play:    more overtly didacticthan the mysteries
  • the common feature of the two kinds of plays:        rough humor
  • humor in Everyman:      his friends hastily abandon him
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  • style of the work:      simple and direct language and approach, direct sermonizing, clear theme
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  • usage of allegory in Everyman and in Piers Plowman:                  Direct allegorical equations for didacticism against stimulation of the imagination rather than satisfaction of the intellect

 

  • the origin of the text:              maybe a translation of a Flemish play or vice versa