Unit(s) : Introduction to Theater (types of drama, morality play)
Theatre History (medieval period)
Purpose:
To teach students the characteristics of the morality play
To familiarize them with a classic play from the medieval period, and to help them identify modern issues which can be used in contemporary plays to teach "moral lessons".
Objective:
After reading and discussing the play Everyman, students will conceive their own modern morality plays: listing characters, writing a scenario of the action, and identifying the moral lesson taught by their play.
Materials:
- Information about morality plays in the Middle Ages in Western Europe (eg. An Introduction to Theatre and Drama, Marshall Cassady and Pat Cassady, 1985, p. 57)
- The morality play Everyman (in An Introduction to Theatre and Drama, pp. 58-78)
- Hand-out to guide students' conceiving ideas for an original morality play (see attachment)
Procedure:
- Discuss the definition of a morality play (allegory) and why it was popular in the Middle Ages.
- Have students read aloud the play Everyman in class, stopping to clarify language and action when necessary (allow 2-3 class periods).
- Discuss responses to Everyman.
- Discuss examples of modern plays and movies that seem to teach a moral lesson. Compare and contrast them to Everyman.
- Divide students into groups of 3 or 4.
- Give students the hand-out and ask them to create ideas for an original modern morality play.
- Ask groups to present their ideas for the plays to class.
Theatre History: Middle Ages
Unit: Morality plays
Write plans for an original modern morality play:
I. Cast of characters
- Protagonist -
- Other main characters -
- Supporting characters -
II. Scenario
- Initial Incident (What's the problem? What puts the action in motion?)
- Complications in the conflict (What other problems arise? Why is the protagonist still in trouble?)
- Climax (What happens to turn the action in a new direction?)
- Falling Action (How do things work out for the protagonist and other main characters?)
- Resolution (What's the final thought or truth that remains at the play's end?)
III. Moral Lesson (What does the play teach the audience?)