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Everyman and Other Miracle and Morality Plays
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Everyman is the most durable of medieval morality plays, in which the central character, summoned by death, must face final judgment on the strength of his good deeds. The work is reprinted here along with 3 other medieval classics: The Second Shepherd's Play, Noah's Flood, and Hickscorner. All from standard texts.
Paperback, Dover Thrift , 96 pages
Published
October 24th 1995
by Dover Publications
(first published 1490)
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(showing 1-30)
the five stars are for everyman, which is really pretty amazing... it's funny and terrifying and immediately grabs you (i don't think i looked up from the page once from the first line to the very end) and actually surprisingly effective in making this reader at least actually consider the way he's living his life... i don't know why i never read such an incredibly famous (and ridiculously short and easy-to-read) piece before; i think maybe i thought it was going to be dry and dull? but instead
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"We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” ~Jim Rohn
As part of my quest to read more classic plays I picked up Everyman for a quick read (only 39 pages). Everyman is a one act play that was written centuries ago. The earliest English version dates from approximately 1520. It's amazing how relevant the play is nearly 500 years later, although concerns of morality and mortality neve ...more
As part of my quest to read more classic plays I picked up Everyman for a quick read (only 39 pages). Everyman is a one act play that was written centuries ago. The earliest English version dates from approximately 1520. It's amazing how relevant the play is nearly 500 years later, although concerns of morality and mortality neve ...more
Considering this is just a collection of four short medieval plays, there's not much to review. Props to Dover for putting this out just to get the plays in circulation; they're invaluable in studying theatre and the mindset of the medieval era. Heavy hitters included are obviously "Second Shepherd's Play" and "Everyman" (I say obviously because, of course, the whole world is as drenched in medieval drama as I am...sorry about that). These are the go-tos for medieval theatre, usually, the ones y
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This was, shockingly, the only version of "The Everyman" I could find in the system, but I wanted to include it as it is a classic and I well enjoyed it.
I have included a quick summary below:
The messenger? Death. The message? God has summoned you to stand before Him and give a reckoning of your life. What do you do? The protagonist of this play, the shocked and distraught Everyman, faces this exact issue. But he is granted a day's grace to gather together anyone who will travel with him and help ...more
I have included a quick summary below:
The messenger? Death. The message? God has summoned you to stand before Him and give a reckoning of your life. What do you do? The protagonist of this play, the shocked and distraught Everyman, faces this exact issue. But he is granted a day's grace to gather together anyone who will travel with him and help ...more
This is what passed for drama in the Middle Ages. Pretty scary if you're an illiterate peasant.
This morality tale is literally Poetry. I am tempted to rewrite it in modern verse, rhymes in place, for the pure mental exercise.
I just read two of the plays in this book for my British Drama class so I’m just commenting on those two, Everyman and The Second Shepherds’ Play.
Medieval drama is not something I was completely familiar with though I knew a few of the conventions. These are two really interesting examples of the genre. Everyman is a morality play and The Second Shepherd’s Play is a miracle play.
Everyman is the story of a man who’s been called to give his account to God and he’s not ready. He wants more time. W ...more
Medieval drama is not something I was completely familiar with though I knew a few of the conventions. These are two really interesting examples of the genre. Everyman is a morality play and The Second Shepherd’s Play is a miracle play.
Everyman is the story of a man who’s been called to give his account to God and he’s not ready. He wants more time. W ...more
Telling allegory on the state of man. Everyman is called to give account to God and finds himself woefully unprepared to meet God and answer for his life. In pleading for more time and a companion to join him, he realizes that all forsake him, even friends and family. His strength, beauty, wits, and discretion cannot take this final journey with him. Only Good Deeds can go, and only after he visits Confession and repents. Written with a heavy Catholic worldview, I take biblical issue with the vi
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O eternal God, O heavenly figure, O way of righteousness, O goodly vision.
Which descended down through a virgin pure to redeem every man, which Adam forfeited by his dis-obedience.
O blessed Godhead, elect and high divine, forgive my grievous offense.
Here I cry your mercy in this presence.
O ghostly treasure, O ransomer and redeemer, of all the world hope and conductor, mirror of joy, and founder of mercy, which illuminates heaven and the earth besides, hear my clamorous complaint, though it is l ...more
Which descended down through a virgin pure to redeem every man, which Adam forfeited by his dis-obedience.
O blessed Godhead, elect and high divine, forgive my grievous offense.
Here I cry your mercy in this presence.
O ghostly treasure, O ransomer and redeemer, of all the world hope and conductor, mirror of joy, and founder of mercy, which illuminates heaven and the earth besides, hear my clamorous complaint, though it is l ...more
I thought Everyman was fine for what it is, a medieval morality play. It is heavy handed and not terribly dramatic, but this was not its purpose necessarily.
However, the Second Shepherd's play is terrible. It is bizarre and poorly constructed. The grafting of the Nativity Play doesn't work either.
Adam, a morality play not included here is even worse. It reeks of anti-Semitism and is unoriginal and formless. The first few scenes are drawn directly from Genesis, probably the point, and the testi ...more
However, the Second Shepherd's play is terrible. It is bizarre and poorly constructed. The grafting of the Nativity Play doesn't work either.
Adam, a morality play not included here is even worse. It reeks of anti-Semitism and is unoriginal and formless. The first few scenes are drawn directly from Genesis, probably the point, and the testi ...more
I read this because I wanted to remember the story of
Everyman. I read it in High School English but had forgotten it. Now I remember why. It is verbose cubed. The act of reading it is tedious. The idea of anthropomorphizing virtues and concepts seems a little silly. The other three stories comes off no better. I reread it. I am glad that I did so and made a few notes. I will never have to read it again.
Everyman. I read it in High School English but had forgotten it. Now I remember why. It is verbose cubed. The act of reading it is tedious. The idea of anthropomorphizing virtues and concepts seems a little silly. The other three stories comes off no better. I reread it. I am glad that I did so and made a few notes. I will never have to read it again.
Decided to stop reading the book - did not find it enjoyable. The old-English writing made my head hurt, and I often did not understand what was being said. Reminded me of why I relied on Cliff Notes so much in high school. I would love to have a discussion with someone who rated this book 5 stars. Did they really enjoy it that much, or are they giving themselves the 5 stars for slogging through the thing?
Everyman is a short but sweet play speaking about our lives and choices. It is very interesting -especially in an analysis class- to consider all the allegorical characters and how their words and actions affect the story. While one doesn't read this play for a story or character necessarily, it is definitely a thought-provoker that has withstood the test of time.
The only thing worth knowing about this book is the eponymous protagonist, whose name comes up in all kinds of snotty places. Whether discovered passed out in a ditch or drinking Sterno while piloting a car full of dead hookers, a robust plea to the heavens of "Everyman, be my guide!" will mark you a soul of discriminating and cultured tastes.
Good. I found an interesting reference to migraines in the fourth play, Hickscorner, which is a rather bawdy play to start with. I dare anyone to be able to read that section (the whole Hickscorner play) and keep a straight face!
Aug 04, 2011
Susan
added it
The other plays in the Dover Thrift Edition are "Noah's Flood", "The Second Shephard's Play" and "Hickscorner"
Not a miracle or morality play type.
A very interesting read. I would love to see this performed, as a lot could be done with it. a good representation of faith in the Medieval era.
The Second Shepherd's Play wasn't bad, though it was predictable, and Everyman was fine, though droll. For what it is, it's not a BAD read, but I wouldn't pick it up a second time.
As something written to be seen, rather than read, I don't have much of an opinion on it. I think it is something that I would like to see performed.
I read half/ 2 plays. The Second Shepherd's play and Everyman.
Honestly, other than for their historical value, and their influence on Elizabethan/Jacobean drama, I find medieval morality/mystery plays completely boring.
[First read, November 2004]
[First read, November 2004]
*Read EVERYMAN and THE SECOND SHEPHERD for school junior year college*
probably the most blatant allegory i've ever read. very blunt in its symbolism, it would require just enough thought if it weren't so boring.
Aug 14, 2012
Courtney
marked it as to-read
Barnat, Sylvan
The Genius of the Early English Theater
In compilation only.
The Genius of the Early English Theater
In compilation only.
Jul 17, 2014
Ahmet Uçar
added it
read as an example of allegory in the first year of the university but i don't remember much from it.
I read the version of Everyman found within the Norton Anthology of English Literature.
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“Everyman, I will go with thee and be thy guide, in thy most need to go by thy side”
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