🧌Medieval Literature Unit 6 – Dream Visions & Morality Plays in Christianity

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Dream visions a literary genre in which a narrator falls asleep and experiences a dream or vision that conveys a message or lesson
• Allegory a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one
• Personification the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object
• Morality plays a genre of medieval and early Tudor theatrical entertainment that used allegorical characters to teach Christian morals and ethics
• Psychomachia an allegorical representation of the conflict of the soul
  • Depicts the battle between virtues and vices for the possession of the human soul
• Exemplum a short narrative used to illustrate a moral point, often incorporated into sermons or other didactic literature
• Didacticism the intention to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive

Historical Context

• Dream visions and morality plays emerged during the late medieval period (14th-15th centuries) in Europe
• Influenced by the religious and philosophical ideas of the time, particularly the Christian worldview
  • Emphasis on the afterlife, salvation, and the struggle between good and evil
• Reflected the social and cultural changes of the era, such as the rise of vernacular literature and the increasing literacy of the laity
• Coincided with the development of allegorical literature, which used symbolic characters and events to convey moral or spiritual truths
• Responded to the religious and political upheavals of the time, such as the Black Death, the Hundred Years' War, and the Western Schism
• Served as a means of religious instruction and moral guidance for the largely illiterate population
• Performed in various settings, including churches, marketplaces, and noble households

Literary Characteristics

• Use of allegory and personification to represent abstract concepts, virtues, and vices
• Emphasis on moral and religious themes, particularly the struggle between good and evil and the path to salvation
• Narration often framed as a dream or vision experienced by the protagonist
• Incorporation of biblical allusions, religious symbolism, and theological concepts
• Use of vernacular language to make the works accessible to a wider audience
• Didactic tone and explicit moral lessons, often delivered through dialogue or monologue
• Linear plot structure, focusing on the protagonist's spiritual journey or the battle between allegorical characters
• Inclusion of vivid sensory details and imaginative imagery to engage the audience's imagination

Major Works and Authors

• "The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri (1308-1320) an allegorical journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise
• "Piers Plowman" by William Langland (c. 1370-1390) a dream vision that explores religious and social issues through the character of Piers the Plowman
• "Pearl" by the Pearl Poet (c. 1400) an allegorical dream vision that mourns the loss of a young girl and explores themes of grief, faith, and salvation
• "Everyman" (c. 1510) an anonymous morality play that follows the character Everyman as he prepares for death and judgment
• "The Castle of Perseverance" (c. 1425) an anonymous morality play that depicts the life of Mankind and his struggle against sin
• "The Summoning of Everyman" (c. 1510) a Dutch morality play that inspired the English "Everyman"
• "Le Roman de la Rose" by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun (c. 1230-1275) a French dream vision that explores themes of love, desire, and the human condition

Religious and Moral Themes

• The struggle between good and evil, often represented by allegorical characters such as virtues and vices
• The path to salvation and the importance of living a morally upright life
• The consequences of sin and the need for repentance and divine grace
• The transience of earthly life and the inevitability of death and judgment
• The role of the Church and the clergy in guiding the faithful towards salvation
• The importance of faith, hope, and charity as essential Christian virtues
• The danger of worldly temptations and the need for spiritual vigilance
• The power of divine love and the transformative nature of religious experience

Symbolism and Allegory

• Personification of abstract concepts, such as virtues (e.g., Faith, Hope, Charity) and vices (e.g., Pride, Envy, Sloth)
• Use of symbolic settings, such as gardens, castles, or forests, to represent spiritual states or moral challenges
• Allegorical characters representing different aspects of the human psyche or society (e.g., Everyman as a representation of all humanity)
• Biblical allusions and religious symbolism, such as the cross, the seven deadly sins, or the four cardinal virtues
• Numbers with symbolic significance, such as three (representing the Trinity) or seven (representing the seven deadly sins or the seven sacraments)
• Colors with symbolic associations, such as white for purity, red for passion or sacrifice, or black for sin or death
• Animals with allegorical meanings, such as the lamb (representing Christ) or the serpent (representing temptation or evil)

Performance and Reception

• Morality plays were performed by traveling acting troupes or local guilds, often on religious feast days or as part of larger festivals
• Performances took place in various settings, including churches, marketplaces, and noble households
• Staging was often simple, with minimal sets and props, allowing for flexibility in performance spaces
• Actors played multiple roles, with allegorical characters distinguished by distinctive costumes or attributes
• Audiences were diverse, including both clergy and laity, and spanning different social classes
• Plays were designed to be accessible and engaging, using vernacular language, humor, and familiar references
• Performances served both an entertainment and educational function, providing moral instruction and religious edification
• The popularity of morality plays and dream visions reflects the religious and cultural climate of the late medieval period

Legacy and Influence

• Dream visions and morality plays contributed to the development of allegorical literature and the use of personification in Western literature
• Influenced later literary works, such as Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" and John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress"
• Provided a foundation for the development of English drama, particularly the morality play tradition
• Contributed to the popularization of vernacular literature and the increasing literacy of the laity
• Reflected and shaped the religious and moral values of medieval society, emphasizing the importance of faith, virtue, and the afterlife
• Served as a means of religious instruction and moral guidance, complementing the teachings of the Church
• Influenced the visual arts, inspiring allegorical paintings, tapestries, and illuminated manuscripts
• Continued to be adapted and performed well into the early modern period, even as religious and cultural attitudes began to shift