Research Paper
Everyman’s Death by Anonymous (late 1400s)
COURSE # and TITLE: ENGL 102: Literature and Composition
SEMESTER OF ENROLLMENT: Summer 2010
NAME: Chataria Holloway ID #23009258
WRITING STYLE USED: MLA
Thesis Statement
By comparing and paralleling the characters in the play with life’s attributes, the author’s perception of death and the treatment of death in the play; thus reminding the reader that this play is a moral play as described by the first appearing character Messenger. I. Author’s Perception of Death a. Messenger: Sent by God b. Inevitable: Everyman suffers it c. Journey: Pilgrimage to face God II. Author’s Treatment of Death a. Person: Character in the play b. Place: Purgatory
c. Things: End of existence III. Parallel to the life: Everyman is every man a. Preparing for death b. Good deeds will speak for you c. Moral play
Everyman’s Death
Everyman, the play, lives up to its name in every sense of the word. The title takes a character named Everyman and takes him through a journey to face God. Through his journey the reader is able to reflect upon their own life and see some of the various ways people view life and mistakes made. Many people share those same views now as well as then in the 1400s when the play was written. The play is a moral play. Therefore, leaving the audience with something to meditate on after reading it. The anonymous writer uses characters with human attributes of a person such as beauty, strength, knowledge among others. Other times, the writer uses characters such as God, Angel, Everyman and even Death to enable the reader to understand the play.
The author’s perception of death is interesting and multifaceted. He uses death as a messenger sent by God to Everyman. Death the character is summoned by God to retrieve Everyman. Death answers God immediately. Everyman is a metaphor for mankind. God commands Death to retrieve everyman for his day of
COURSE # and TITLE: ENGL 102: Literature and Composition
SEMESTER OF ENROLLMENT: Summer 2010
NAME: Chataria Holloway ID #23009258
WRITING STYLE USED: MLA
Thesis Statement
By comparing and paralleling the characters in the play with life’s attributes, the author’s perception of death and the treatment of death in the play; thus reminding the reader that this play is a moral play as described by the first appearing character Messenger. I. Author’s Perception of Death a. Messenger: Sent by God b. Inevitable: Everyman suffers it c. Journey: Pilgrimage to face God II. Author’s Treatment of Death a. Person: Character in the play b. Place: Purgatory
c. Things: End of existence III. Parallel to the life: Everyman is every man a. Preparing for death b. Good deeds will speak for you c. Moral play
Everyman’s Death
Everyman, the play, lives up to its name in every sense of the word. The title takes a character named Everyman and takes him through a journey to face God. Through his journey the reader is able to reflect upon their own life and see some of the various ways people view life and mistakes made. Many people share those same views now as well as then in the 1400s when the play was written. The play is a moral play. Therefore, leaving the audience with something to meditate on after reading it. The anonymous writer uses characters with human attributes of a person such as beauty, strength, knowledge among others. Other times, the writer uses characters such as God, Angel, Everyman and even Death to enable the reader to understand the play.
The author’s perception of death is interesting and multifaceted. He uses death as a messenger sent by God to Everyman. Death the character is summoned by God to retrieve Everyman. Death answers God immediately. Everyman is a metaphor for mankind. God commands Death to retrieve everyman for his day of
Cited: “Purgatory.” Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 1st ed. 2003. Fulton, Thomas. “Shakespeare’s Everyman: Measure for Measure and English Fundamentalism” Liberty University. ENGL 102. 16 June 2010. www.Liberty.edu “The Meaning of the Character Knowledge in Everyman” Helen S. Thomas, Mississippi Quarterly 14.1 Winter 1960 pgs. 3-13llegiate Dictionary. 1st ed.2003 Kennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing.6th ed. United States. Longman, 2010 “Chapter 15 Imagery.”482-499 Glover, Kaima. Post Colonial Everyman Liberty University. ENGL 102. 16 June 2010. www. Liberty.edu Alford, John A.”From Page to Performance: Essays in Early English Drama” Ed. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 1995 pg.127-149 www.liberty.edu