morality play: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary, academic
Quick answer
What does “morality play” mean?
A type of allegorical drama from the late medieval period (15th-16th centuries) in which personified virtues and vices struggle for a human soul, teaching a moral lesson.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of allegorical drama from the late medieval period (15th-16th centuries) in which personified virtues and vices struggle for a human soul, teaching a moral lesson.
Any event, narrative, or situation in modern discourse that is seen as presenting a clear, simplistic conflict between good and evil, often with a didactic purpose.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. The term is equally recognised in both varieties due to its historical and academic nature.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term carries connotations of simplicity, moral certainty, and didacticism. In metaphorical use, it can imply a reductive or simplistic worldview.
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday speech. Its use is almost exclusively confined to literary, historical, religious, or political analysis contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “morality play” in a Sentence
[Subject] is a morality play about [abstract theme]The [event/situation] unfolded like a morality play.to see/view [something] as a morality playVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “morality play” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The filmmaker chose to morality-play the historical conflict, simplifying its causes.
American English
- The pundit morality-played the election, framing it as pure good versus pure evil.
adverb
British English
- The characters were portrayed morality-play-style.
American English
- The plot unfolded morality-play simply.
adjective
British English
- The film had a rather morality-play feel to it, lacking subtlety.
American English
- His argument was morality-play simplistic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in analysis: 'The corporate scandal was portrayed in the media as a simplistic morality play.'
Academic
Common in literary, historical, and religious studies: 'The dissertation examines the transition from mystery plays to morality plays.'
Everyday
Very rare. Possible in metaphorical criticism: 'Don't turn this complex issue into a black-and-white morality play.'
Technical
Standard term in theatre history and medieval studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “morality play”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “morality play”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “morality play”
- Using it as a synonym for any serious play. / Confusing it with 'mystery play' (which enacts Biblical stories). / Mispronouncing 'morality' with stress on the first syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Everyman' (c. 1500) is the most renowned and frequently studied English morality play.
No. Mystery plays (or miracle plays) dramatise stories from the Bible. Morality plays are allegorical, using personified abstractions to teach a moral lesson.
Yes, but usually metaphorically to criticise a portrayal of events as overly simplistic, with clear-cut heroes and villains.
A morally ambiguous or psychologically complex narrative where right and wrong are not clearly defined.
A type of allegorical drama from the late medieval period (15th-16th centuries) in which personified virtues and vices struggle for a human soul, teaching a moral lesson.
Morality play is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Morality play: in British English it is pronounced /məˈræləti pleɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈræləti pleɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not a simple morality play.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MORALity play' – a play with a clear MORAL lesson where characters represent good and evil.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE WITH A CLEAR MORAL SCRIPT.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a morality play?