Anonymous, Mankind

Claire Sponsler (University of Iowa)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.02: English Writing and Culture: High and Late Medieval, 1066-1485.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Rory Critten (Université de Lausanne), David Fuller (University of Durham), Natalie Hanna (University of Liverpool), Hugh Magennis (Queen's University Belfast), Jamie McKinstry (University of Durham), Sarah Peverley (University of Liverpool), Sebastian Sobecki (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. 1465

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Play

Resources

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Mankind

is, with good reason, the most widely-read example of the genre now known as the medieval morality play, a term coined by modern critics to describe a group of five plays – the others being

The Pride of Life

The Castle of Perseverance

Wisdom

, and

Everyman

. These plays constitute the sole surviving examples of what was once apparently a thriving and influential form of drama in pre-modern England. Written around 1465-1470 in the East Midlands dialect of Middle English and surviving in a single copy in what is known as the Macro manuscript, which also includes

The Castle of Perseverance

Mankind

tells the story of its eponymous hero's temptation, fall into sin, and ultimate redemption. Although the play is on one level a serious allegory of sin and salvation, peopled by…

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1499 words

Citation: Sponsler, Claire. "Mankind". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 July 2001 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3746, accessed 26 November 2024.]

Anonymous, Mankind

Dates

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Resources

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