2.5: Unit Assignment
- Page ID
- 375447
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For this project, you will write an original three-page play that uses the structure and conventions of a morality play—a medieval dramatic form that uses allegorical characters to explore ethical dilemmas. Your task is to bring this form into a contemporary world by combining its recognizable features with themes, conflicts, and social issues that matter to you and your peers right now.
Part 1: Concept and Source Inspiration
Choose a story, myth, parable, or fairytale that resonates with a real issue in your life or community. You may use well-known material (e.g., The Tortoise and the Hare, Little Red Riding Hood, Pandora’s Box) or something from your own cultural background.
As you brainstorm, identify:
- A contemporary issue you wish to highlight (e.g., burnout, social media addiction, climate anxiety, impostor syndrome, housing insecurity, student debt).
- A moral or lesson your play will explore.
- Why does this story matter to you, and why should it matter to your audience at this moment?
Part 2: Adapting the Morality Play Format
Your play should clearly signal its connection to morality play traditions. To keep the form legible, consider including the following classic elements:
- Allegorical characters whose names reflect their functions or traits
(e.g., Ambition, Doomscrolling, Prudence, Self-Doubt, Joy, Procrastination) - A central protagonist (Everyperson or a contemporary “Everyman” figure—e.g., Student, Applicant, Roommate, Neighbor)
- A moral journey in which the protagonist encounters forces that pull them toward clarity or confusion, virtue or vice
- A crisis or turning point where the protagonist must choose a path
- A takeaway—not a heavy-handed “moral,” but a clear thematic resolution or open-ended question that leaves the audience thinking
You do not need to imitate archaic language or religious themes. Instead, adapt the structure in ways that feel relevant, surprising, and true to your voice.