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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the end of "Cain and Abel", what does Cain state that he wanted to hide from?

2. What does God say he would bring to Adam and Eve before the closing of the scene? ("The Creation of Adam and Eve")

3. In the plays, what directions are bracketed?

4. Whose writings does Herod want studied regarding the birth of Jesus? ("Herod the Great")

5. Where does Scene II open? ("The Annunciation")

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Herod order to insure that the Jesus does not make it to adulthood?

2. What did the Introduction state was the "unity of biblical history"?

3. What does the introduction to "The Annunciation" state as its origin?

4. On what is the "Second Shepherds' Pageant" based?

5. From where did the editor obtain a copy of the manuscript to include "The Annunciation" in his collection of pageants?

6. What warning does the Messenger give to the audience (readers and play-viewers alike) in "Herod the Great"?

7. What does the editor state about the superiority of the Brome play ("Abraham and Isaac") over all others?

8. Why does the introduction to "Herod the Great" state that Herod is a recreation of a contemporary magnate?

9. Where, in the text of "Herod the Great", did a prophecy that Christ was born in a cave come from?

10. When were the miracle plays officially associated with Corpus Christi Day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss why you believe that "Everyman" and "The Medieval Miracle Plays" were promoted as plays and not simply in a textual format. Do you believe that in a play format the message would reach more people? Do you believe that in play form, those confused about religious ideology could come to accept the morality lessons without being confused by the religious undertone?

Essay Topic 2

Why is "Everyman" a classic example of a medieval morality play? What characteristics does it contain that allows it to follow with the themes of medieval morality plays? Name the characteristics and define how "Everyman" supports itself as a medieval morality play.

Essay Topic 3

What sort of attitude towards man does God have in the plays?

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