Amazing Trivia Quiz On Medieval Drama!
Read your notes on mystery, miracle and morality plays, and tick as many boxes as necessary. Please note that some scholars use the terms mystery and miracle interchangeably
Questions and Answers
- 1.
The subject matter was religious
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
C. BothExplanation
The subject matter being religious, it is likely that both mystery/miracle plays and morality plays would be included. Mystery/miracle plays typically depict biblical stories or events, focusing on miracles and divine intervention, while morality plays emphasize moral lessons and the consequences of human actions. Both types of plays have religious themes and are commonly performed during medieval times to educate and entertain audiences.Rate this question:
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- 2.
The characters were drawn from the Bible
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
A. Mystery/miracle playsExplanation
Mystery/miracle plays were a form of medieval drama that depicted biblical stories and events. These plays often included characters from the Bible, such as Jesus, Mary, and various saints. They were performed in churches or town squares and aimed to educate and entertain the audience. Morality plays, on the other hand, focused on teaching moral lessons and did not necessarily draw characters from the Bible. Therefore, the correct answer is mystery/miracle plays, as they specifically involved characters from the Bible.Rate this question:
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- 3.
The characters were abstractions
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
B. Morality playsExplanation
The given correct answer is "Morality plays." Morality plays were a type of medieval drama that aimed to teach moral lessons through allegorical characters and situations. These plays often depicted the struggle between good and evil and emphasized the consequences of one's actions. Unlike mystery or miracle plays, which focused on biblical stories, morality plays presented more abstract and universal themes. Therefore, the statement "The characters were abstractions" aligns with the nature of morality plays, as they often featured allegorical characters representing virtues, vices, or abstract concepts.Rate this question:
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- 4.
They included contemporary characters
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
A. Mystery/miracle playsExplanation
The correct answer is Mystery/miracle plays. Mystery/miracle plays were a type of medieval drama that depicted stories from the Bible, focusing on miracles and mysteries. These plays often included contemporary characters, such as local tradesmen or ordinary people, to make the stories more relatable to the audience. In contrast, morality plays were allegorical dramas that aimed to teach moral lessons and did not typically include contemporary characters. Therefore, the inclusion of contemporary characters suggests that the plays in question were mystery/miracle plays.Rate this question:
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- 5.
They had a didactic purpose
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
C. BothExplanation
Both mystery/miracle plays and morality plays had a didactic purpose. Mystery/miracle plays were religious dramas that depicted biblical stories and aimed to teach the audience about religious themes and morals. Morality plays, on the other hand, focused on teaching moral lessons and principles through allegorical characters and situations. Both types of plays were used as a means of instructing and educating the audience, making them didactic in nature.Rate this question:
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- 6.
They were performed on pageant wagons
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
A. Mystery/miracle playsExplanation
Mystery/miracle plays were performed on pageant wagons. These plays were popular during the medieval period and were performed in the streets or town squares. Pageant wagons were movable stages that allowed the plays to be performed in different locations. Mystery/miracle plays were religious in nature and depicted biblical stories or miracles. The use of pageant wagons allowed the plays to be accessible to a larger audience as they could be performed in multiple locations, attracting people from different areas. Therefore, the statement "They were performed on pageant wagons" accurately describes the performance setting of mystery/miracle plays.Rate this question:
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- 7.
They were first performed during the mass
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
A. Mystery/miracle playsExplanation
Mystery/miracle plays were first performed during the mass. These plays were religious in nature and were performed as part of the church service. They depicted biblical stories and events, often focusing on miracles or mysteries of the Christian faith. These plays were a way to educate and entertain the congregation, bringing the stories of the Bible to life. The performances were typically held inside the church or in the churchyard, making them an integral part of the mass.Rate this question:
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- 8.
They were more popular than the others
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
A. Mystery/miracle playsExplanation
The correct answer is Mystery/miracle plays. Mystery/miracle plays were more popular than morality plays during the medieval period. Mystery plays were religious dramas that depicted biblical stories and miracles, often performed by members of the church or religious guilds. These plays were highly entertaining and attracted large audiences, making them more popular than morality plays, which focused on moral lessons and were often performed by professional actors.Rate this question:
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- 9.
Their tone was serious on the whole
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
B. Morality playsExplanation
The given statement suggests that the tone of the plays being referred to was serious throughout. Mystery/miracle plays were medieval plays that depicted biblical stories and often included comedic elements, while morality plays were allegorical dramas that aimed to teach moral lessons. Since the statement implies a serious tone, it can be inferred that the correct answer is "Morality plays," as they were known for their serious and didactic nature.Rate this question:
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- 10.
They influenced Renaissance drama
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
C. BothExplanation
Both mystery/miracle plays and morality plays influenced Renaissance drama. Mystery/miracle plays were religious plays that depicted biblical stories and were performed by guilds. These plays were popular during the medieval period and had a significant impact on Renaissance drama by introducing elaborate staging techniques and the use of vernacular language. On the other hand, morality plays were allegorical dramas that taught moral lessons and were also influential in shaping Renaissance drama. These plays often personified abstract concepts and characters faced moral dilemmas. Both types of plays contributed to the development of Renaissance drama by introducing new themes, characters, and dramatic techniques.Rate this question:
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- 11.
The actors were members of trade guilds
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
A. Mystery/miracle playsExplanation
Mystery/miracle plays were a type of medieval drama that depicted biblical stories and events. These plays were performed by members of trade guilds, who were responsible for organizing and producing them. The actors in these plays were typically craftsmen and artisans who were members of these guilds. Therefore, the correct answer is Mystery/miracle plays.Rate this question:
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- 12.
They dealt with Bible story
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
A. Mystery/miracle playsExplanation
The correct answer is Mystery/miracle plays. Mystery/miracle plays were a type of medieval drama that depicted biblical stories and miracles. These plays were performed in churches and were meant to educate and entertain the audience. They often included elements of mystery and supernatural occurrences, hence the name "mystery/miracle plays". Morality plays, on the other hand, focused on teaching moral lessons and did not typically involve biblical stories or miracles. Therefore, the correct answer is Mystery/miracle plays.Rate this question:
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- 13.
They were concerned with how to achieve salvation
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
B. Morality playsExplanation
Morality plays were concerned with how to achieve salvation. Unlike mystery/miracle plays, which focused on biblical stories and miracles, morality plays aimed to teach moral lessons and guide the audience towards salvation. These plays often depicted the struggles between good and evil, and the consequences of one's actions. Through the characters and their moral dilemmas, morality plays sought to inspire the audience to lead virtuous lives and make choices that would lead to their salvation. Therefore, the given answer, "Morality plays," is correct.Rate this question:
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- 14.
They were first performed in Latin, and then in English
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
A. Mystery/miracle playsExplanation
Mystery/miracle plays were first performed in Latin and then in English. This suggests that these plays originated in a time when Latin was the dominant language used in religious ceremonies and performances. As time went on and the use of Latin declined, the plays were translated into English to make them more accessible to a wider audience. This transition from Latin to English reflects the changing cultural and linguistic landscape of the time.Rate this question:
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- 15.
They allowed the audience to identify with the characters
- A.
Mystery/miracle plays
- B.
Morality plays
- C.
Both
Correct Answer
A. Mystery/miracle playsExplanation
Mystery/miracle plays allowed the audience to identify with the characters. These types of plays often depicted biblical stories or miracles, which were relatable to the audience's religious beliefs and experiences. By seeing themselves in the characters, the audience could emotionally connect with the play and become more engaged in the story. This identification with the characters would enhance the overall experience and impact of the performance.Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Oct 21, 2009Quiz Created by
Mamez
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