Everyman

Everyman
/ev"ree man'/, n.
1. (italics) a 15th-century English morality play.
2. (usually l.c.) an ordinary person; the typical or average person.
3. everybody; everyone.
[EVERY + MAN1]

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▪ English morality play
      an English morality play of the 15th century, probably a version of a Dutch play, Elckerlyc. It achieves a beautiful, simple solemnity in treating allegorically the theme of death and the fate of the human soul—of Everyman's soul as he tries to justify his time on earth. Though morality plays on the whole failed to achieve the vigorous realism of the Middle Ages' scriptural drama, this short play (about 900 lines) is more than an allegorical sermon because vivid characterization gives it dramatic energy. It is generally regarded as the finest of the morality plays.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Everyman — (engl., spr. éwwerĭ män, »Jedweder«), englische Moralität, aufgebaut auf der indischen Parabel von den Freunden in der Not. Der Mensch, den der Tod antritt, wird verlassen von Kameraden, Familie, Hab und Gut; nur die guten Werke, die er geübt,… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Everyman —   [ evrɪmæn], Titel der bekanntesten englischen Moralität aus dem Ende des 15. Jahrhunderts, Jedermann …   Universal-Lexikon

  • everyman — name of the leading character in a popular 15c. morality play; from EVERY (Cf. every) + MAN (Cf. man) (n.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • Everyman — ► NOUN ▪ an ordinary or typical human being …   English terms dictionary

  • Everyman — [ev′rē man΄] n. [often e ] a person or fictional character regarded as representing the human race or the common person …   English World dictionary

  • Everyman — (ca. 1485)    Generally conceded to be the finest example of the type of late medieval drama known as a MORALITY PLAY, Everyman (or, more properly, The Summoning of Everyman) was produced between 1485 and 1500. As is the case with all moralities …   Encyclopedia of medieval literature

  • Everyman — Première page d une édition imprimée d Everyman, vers 1500 Everyman (The Somonyng of Everyman, ou La Semonce de Tout Homme) est une pièce de théâtre en moyen anglais composée à la fin du XVe siècle et dont l auteur est inconnu. Il s agit d une… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Everyman — For other uses, see Everyman (disambiguation). In literature and drama, the term everyman has come to mean an ordinary individual[1][2], with whom the audience or reader is supposed to be able to identify easily, and who is often placed in… …   Wikipedia

  • everyman — [[t]e̱vrimæn[/t]] N SING Everyman is used to refer to people in general. If you say, for example, that a character in a film or book is an everyman, you mean that the character has experiences and emotions that are like those of any ordinary… …   English dictionary

  • everyman — noun Usage: often capitalized Etymology: Everyman, allegorical character in The Summoning of Everyman, 15th century English morality play Date: 1906 the typical or ordinary person …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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