Morality play

/mɒɹˈalɪti plˈeɪ/

/mɔːɹˈælɪɾi plˈeɪ/

Morality play

a kind of drama in which the performers personify an abstract concept as an allegory presenting a didactic point, popular in the 15th and 16th centuries

Examples

1. Morality plays have a huge influence on the plays of the English Renaissance.

2. Mystery, folk, and morality plays had a good run.

3. In a world without the Twilight Zone, to couch necessary morality plays in slick sci-fi trappings.

4. But morality plays were an obvious influence, too, and maybe also medieval farces.