Another example of the less effective use of critical terms and concepts

Essay question: 'Morality structure provides a dramatic form for the exposition of a moral argument.' Discuss with reference to Everyman and/or Dr. Faustus.

This is an extract from a student's essay on the above question:

'The morality plays of the late fifteenth century through to the seventeenth century, typified by Everyman, gave rise to morality structure in which symbolic allegorical characters expose a moral from which the audience is to take heed.'

Q. How could this be improved?

TUTOR'S REPLY

The student is attempting to describe a particular feature of the play by using critical terms, but is somewhat confused in their application. The student needs to check in a dictionary of literary terms the precise meanings of the terms 'symbolic' and 'allegorical' and decide which one is more appropriate to use in this instance.

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