Since the dawn of civilization, man has told stories. Some were based in fact, while others were based on little more than mere whimsy coupled with the imagination of the storyteller. Often times, such stories contained a moral or lesson to be learned. Of the many time periods, few are as rich in culture and content as the medieval period. Medieval tales usually contain a few basic elements: religion (including temptation and sin), chivalry, castle life, and courtly love.

The most unifying aspect of medieval literature is religion. Nearly all works contain religion in some aspect. The mystery play, which was born in during the medieval period, deals completely with religion, often to the exclusion of the other elements. In the popular mystery play Everyman, God himself is a character. He addresses Death as such:

And that he bring with him a sure reckoning

In this passage, God is telling Death to visit Everyman (who, of course, symbolizes humanity) and bear him to the grave. The reasoning behind this is that the people of the time are ?Drowned in sin? and ?know?not?thei

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The third time, however, Bedivere mustered his resolve and threw the sword in, proving his undying loyalty to King Arthur. As such, the castle is a focal point of the story. In addition, he fought not for his king (Arthur), but for Guinevere. In this case, the Friar accepts money from a widow who could not even afford shoes. ? The basic message of the play is that God is unhappy with man?s selfish ways, and that, at the time of death, one will be judged and remembered not by his physical prowess (?Five-Wits?), or possessions (?Goods?), but instead by the acts that he performs to help those in need (?Good-Deeds?). When he and Bedivere attempted to help Arthur to walk,

?Sir Lucan?in the lifting swooned, that the part of his guts fell out of his body, and therewith the noble knight?s heart brast [burst]. This display of loyalty is one of the most astounding in medieval literature. In Chapter 5 of Book 21 of Thomas Malory?s Morte d?Arthur, Sir Bedivere?s loyalty is put to the ultimate test.

The second most prevalent aspect of medieval literature is the concept of chivalry. The theme of helping one?s fellow man is quite common in mystery plays. According to modern-day Webster, chivalry is simply the possession of ?martial valor? or ?knightly skill,? or the act of being a ?gallant or distinguished gentleman. Chaucer spoke at length on the lack of morals by some church members, as is evidenced by his views of the Friar in lines 255 to 258 of the Prologue:

?For though a widow had no shoes to show,

So pleasant was his in principio,

He always got a farthing ere he went

He lived by pickings, it is evident. The main hallmark of courtly love was secrecy. This is best evidenced in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

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