Piers Plowman

Allegorical poem written some time between 1372 and 1389

-Dealt with both the history of Christianity
-How Christianity related to the society and individuals of 14th-century England

Scholars do not know for sure

-Believe that the author was
William Langland

-Native of the Malvern Hills in England, where some scenes of this poem were set

-Form of the work is a dream vision

-Used as a framework for a religious satire of 14th-century English life from an idealistic Christian perspective

Title of this poem and the name of its main character give a clue to the allegory

"Piers" is a Germanic form of "Peter"

Plowman is a traditional figure that represents the plain, honest, pious laborer

Leaders of the Uprising of 1381 used lines from the poem as slogans in the revolt

-Poem is divided into sections
-Each one is called a passus (step)

Prologue describes the various social classes in English society

Passus 5 is an allegorical rendering of the seven deadly sins:
pride
envy
lust
avarice
sloth
anger
gluttony

Passus 18, "The Harrowing of Hell," is anagogical

"Piers Plowman" is very complex and can be difficult for a modern reader to interpret

Upcoming...

• Read Everyman and Margery Kempe Excerpts
• CPA Topic 3 Part 1
• Critical Analysis 2 due Sunday