Piers The Plowman

PIERS PLOUGHMAN
“Piers the Ploughman” is a Middle English alliterative poem written by

William Langland. Three versions of “Piers the Ploughman” are extent.
a. The poem starts early form, dating from 1360s.
b. A major revision and extension of it made in the last 1370s.
c. Less ‘literary ’version of it is seen in 1380s.
The poem, a mix of theological allegory and social satire, concerns

the narrator’s/dreamer’s quest for the true Christian in the context of
medieval Catholicism. This journey takes place within a series of dream-
visions; the dreamer seeks among other things, the allegorical
characters Dowell(‘Do-well’) Dobet (‘Do-Better’)and Dobest (‘Do-
Best’).The poem is divided into passsus (steps),the divisions between
which vary version.
It opens with narrator and main character Will wandering the

world as a hermit. One day will lies down by a stream and sleeps into a
deep sleep where he experiences an extra ordinary dream.
Prologue:-The poem begins in the Malvern hills between

Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Vision1:- In dream he sees a tower belonging to Truth/God/Heaven and

a valley with a large dungeon representing hell. In between is this world
with its living inhabitants.
Vision2:-Will dreams that Reason gives a sermon to the field of Folk

and the people decide to repent.
Vision3:-Will’s search for Dowell begins. He meets Thought .Thought
instructs with will to Dowell, Dobetter, Dobest.
Vision4:-Will dreams of sharing a feast with conscience, scripture,

clergy and patience.
Vision5:- Will finds himself disconnected from the waking world but
Reason helps to go back to sleep, where will meets Anima and Spirit.
Vision6:-Will experiences love and intersection of human and divine

time. Will witness Christ riding Jerusalem and Christ’s crucifixion.
Vision7:-In vision seven, Conscience recounts the life and Passion of

Christ.
Vision8:-Will fall asleep and dreams of the Antichrist.
The poem was produced during a period of major political,

economic and religious upheaval in England. “Piers the Ploughman” is
written in sympathy with the common peasant against unfair dealings
by the kings, courts, clergy and tradesman in a scathing indictment of
corruption and greed. The tumultuous was shown in black Death of
1347 -1351 and the Peasants’ revolt of 1381. The underlying backdrops
reflected in “Piers the Ploughman” are,
Economics:-“Piers the Ploughman” explores the relationship between

the spiritual economy and material economy. The breakdown of
traditional feudal system was brought.(Miss Money is an allegorical
character who embodies this new economy.)
Truth (God, Love):-at the beginning of the poem when Will asks Holly
Church how to achieve salvation, she directs him to Truth. And when he
enquires how to acquire truth she replies through Love.
Work:-Piers the Ploughman is the ideal worker. He appears in the poem
when the Folk, now pilgrims, have embarked on their quest to find
truth (God) but have lost their way.The poem reacts to newly created
classes as well as.
a. intellectuals(Will himself)
b. Merchants.
Penance:-“Piers the Ploughman” is the story of Will, a Christian who

wants to save this soul by leading a good life. It aim to give
Christendom and to make things right with God.
Justice:-In the poem God and Truth are synonymous. The poem
explores the relationship between justice and Mercy, relationship
among spiritual power (the first estate, the Church) and worldly power
(the second estate, the nobility and the monarchy)and these who work
(the third estate, peasants, intellectuals and merchants).
Prophecy:-The poem identifies urgent problems in Christendom and

foretells, in the corrupt behavior of the clergy the advent of the
antichrist.
Salvation and good works:-The poem constantly emphasizes the

importance of good works represented by the character Dowell.
Working for the good of the community is the critical part of the
process of penance.

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PIERS PLOUGHMAN

“Piers the Ploughman” is a Middle English alliterative poem written by

a. The poem starts early form, dating from 1360s.

b. A major revision and extension of it made in the last 1370s.

c. Less ‘literary ’version of it is seen in 1380s.

The poem, a mix of theological allegory and social satire, concerns

It opens with narrator and main character Will wandering the

Prologue:-The poem begins in the Malvern hills between

Vision1:- In dream he sees a tower belonging to Truth/God/Heaven and

Vision2:-Will dreams that Reason gives a sermon to the field of Folk

Vision4:-Will dreams of sharing a feast with conscience, scripture,

Vision6:-Will experiences love and intersection of human and divine

Vision7:-In vision seven, Conscience recounts the life and Passion of

Vision8:-Will fall asleep and dreams of the Antichrist.

The poem was produced during a period of major political,

Economics:-“Piers the Ploughman” explores the relationship between

Penance:-“Piers the Ploughman” is the story of Will, a Christian who

Prophecy:-The poem identifies urgent problems in Christendom and

Salvation and good works:-The poem constantly emphasizes the

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