Piers Plowman - Langland, William

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Résumé :
William Langland's 14th-century poem Piers Plowman, a disturbing and often humorous commentary on corruption and greed, remains meaningful today. The allegorical work revolves around the narrator's quest to live a good life, and takes the form of a series of dreams in which Piers, the honest plowman, appears in various guises. Characters such as Conscience, Fidelity and Charity, alongside Falsehood and Guile, are instantly recognizable as our present-day politicians and celebrities, friends and neighbors. Social issues are confronted, including governance, economic relations, criminal justice, marital relations and the limits of academic learning, as well as religious belief and the natural world. This new verse translation from the Middle English preserves the energy, imagery and intent of the original, and retains its alliterative style. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here....

Biographie:
William Langland, born in 1332, is the presumed author of Piers Plowman, a seminal work of Middle English alliterative verse. His allegorical poem is rich in religious themes and was revolutionary in translating complex theological ideas into symbols and images that could be understood by the common people. Langland s work is considered a critical commentary on society, focusing on issues such as justice, morality, and the human condition, with an emphasis on the need for spiritual and social reform. Langland likely received his education at the Royal Grammar School, which contributed to his ability to write in the vernacular, making his work accessible to a wider audience. He lived during a period of significant social and political upheaval, and his writing reflects the concerns of the time, particularly regarding the church and its corruption. Langland passed away in 1386 at the age of 54. His legacy remains tied to his groundbreaking contributions to English literature and his ability to blend religious ideas with everyday life, influencing later writers and thinkers....

Sommaire:
Table of Contents

Acknowledgments deletev
Introduction
The Identity of the Author
Prologue delete21
Step I delete28
Step II delete35
Step III delete42
Step IV delete53
Step V delete59
Step VI delete78
Step VII delete88
Step VIII delete96
Step IX delete100
Step X
Step XI
Step XII
Step XIII
Step XIV
Step XV
Step XVI
Step XVII
Step XVIII
Step XIX
Step XX
Selected Bibliography
Index
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