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About Shakespeare

"A Vision of Piers the Plowman"

This poem, which is a satire on the corrupt religious Society practices, throws light on the ethical problems of the day. The character assumed by Langland is
that of the prophet, denouncing the sins of society and encouraging men to aspire to a higher life.

One of the greatest poets of the Middle Ages was William Langland, and his poem, A Vision of
Piers the Plowman holds an important place in English literature. In spite of its archaic style, it is
a classic work in English literature.

In these moral plays the protagonist is always an
abstraction; he is Mankind, the Human Race, the Pride of Life, and there is an attempt to
compass the whole scope of man‘s experience and temptations in life.

Allegory is
the distinguishing mark of the moral plays.

In
these plays the uniform theme is the struggle between the powers of good and evil for the
mastery of the soul of man.

In the Middle English period Miracle plays became very popular. From the growth and
development of the Bible story.

These romances were mostly
borrowed from Latin and French sources. They deal with the stories of King Arthur, The War of
Troy, the mythical doings of Charlemagne and of Alexander the Great.

The most popular form of literature during the Middle English period was the romances.

The great difference between the two periods—Anglo-Saxon period and Anglo-Norman period,
is marked by the disappearance of the old English poetry.

The Normans, who were residing in Normandy (France) defeated the Anglo-Saxon King at the
Battle of Hastings (1066) and conquered England.

Angles and Saxons followed in their life five great principles

1) love of personal freedom
2) responsiveness to nature
3) religion
4) love for womanhood
5) struggle for glory.