Langland, William (1330?-1400?), wrote Piers Plowman, a great English poem of the Middle Ages. Scholars know little about Langland’s life, but they believe he was born in Shropshire. In the late 1300’s, Langland wrote three versions of Piers Plowman. All of the versions use alliteration (words that begin with the same sound) instead of rhyme and are written in Middle English, the version of the language spoken during Langland’s time.
The main theme of Piers Plowman is the need to reform England spiritually through Christian faith and love. The poem is a complex religious allegory in which each character represents an abstract quality or a type of person. The main character, Will, represents the will of every person who wants salvation. Piers, another character, modeled on a humble worker, symbolizes all true ministers of God. The action consists of Will’s quest for Truth. Will has nine dreams, in which most of the action occurs. The poem comments shrewdly on many topics and problems of the time. Although deeply religious, it is particularly critical of the religious establishment of its day.
