Piers Plowman: An Introduction Second, revised edition

by Simpson, James

• ISBN13: 9780859898034
• ISBN10: 0859898032
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-07-10
• Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Summary

Simpson's introductory study is based on the B-text, the most widely read and studied of the three versions of Piers Plowman. Aimed at undergraduates, it is the only truly introductory book on the text in existence. Its structure follows that of the poem's eight visions and its introduction situates the poem in literary and political history. This fully revised edition takes account of scholarship over the last 15 years and includes a revised and updated bibliography.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
Approaching Piers Plowman	p. 1
The poem and its author	p. 2
Langland's immediate poetic context	p. 6
'Discourse'	p. 14
Schematic structure of the poem	p. 15
The First Vision: Prologue and Passus I	p. 16
Introduction	p. 17
Literary 'truthe'	p. 17
Theological 'truthe'	p. 24
Social 'truthe'	p. 29
Conclusion	p. 34
The First Vision: Passus II-IV	p. 36
Introduction	p. 37
Personification allegory	p. 37
Mede and social 'truthe'	p. 45
Mede and legal 'truthe'	p. 48
Conclusion	p. 54
The Second Vision: Passus V-VII	p. 55
Introduction	p. 56
Ecclesiastical satire	p. 58
Theological themes: the reward of works-a wage or a gift?	p. 68
Conclusion-the crisis of justice	p. 77
The Third Vision: Passus VIII-XII	p. 81
Introduction	p. 83
Structure as determined by psychology	p. 85
Style	p. 96
Theme	p. 98
The inner-dream (XI. 5-402): Fortune, Lewtee, Imaginatif	p. 120
Conclusion	p. 122
The Fourth Vision: Passus XIII-XIV	p. 124
Introduction	p. 125
Educational transitions	p. 126
Poetic transitions	p. 134
Social transitions	p. 143
Conclusion	p. 147
The Vision: Passus XV-XVII	p. 148
Introduction	p. 150
Anima-the whole soul	p. 152
Anima and the Church	p. 155
Anima and charity	p. 162
Conclusion	p. 179
Visions Six, Seven and Eight: Passus XVIII-XX	p. 180
Introduction	p. 182
The sixth vision: Passus XVIII	p. 184
The seventh vision: Passus XIX	p. 191
The eighth vision: Passus XX	p. 203
Conclusion	p. 214
Notes	p. 221
Bibliography	p. 232
Index	p. 245
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