William Langland was probably
born in Ledbury, Herefordshire in about 1332. Langland moved to London
where he made his living by singing songs at rich men's funerals.
Langland also wrote poetry
and is believed to be the author of The Vision
Piers the Plowman. Written in West Midland dialect, the
poem tells the story of Piers, a simple countryman. Langland was himself
very poor and the poem provides a first-hand account of what life
was like for ordinary people living in England during the 14th century.
The poem also attacked the corruption of the nobility and leading
members of the church.
The first version of The
Vision of Piers Plowman appeared in 1362. Langland constantly
worked on the poem and further versions were circulated in 1377 and
1395. Over sixty copies of The Vision of
Piers Plowman have survived, which suggests that Langland's
poem must have been extremely popular in the Middle Ages.
Langland may also have
been the author of Richard the Redeless,
a poem attacking the rule of Richard
I. Langland died
in about 1400.
The
Normans: Classroom Activities
(1)
William Langland, The Vision of Piers Plowman (c. 1365)
I can not
perfectly say the Lord's Prayer as the priest sings it. But I know
rhymes of Robin Hood and Randolph, earl of Chester.
(2)
William Langland, The Vision of Piers Plowman (c. 1365)
Charged
with children and overcharged by landlords, what they may spare they
spend on milk/ or on meal to make porridge to still the sobbing of
the children at meal time... The sadness of the women who live in
these hovels is too sad to speak of or say in rhyme.
(3)
William Langland, The Vision of Piers Plowman (c. 1365)
As weeds run wild on the
dunghill, so riches spread upon riches give rise to all vices... The
wealth of this world is evil to its keeper unless it be well spent.
(4)
H. Fagan, Nine Days That Shook England (1938)
Both Langland
and Chaucer saw things with the same eyes, but their vision was not
the same kind. Nor did their ears hear the same things. As the one
represents the mind of the wealthy, so does the other express the
opinions of the poor.
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