Piers Plowman Lesson Plan

At one point in Piers Plowman, Dame Study remarks to her husband that those who "contrive to twist the truth" have become the most sought-after people in the land. How does a preponderance of lies and dishonesty affect the fabric of society?

In Piers Plowman, the hypocrisy and mendacity that suffuses mediæval England has dire moral consequences. The Church has fallen away from Christ, and the nobles and the royalty neglect their duties to society, and as a result, the very structure of society is breaking down. The teacher might also find it useful to have students move beyond the text of Piers Plowman itself and explore the effects of widespread dishonesty in modern...