Trial and Crucifixion, by William Langland

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“AND if you possess the art, help yourself now:
If you are the Christ, and the King’s son, come down off the cross;
Then we will believe that Life loves you, and will not let you die!”

“It is finished,” said Christ, and began to swoon
Piteous and pale as a prisoner that dies;
The Lord of Life and Light then laid his eyes together.

Day withdrew for dread, and the sun grew dark,
The Temple veil shook and was rent in two;* and all the earth quaked.
At the noise of it dead men came out of deep graves,
And told why that tempest endured so long a time:
“For a bitter battle” the dead body said.
“Life and Death in this darkness, each strives to overcome the other;
But who shall have the mastery no man shall know for certain
Until Sunday about sunrise;” and with that sank again to his earth.
Some said that he was God’s son that died so fair:
‘Truly, this man was the Son of God.’*

by William Langland ?1340-?1400

From ‘The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman’ Volume II (1887), by William Langland (?1330-?1400), edited by Thomas Wright. This passage comes from Passus XVIII. Translation adapted from ‘Piers Ploughman: the Vision of a Peoples’ Christ (1912) by Arthur Burrell; ‘William Langland: Piers Ploughman (selections) at Harvard University.

* See Matthew 27:51.

* See Matthew 27:54. Like the Latin (which is what Langland quoted) the Greek original does not make it clear whether the Roman centurion who said this meant that Jesus was ‘a son of God’ or ‘the Son of God’ or even ‘son of a god.’ The ambiguity was no doubt intentional; the reader is supposed to think about the differences.

Précis

Some standing around Christ’s cross on Good Friday tauntingly challenged him to save himself, but Langland saw him die there. At once the earth quaked, and the dead rose from their graves; one apparition said that Light and Dark were locked in a mortal struggle, and that the outcome would not be known until dawn on the following Sunday.

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

What did some bystanders challenge Jesus to do?

Précis

Questions for Critics

Sevens

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