pt. I. The argument. The middle-earth of man (Prologue, Passus I-IV) -- An end of evasion (Passus V-VII) -- A dreamer's progress (Passus VIII-XIV) -- Ascent and return (Passus XV-XX) -- pt. II. The poetic techniques. Rhythm, speech and argument -- Allegory, similitude and wordplay -- The poet and the dreamer -- Some problems of a true text of Piers Plowman