The Pillars of the Earth

Follett's book opens in England with a man's hanging (11). The death is cursed by a girl (15-16), who is later introduced as Ellen (the beautiful outlaw who lives in the forest (36)) and becomes Tom Builder's lover. The hanging was caused by church leaders and English royalty, who worked together to control land holdings and precious resources. By the end, three people, including Bigod Waleran, conspired to have the man hung because he was the sole survivor of the shipwreck where King Henry's heir died, and, had he lived, he might have provided clues about tbe plot to kill the heir.

One of the first characters introduced is Tom, discouraged because Lord William had the power to fire him as mason simply because Lord William's bride backed out of her marriage to Lord William (27). The King of England vested considerable power in his underlords: they co

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n Waleran. This is critical because it evidences the struggle for power that takes place throughout the novel, Waleran constantly vying for power as Prior Philip, a more ethical and moral leader, attempts to spread the influence of the church. Philip reveals a plot to Waleran, wherein the Earl of Shiring and Robert of Glouster conspired to overthrow Stephen of Blois (who would otherwise claim the throne of England with the blessing of the church) (119). Priest Waleran has become an influential leader, one who can terminate diocesan leases at will, thereby rendering poor farmers gypsies without legal leases to the land they till (117). Thus, while the King of England initially had the power to grant land leases, many leaders of the church had the power to end them or to recommend to the king that certain religious leaders be reallocated title to desirable land or resources. Philip is new to the church's hierarchy and does not know that Waleran was one of three people to be involved in the death of King Henry's heir and that Waleran also knows about the plan to overthrow the king. Philip learns, when he has to make a deal with Waleran to become prior, that people only rise to high ranks within the church by trading political
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Some common words found in the essay are:
King Henry's, Earl Bartholomew's, King England, Ellen Ellen, Kingsbridge Kingsbridge, Archbishop Thomas, Empress Maud, Christmas Priors, Church England, Lord William, power church, influence church, king henry's, lord william, church leaders, king england, religious authority, land holdings, king henry's heir, prior philip, land leases,
Approximate Word count = 1937
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

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