We shall present new results from our deep optical spectral mapping of M42 proplyds secured with the VLT FLAMES Argus integral field unit. Proplyds are partially ionized low-mass star forming clouds immersed in the strong radiation field of the Trapezium cluster. They represent a unique nearby environment for the study of low mass embedded young stellar objects (YSOs) in a region dominated by higher mass main sequence stars. Our investigation will allow us to determine the chemical composition of their photoionized surfaces, and to derive plasma temperatures and densities, in fields of view that encompass each whole YSO and its immediate M42 surroundings with 300 spectra per position. The high spatial resolution of 0.3 arcsec per pixel can help us to study the small-scale mixing processes (at milli-parsec scales) of the proplyd photoevaporated outflows with the local ISM.