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The Faerie Queene

The Faerie Queene. Sir Edmund Spenser. Sir Edmund Spenser. Born in 1552 in London Son of a poor family Received excellent education thanks to the patronage of Robert Nowell, a wealthy landowner. Studied at Pembroke College from 1569-1576 Earned B.A. and M.A. degrees. Sir Edmund Spenser.

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The Faerie Queene

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  1. The Faerie Queene Sir Edmund Spenser

  2. Sir Edmund Spenser • Born in 1552 in London • Son of a poor family • Received excellent education thanks to the patronage of Robert Nowell, a wealthy landowner. • Studied at Pembroke College from 1569-1576 • Earned B.A. and M.A. degrees

  3. Sir Edmund Spenser • Appointed as secretary to the Bishop of Rochester; • Entered the service of the Earl of Leicester, one of the most powerful figures in Queen Elizabeth’s court. • Began a friendship with the Earl’s nephew Sir Philip Sidney and together with a few other friends formed an poetical society.

  4. Sir Edmund Spenser • In 1579, he published The Shepheardes Calendar, a small volume of 12 pastoral poems, which established his reputation as an important poet.

  5. Sir Edmund Spenser • In 1580, he accepted a post as secretary to Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton, who was being sent to Ireland as Lord Deputy • This was a decisive move for Spenser because he remained a resident of Ireland for the rest of his life.

  6. Spenser • He held several official posts in Ireland during the course of his life there. • He accompanied Sir Walter Raleigh back to London in 1589 and supervised the publication of the fist 3 books of The Faerie Queene, issued in 1590.

  7. Spenser • In 1591, several other works were published in Compalints Containing Sundry Small Poemes of the World’s Vanitie. • He returned to Ireland after nearly 2 years in London. • He married Elizabeth Boyle in 1594.

  8. Spenser • During the Irish rebellion in 1598, he was forced to leave Ireland. • He died in early 1599 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

  9. The Faerie Queene • In a letter to Sir Walter Raleigh, he proposed to write a poem in which he would: • “ represent all the moral virtues, assigning to every virtue a knight in whose actions and chivalry the operations of that virtue are to be expressed and the vices and unruly appetites that oppose themselves to be beaten down.”

  10. Spenser • Depicted first 6 virtues: • Holiness • Temperance • Chastity • Friendship • Justice • Courtesy

  11. Spenser • Published first three books in 1590. • Second edition (1596) added the next three. • Plan for a second set of six books resulted in only 2 cantos on the virtue of Constancy.

  12. Spenser • The poem displays Spenser's thorough familiarity with literary history. • Although the world of The Faerie Queene is based on English Arthurian legend, much of the language, spirit, and style of the piece draw more on Italian epic. • Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso • Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered

  13. The Faerie Queene • Spenser’s moral chivalry is sponsored and sustained by the court of GLORIANA, the Faerie Queene • She reflects the figure of Queen Elizabeth, Spenser’s monarch

  14. The Faerie Queene • Gloriana’s story is illustrated by the actions of a character called Prince Arthur • Only one who possesses all 12 virtues • Intervenes at crucial moments to assist Gloriana’s knights • Seeks out Gloriana • bride he has chosen in a dream

  15. The Faerie Queene • Book I • Relates the adventures of the knight of Holiness • the Redcrosse Knight • Sir George • Identified by name • Sign on his shield • England’s patron saint

  16. The Faerie Queene • Book I • His mission • to overcome the things that drive spiritual error which are menacing the English church • To deliver the parents of Una from the dragon of false faith

  17. The Faerie Queene • Themes of Book I • Good vs. evil • Truth vs. false faith • Protestant vs. Catholic

  18. The Faerie Queene • Gloriana • Queen of “Fairy Land” • Represents Queen Elizabeth • Arthur • Saves RCK (and other knights) • Christ-like figure

  19. The Faerie Queene • Redcrosse Knight • Knight of Holiness • Devoted to fighting against sin or evil • Christian warrior • Armor of Christ

  20. The Faerie Queene • Una • Truth • True church

  21. The Faerie Queene • RCK must have true faith in order to be a true Christian • Plot of Book 1 mostly concerns attempts of evildoers to separate RCK from Una. • Spencer meant for most of these villains to represent the Roman Catholic Church.

  22. The Faerie Queene • Enemies of RCK • Error • Archimago • Wizard/sorcerer • Shapeshifter/changes appearance • Duplicitous • Queen Duessa • Falsehood/lies (False Faith) • Opposite of Una (Truth) • Tries to lure RCK away from Una

  23. The Faerie Queene • Enemies of RCK • Orgoglio • (Italian for Pride) • Despair • Many-headed Dragon • Catholic church • 3-day fight

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