the faerie queene
DESCRIPTION
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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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 1569-1576Earned B.A. and M.A. degrees
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.
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.
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 DeputyThis was a decisive move for Spenser
because he remained a resident of Ireland for the rest of his life.
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.
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.
Spenser
During the Irish rebellion in 1598, he was forced to leave Ireland.
He died in early 1599 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
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.”
Spenser
Depicted first 6 virtues:HolinessTemperanceChastityFriendshipJusticeCourtesy
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.
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
The Faerie Queene
Spenser’s moral chivalry is sponsored and sustained by the court of GLORIANA, the Faerie QueeneShe reflects the figure of Queen
Elizabeth, Spenser’s monarch
The Faerie Queene
Gloriana’s story is illustrated by the actions of a character called Prince ArthurOnly one who possesses all 12 virtuesIntervenes at crucial moments to
assist Gloriana’s knightsSeeks out Gloriana
• bride he has chosen in a dream
The Faerie Queene
Book IRelates the adventures of the knight
of Holiness • the Redcrosse Knight • Sir George
• Identified by name• Sign on his shield
• England’s patron saint
The Faerie Queene
Book IHis 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
The Faerie Queene
Themes of Book IGood vs. evilTruth vs. false faithProtestant vs. Catholic
The Faerie Queene
GlorianaQueen of “Fairy Land”Represents Queen Elizabeth
ArthurSaves RCK (and other knights)Christ-like figure
The Faerie Queene
Redcrosse KnightKnight of HolinessDevoted to fighting
against sin or evilChristian warrior
• Armor of Christ
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.
The Faerie Queene
Enemies of RCKErrorArchimago
• Wizard/sorcerer• Shapeshifter/changes appearance• Duplicitous
Queen Duessa• Falsehood/lies (False Faith) • Opposite of Una (Truth)• Tries to lure RCK away from Una
The Faerie Queene
Enemies of RCKOrgoglio
• (Italian for Pride)
DespairMany-headed Dragon
• Catholic church• 3-day fight