ENG 310ASpenser

Slide 1

Edmund Spenser

The Fairy Queen

ENG 310ASpenser

Slide 2

FQ: Cultural/Historical Contexts

• Humanism

• Reformation (Anglican: 1535 -- )

• English nationalism & expansion– New World colonization; sea power

• 1584 - 1588 - 1607 - 1620

• Court contexts of literature– audience - patronage, favor - classical models

ENG 310ASpenser

Slide 3

FQ: Nuts and Bolts

• author

• language

• verse form

• date

• structure (actual/planned)

ENG 310ASpenser

Slide 4

FQ: Genre(s)• sec. epic, in allegorical mode, w/ romance plot

elements, to teach noble/virtuous behavior (mirror for gentlepersons; a.k.a. “courtesy book”)

• epic– techniques: Homeric/epic similes, in medias res,

invocations of Muses, etc.

• romance plot elements• compare Star Wars

ENG 310ASpenser

Slide 5

FQ: Genres, cont’d.

• allegory (def.)– types: personification, typological (defs.)

– also, “geographic/architectural” (def.)

– levels (at least 4 possible for FQ)• polysemy (def.)

• mirror for gentlepersons (or “courtesy book”)

ENG 310ASpenser

Slide 6

FQ, Bk. 1: Major Episodes

• [Letter to Ralegh story background]

• canto 1 : Error’s wood

• cantos 1-2 : Archimago and Duessa

• cantos 4-5 : House of Pride/7 Sins

• cantos 7-8 : Orgoglio, Arthur to rescue

ENG 310ASpenser

Slide 7

FQ, Bk. 1: Major Episodes, cont’d.

• canto 9 : Cave of Despair

• canto 10 : House of Holiness

• canto 11 : Dragon Fight

• canto 12 : Betrothal– classic fairy tale happy ending