The Faerie Queene is an epic poem written by Edmund Spenser. Released in 1590 and 1596, it was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I and tells of King Arthur's visit to Faerieland. It is one of the longest and possibly one of the most difficult to read poems in the English language.
Characters[]
- King Arthur
- Artegall - one of the Knights, the embodiment of Justice
- Sir Guyon - one of the Knights, the embodiment of Temperance
- Britomart - a female Knight and the embodiment of Chastity
- Archimago - a sorcerer under the employ of the Faerie Queene, sent to stop the knights
- Acrasia - a seductress of knights
- Amoret(ta) - Scudamour's kidnapped betrothed
- Busirane - Amoret's kidnapper
- Belphoebe - Amoret's sister
rest to be added
Publisher's summary[]
Considered to be one of the most difficult poems in the history of the English language, "The Faerie Queen" by Edmund Spenser is a marvelous epic poem depicting the virtues of the legendary King Arthur and his knights in a mythical place called Faerieland. Spenser based his interpretation of the virtues on those named by Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. Each one of the seven books discusses a different hero who displays one of these virtues; however, this entire collection was meant to be a tribute to Queen Elizabeth and the Tudor family. The stories are intricate and sometimes hard to understand. The language follows Spenserian prose and is intentionally archaic; Spenser wanted his work to have a mythical feel rather than being a modern piece. Each work was specifically chosen to evoke a certain feeling or image, allowing Spenser to make the world of Faerieland have an enchanting feeling. All readers who make their way through the text find that they are rewarded by the epic poem's masterful plots and inventive setting. Many refer to "The Faerie Queen" as early science fiction, since Spenser merges a mystical Faerieland with Arthurian legend. Students of history and literature will enjoy this timeless classic for its challenging rhetoric, but also for its vivid depictions and stunning allegorical significance.
See also[]
| Title | Author | Release date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia | Philip Sidney | 1593 | A similarly fantastical epic poem released around the same time |
| Paradise Lost | John Milton | 1667 | A similarly fantastical epic poem released around the same time |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | William Shakespeare | 1596 | A similarly fantastical play released around the same time |
| Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, Touching Matters of the Church | John Foxe | 1563 | A book with a similar story to book one |