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ENGL 221 lECTURE

ENGL 221 lECTURE. Edmund Spenser and The Faerie Queene. October 17, 2011. Biographical Background. Born around 1552 and died in 1599 (Elizabeth reigned 1558 to 1603) Studied under Richard Mulcaster at the Merchant Taylors’ School in London Met Gabriel Harvey at Cambridge

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ENGL 221 lECTURE

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  1. ENGL 221 lECTURE Edmund Spenser and The Faerie Queene October 17, 2011

  2. Biographical Background • Born around 1552 and died in 1599 (Elizabeth reigned 1558 to 1603) • Studied under Richard Mulcaster at the Merchant Taylors’ School in London • Met Gabriel Harvey at Cambridge • Attained a government position in Ireland in 1580 • ShepheardesCalender (1579) • Faerie Queene (1590 and 1596)

  3. 3 Main Difficulties of FQ • Spenser’s Language • Moral Allegory • Historical Allegory

  4. Spenser’s Language • Archaisms and Fake Middle English • Prefix “Y” for Past Tense • Terminal “e” • Spenserian Stanza • High Alliteration

  5. E.K. on Spenser’s Language • “For in my opinion it is one special prayse, of many which are dew to this Poete, that he hath laboured to restore, as to theyrrightfull heritage such good and naturall English words, as have ben long time out of vse and almost cleane disinherited. Which is the onely cause, that our Mother tonge, which truely of it selfe is both ful enough for prose and stately enough for verse, hath long time ben counted most bare and barrein of both.”

  6. FQ I.i.1 A Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine, Ycladd in mightiearmes and silver shielde, Wherein old dints of deepe wounds did remaine, The cruel markes of many a bloudyfielde; Yet armes till that time did he never wield: His angry steede did chide his fomingbitt, As much disdayning to the curbe to yield: Full jolly knight he seemd, and faire did sitt, As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters fitt.

  7. Moral Allegory Letter to Ralegh • “The generall end therefore of all the booke, is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline.” • His method of presenting moral truths “clowdily enwrapped in Allegorical devises” is suited to “the use of these dayes, seeing all things accounted by their showes, and nothing esteemed of, that is not delightfull and pleasing to common sense.”

  8. FQ I.i.4 A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside, Upon a lowly Asse more white then snow, Yet she much whiter, but the same did hide Under a vele, that wimpled was full low, And over all a blacke stole she did throw, As one that inlymournd: so was she sad, And heavie sat upon her palfrey slow; Seemed in heart some hidden care she had, And by her in a line a milke white lambe she lad.

  9. Historical Allegory • Representations of Queen Elizabeth • Recent defeat of Spanish Armada • Spenser’s work in Irish Colony • Context of the English Reformation

  10. FQ I.i.29 At length they chaunst to meet upon the way An aged Sire, in long blackeweedesyclad, His feete all bare, his beard all hoarie gray And by his belt his booke he hanging had; Sober he seemde, and very sagely sad, And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent, Simple in shew, and voyde of malice bad, And all the way he prayed, as he went, And often knockt his brest, as one that did repent.

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