Literature Study GuidesThe Faerie Queene

The Faerie Queene | Study Guide

Edmund Spenser

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Study Guide

Contents

Overview
Context
Characters
Plot Summary
Chapter Summaries
- Authors' Letter–Dedicatory Sonnets
- Book 1
- - - Cantos 1–3
  - - Cantos 4–6
  - - Cantos 7–9
  - - Cantos 10–12
- Book 2
- - - Cantos 1–3
  - - Cantos 4–6
  - - Cantos 7–9
  - - Cantos 10–12
- Book 3
- - - Cantos 1–3
  - - Cantos 4–6
  - - Cantos 7–9
  - - Cantos 10–12
- Book 4
- - - Cantos 1–3
  - - Cantos 4–6
  - - Cantos 7–9
  - - Cantos 10–12
- Book 5
- - - Cantos 1–3
  - - Cantos 4–6
  - - Cantos 7–9
  - - Cantos 10–12
- Book 6
- - - Cantos 1–3
  - - Cantos 4–6
  - - Cantos 7–9
  - - Cantos 10–12
- Two Cantos of Mutability
- - - Cantos 6 and 7
Quotes
Symbols
Themes
Author Biography

Cite This Study Guide

How to Cite This Study Guide

MLA

Bibliography

Course Hero. "The Faerie Queene Study Guide." Course Hero. 24 May 2019. Web. 25 June 2022. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Faerie-Queene/>.

In text

(Course Hero)

APA

Bibliography

Course Hero. (2019, May 24). The Faerie Queene Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved June 25, 2022, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Faerie-Queene/

In text

(Course Hero, 2019)

Chicago

Bibliography

Course Hero. "The Faerie Queene Study Guide." May 24, 2019. Accessed June 25, 2022. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Faerie-Queene/.

Footnote

Course Hero, "The Faerie Queene Study Guide," May 24, 2019, accessed June 25, 2022, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Faerie-Queene/.

Overview

Author

Edmund Spenser

Years Published

1590–96

Type

Epic Poem

Genre

Allegory, Fantasy

Perspective and Narrator

The Faerie Queene is narrated in the first person. Though the speaker does not take part in the poem's action, the speaker is still omniscient, or all-knowing.

Tense

The Faerie Queene is narrated in the past tense.

About the Title

The poem takes place in the imaginary realm of Faery land. The "Faerie Queene" Gloriana represents the real Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533–1603), the leader for whom Spenser wrote the poem.

Diagrams

Character Map

Timeline

Plot Diagram

Summary

This study guide for Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.

Characters

Arthur Redcrosse Knight Guyon Britomart Artegall Calidore

Symbols

Florimell's Golden Garland The Redcrosse Knight's Shield The Blatant Beast

Themes

The Importance of a Virtuous Life Disguises, False Identities, and Hypocrisy Love and its Power Protestantism

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Context

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