The Faerie Queene (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Edmund Spenser
- First Published: 1590
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Allegory
- Time of Work: The Age of Chivalry
- Setting: England
- Genres: Poetry, Allegory, Epic, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Mythical animals, Sin or Original sin, Religion, Christianity, Good and evil, Kings, queens, or royalty, Ethics, Allegory, Dragons, Knights or knighthood, Chivalry, Fairies, Chastity
- Locales: England
Characters Discussed
Gloriana, the Faerie Queene, an idealized portrait of Queen Elizabeth. Although she does not appear in the extant portion of the poem, many of the knights set out on their quests from her court, and they often praise her virtue and splendor.
Prince Arthur, the legendary British hero, who represents Magnificence, the perfection of all virtues. He rides in search of Gloriana, who had appeared to him in a vision, and, on his way, aids knights in distress.
The Red Cross Knight, the hero of book 1, in which he represents both England’s patron,...
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See Also:
Edmund Spenser (Cyclopedia of World Authors)Edmund Spenser (Poetry)Edmund Spenser (Dictionary of World Biography)
See Also:
- - The Faerie Queene summary and study guide in the eNotes.
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