Edmund Spenser's epic poem, The Faerie Queene, is largely a symbolic tale, dedicated to Elizabeth I.
Spenser needed a patron to provide for his support while he worked, and patrons expect that the artists they support will write flattering words. This was certainly the case with Spenser's work,
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Spenser needed a patron to provide for his support while he worked, and patrons expect that the artists they support will write flattering words. This was certainly the case with Spenser's work, The Faerie Queene, which is meant to celebrate Elizabeth I and, oftentimes, flatter her.
In the poem, Spenser creates the the premise that Elizabeth I is descended from King Arthur of the Round Table.
Arthur is presented as himself, however he is enamored of the Faerie Queene, rather than Guinevere. He worships and pursues the Queene when not helping the other knights of the Round Table.
Prince Arthur is the Knight of Magnificence, the perfection of all virtues.
The Redcrosse Knight (an allusion, perhaps, to the knights of the Crusades with a red cross on a white "robe," as well as symbolizing piety and morality) represents the country of England. (He is shown the future to learn that, one day, he will be the patron saint of England, Saint George.) He travels with Una who represents the "True Church."
The dragon (that, according to some sources, represents Death) is attacking Una's parents' castle, and the Redcrosse Knight has joined her to battle the dragon. Una defeats the false church and the recreated Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I's archenemy (who is already dead, executed for treason against the British Crown).
Additional Source:
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3187985
In Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, identify what each character represents: the Redcrosse Knight, the dragon, Arthur, & Una in about two sentences.
The eNotes "Character" section on Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene defines exactly what each character represents. The Red Cross Knight (or Redcrosse) represents Saint George and "the Christian man's search for holiness." The Dragon represents evil and sin. Arthur represents magnificence (or the "perfection of all virtues"); and Una represents "truth and the church."
Another site, which supports "The Project Gutenberg," defines each of the characters even further. This site breaks down each character by 1) the moral the character represents; 2) the religious or spiritual aspects or associations of the character; and 3) the personal and political aspects or associations of the character.
According to the Gutenberg site, here are the breakdowns of the characters in question.
Redcrosse/Red Cross: holiness (moral), reformed England (religious/spiritual), and St. George (personal/political.
Dragon: sin (moral), Devil/Satan (religious/spiritual), and Rome and Spain (personal/political).
Arthur: magnificence/private virtue (moral), Protestantism (religious/spiritual), and Lord Leicester (personal/political).
Una: truth (moral) and true religion (religious/spiritual)--no personal/political associations were made.
Further Reading