Introduction

The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser is an epic poem from the English Renaissance. The first three parts of The Faerie Queene were originally published in 1590. Later, in 1596, these were republished along with three additional parts, completing the six-book poem.

Spenser, a contemporary of William Shakespeare, was greatly inspired by ancient literature and medieval tales of knighthood. The Faerie Queene follows six knights, each symbolizing a different virtue, on their quests through the mythical land of Faerie. It is an allegorical work celebrating Queen Elizabeth I and exploring themes of chivalry, virtue, and the everlasting battle between good and evil.

Poem Summary

Queen Gloriana rules Faerie Land with fairness and justice. Everyone in her kingdom admires and respects her, and many knights go on adventures in her honor. In Book I, the Red Cross Knight, symbolizing holiness, goes on a quest to slay a dragon, representing all evil in the world.

He begins his journey accompanied by a dwarf and the beautiful and pure maid Una, who represents truth. The dragon is holding Una's parents, Adam and Eve, captive.

The Red Cross Knight initially triumphs over Error, one of the first formidable monsters he encounters. This victory, however, soon leads him into a deeper conflict. Misled by the deceitful witch Duessa, who embodies Falsehood, the Red Cross Knight is tricked into believing that his loyal companion Una, the personification of Truth, has been unfaithful to him. In his disillusionment, he abandons Una and follows Duessa.

The Red Cross Knight nearly fails his quest by aligning with Duessa and almost stabs himself when encountering the monster Despair, but Una saves him at the last moment. In the end, with the help of faith and truth, he manages to slay the dragon.

Book II focuses on Sir Guyon, the knight of Temperance. He encounters a wounded woman named Amavia and her deceased husband, Sir Mordant. Amavia explains that her husband was killed by an evil sorceress named Acrasia.

Acrasia runs a Bower of Bliss, a place of pleasure and lust, where she traps enchanted men and turns them into animals. Guyon's temperance enables him to resist temptation and defeat Acrasia. He destroys her bower and liberates the men.

In Book III, Spenser introduces Britomart, the knight of chastity. Britomart is actually a woman who one day saw a vision of her future husband, Arthegall. Inspired, she learns the ways of knighthood, disguises herself as a knight, and sets out on a quest to find him.

Along the way, she meets Scudamore, a brave knight who has fallen in love with the beautiful maiden, Amoret. However, Amoret has been captured by the evil warlock Busirane. Britomart confronts Busirane and defeats him. She tells him that she will spare his life only if he frees Amoret.

Book IV is about friendship. The knight Cambello organizes a tournament to find a husband for his sister, Canacee. He challenges the participants to a duel, and whoever wins or lasts the longest will marry his sister.

Three brothers, Priamond, Diamond, and Triamond, join the tournament. Cambello defeats Priamond and Diamond, but Triamond, the youngest brother, survives the duel with Cambello. Cambello allows Triamond to marry his sister, and they become close friends.

Meanwhile, Britomart and Arthegall compete in a tournament, which Britomart wins. Arthegall then removes her helmet and discovers that Britomart is a woman. He is fascinated by her beauty and brilliance and falls in love with her. Britomart realizes that Arthegall is the knight from her vision, and they decide to marry.

Book V delves deeper into the story of Arthegall, the...