The Faerie Queen Book I, by Edmund Spenser.

This morning I finished Book I of The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser. It is painfully difficult, but I am determined firstly to finish it before spring, and secondly, most importantly, I am determined not to rush it. Consequently, as I intend on spending the first quarter of 2013 with it, I would also like to actually enjoy it. But, it's not working so well so far. I thought, then, I would write this post: look up information, try to write a summary (let it be known I'll be looking at other people's summaries to help me, but I'll cite all sources), and have a look at other reviews to try and get some appreciation for this work. If I can't love it, I would at least like to appreciate it!

Firstly, a history: The Faerie Queene was published in two parts - the first in 1590, and the second in 1596. It was written by Edmund Spenser (c. 1552, died 1599), who was greatly influenced by Virgil, Ovid, Chaucer, and Petrarch, and who went on to influence the likes of Keats, Wordsworth, Byron, and Tennyson (which is hopeful - I do like Tennyson, especially The Lady of Shalott). In the 1500s, it is thought around thirty thousand words were added to the English language by Spenser, along with Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Sidney: the development of theology, science, and philosophy during a period of war and colonisation necessitated and indeed aided it. In the first book of The Faerie Queen, it is estimated that one word out of thirty four is a archaism. One example - "blatant":

The word “blatant” first appeared in 1596, as part of Edward Spenser’s poem “The Faerie Queene.” The invented word describes a horrible monster known as the Blatant Beast, which is why the word’s first definition is “noisy and particularly vulgar.” [Source]

I've noticed before - when looking up a word in the dictionary, so many of them have been coined by Spenser.

Now, a general summary. The Faerie Queene is an allegorical poem, and so is multi-layered. It is dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I:

But, being as it is allegorical, there is more to it! This, the first English epic, is, according to Project Gutenberg, is a product of the society in which it was born:

The Faerie Queene was the product of certain definite conditions which existed in England toward the close of the sixteenth century. The first of these national conditions was the movement known as the revival of chivalry; the second was the spirit of nationality fostered by the English Reformation; and the third was that phase of the English Renaissance commonly called the revival of learning.

The spirit of the age was romantic and retrospective, looking back at an idealised version of the feudal system and the Medieval Age, and the neo-knights were represented by Sidney, Leicester, and Raleigh. Christianity was also facing a crisis during this period of Reformation, when the nation's religion was officially changed from Catholic (to which Spenser was greatly opposed) to Protestant.

Finally, the structure: it is written in what has come to be known as Spenserian stanza: iambic pentameter -

v -/- | v -/- | v -/- | v -/- | v -/-

a gen | tle knight | was prick | ing on | the plaine

followed by a single Alexandrine line (or 'iambic hexameter') -

v -/- | v -/- | v -/- | v -/- | v -/- | v -/-

as one | for knight | ly giusts | and fierce | encount | ers fitt

(Both examples taken from Project Gutenberg)

So, then - Book I. Gloriana (also a kind of nickname for Queen Elizabeth I) is Queen of Fairy land, and she appoints the hero of the first book, The Redcrosse Knight to accompany Una, the personification of the "true" church (Protestantism) to kill the dragon 'Error'. Along the way, they meet Archimago, an evil sorcerer who summons demons to make Redcrosse dream that Una is making sexual advances towards him, and then, to trick Redcrosse into believing he has seen Una in bed with another man. The two therefore separate and go their own way, and Redcrosse meets an old witch Duessa, disguised as the young and beguiling Fidessa personifying falsehood and the Catholic Church. She is accompanied by Sansfoy (representing the "Faithless"), who Redcrosse kills in battle, and Duessa joins him on his journey (despite a warning told by a tree).>

Meanwhile, Una makes her way and is befriended and protected by a lion. They spend the night in the home of Abessa (who is dumb, representing ignorance) and Corceca (who is blind, and represents blind devotion). The lion kills Kirkrapine, a church robber and Abessa's lover, and they leave, meeting once again Archimago ("Arch" and "Image") who has disguised himself as Redcrosse. Sansloy, another knight, brother of Sansfroy and representing 'lawlessness' who challenges the disguised Archimago to a duel and injures him, where it becomes apparent to Una he is not her Redcrosse. Sansloy attempts to rape Una, and is attacked by the lion, however Sansloy kills the lion and kidnaps Una.

Canto IV returns to Redcrosse, who is taken to the House of Pride by Duessa, and they witness a parade of the Seven Deadly Sins. Sansjoy ('Joyless', brother of Sansloy and Sansfoy, who Redcrosse has killed) however, interrupts and challenges Redcrosse.

Queen Lucifera arranges the battle, and just as Redcrosse is about to kill Sansjoy, Duessa intervenes and a dark cloud envelopes him and he is protected. Redcrosse is taken back to the House of Pride to be treated, whilst Duessa takes Sansjoy to Hades to be treated by Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine. Redcrosse is warned that in the dungeon of the House of Pride there are victims of the Seven Deadly Sins. Redcrosse, though severely injured, makes his escape.

Meanwhile,satyrs rescue Una from Sansloy and take her to Sylvanus, their leader. Una is befriended by Satyrane - a knight half man, half satyr. When they leave the woods, Una meets Archimago, disguised as a pilgrim telling them Redcrosse has been slain. Upon seeing Sansloy, Una makes her escape.

Duessa, at this time, is searching for Redcrosse. He drinks from a magic fountain, which causes him to lose all strength and integrity, and Duessa seduces him. Orgoglio (an Italian word for 'pride'), a giant, attacks Redcrosse and Duessa begs that his life is spared, and in exchange for his life becomes Orgoglio's mistress. Redcrosse is thrown into a dungeon, and a dwarf seeks Una and tells her of Redcrosse's torment. On their way to the castle to rescue Redcrosse, they meet Prince Arthur, "knight of the magnificent", who idolises Gloriana. Arthur battles with Orgoglio, who is stunned by the brilliance of Arthur's shield. Arthur slays him, but spares Duessa, having stripped her and exposed her as the old witch, and rescues Redcrosse.

In Canto IX, Arthur tells Redcrosse and Una his story, that he was raised by Merlin, and in a dream the Faerie Queen came to him. Captivated by her beauty, he seeks her still. They part, and Una and Redcrosse resume their journey, and are met by Sir Trevisan, who was persuaded (along with his friend Sir Terwin) by Despair to end his life. Sir Trevisan has escaped, and Redcrosse vows to slay Despair. They find the Cave of Despair, and Redcrosse himself is tempted to commit suicide as Despair tells them of how he has rescued so many from the pain of existence. Una intervenes, and the two escape the Cave. Una takes him to the House of Holiness, where they meet Charity, Fidelia, Speranza, Patience, Penance, Remorse, and Repentance, and Redcrosse is shown Jerusalem, which Contemplation tells him he will one day enter as St. George. The two then return to Una's native land and find a dragon is holding Una's parents captive. Redcrosse is wounded by the dragon (who believes he has killed Redcrosse), however Redcrosse falls into a spring, and his strength is once again restored. After a three day battle, Redcrosse kills the dragon and her parents are freed. The two become engaged, despite more intervention from Archimago, who is captured and imprisoned, however they do not marry as Redcrosse must continue his six years of service to Gloriana.

And so ends the first book. As I say, I found it hard - painfully hard, and I could not have written this without the aid of the sources below. It's the language I'm struggling with - clearly, this is an intensely complex work, but yes, it's the language barrier. But I'm working hard to overcome it and am ready to start the second book tomorrow!

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Sources:

Book I << The Faerie Queene
LIT 2001
The Edmund Spencer Home Page
Project Gutenberg
Spenser's Faerie Queene - A Summary
Who Coined These Ten Invented Words?
Wikipedia