A Letter to Sir Walter Raleigh explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Allegory and Symbolism

  Spenser explicitly describes The Faerie Queene as a 'continued allegory, or dark conceit' and explains how characters like Arthur, the Redcrosse Knight, and Belphoebe symbolize virtues and political figures.

• Virtue and Vice

  The entire work aims to 'fashion a gentleman or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline,' with each knight embodying a specific virtue (Holiness, Temperance, Chastity).

• Chivalry and Knighthood

  Spenser uses the history of King Arthur and the adventures of knights to portray the ideal of knighthood and the pursuit of moral excellence.

Characters to notice

• Prince Arthur

  Spenser sets forth Magnificence in Arthur, who is perfected in the twelve private moral virtues and seeks the Fairy Queen after a vision.

• Redcrosse Knight

  The first knight, in whom Spenser expresses Holiness; he undertakes the adventure to rescue Una's parents from a dragon.

• Sir Guyon

  The second knight, in whom Spenser sets forth Temperance; he undertakes the quest against the enchantress Acrasia.

• Britomart

  A lady knight in whom Spenser pictures Chastity; she succours Scudamour and rescues Amoret from Busirane.

• Gloriana

  The Fairy Queen, representing glory in general and Queen Elizabeth in particular; she holds a twelve-day feast that occasions the knights' adventures.

• Belphebe

  Spenser uses Belphoebe to shadow the virtuous and beautiful lady aspect of Queen Elizabeth, naming her after Cynthia.

• Scudamour

  The lover of Amoret, who takes on the adventure against Busirane but is unable to perform it until aided by Britomart.

• Amoret

  A fair lady kept in grievous torment by the enchanter Busirane; she is rescued by Britomart.

Key passages

• “The general end therefore of all the book is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline.”

  The overall purpose of the entire book is to shape a gentleman or noble person through virtuous and noble training.

  Spenser states the didactic aim of his allegorical epic.

• “In that Fairy Queen I mean glory in my general intention, but in my particular I conceive the most excellent and glorious person of our sovereign the Queen, and her kingdom in Faery Land.”

  By the Fairy Queen I generally intend glory, but specifically I imagine the most excellent and glorious person of our sovereign Queen Elizabeth and her kingdom in Faery Land.

  Spenser clarifies the dual allegorical meaning of Gloriana.

• “For the method of a poet historical is not such, as of an historiographer. For an historiographer discourseth of affairs orderly as they were done, accounting as well the times as the actions; but a Poet thrusteth into the middest, even where it most concerneth him, and there recoursing to the things forepast, and divining of things to come, maketh a pleasing analysis of all.”

  The method of a historical poet differs from that of a historian. A historian recounts events in order, including times and actions, but a poet plunges into the middle of the story, then refers back to past events and foreshadows future ones, creating a pleasing arrangement of the whole.

  Spenser explains his narrative technique of beginning in medias res.