Edmund Spenser was probably born in East Smithfield, London, the son of John Spenser, who was possibly

a journeyman cloth maker.

In 1561 he joined the Merchant Taylors School, which was then under the liberal regime of Richard Mulcaster, a man of original mind and a distinguished classical scholar.

It was probably here that he composed the Shepheards Calender, which was printed in 1579 . He dedicated the poem to Sir Philip Sidney, who was the centre of a literary group, which included Sir Edward Dyer, the Countess of Pembroke and Fulke Greville.

In 1579 was accepted into the employment of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and was living in Leicester House in the Strand. He also married Machabyas Chylde in the same year who he had two children

In 1580 he was chosen secretary to Arthur, Lord Grey de Wilton, who was leaving England to take up office as Lord Deputy of Ireland.

In 1606 he published A Discourse of Civill Life where he explains that he has already written a work intended to show in heroical verse all the virtues.

As secretary to Lord Grey, Spenser probably travelled extensively in Ireland, most of which was still wild and dangerous country.

It is said that during this time he started weaving the landscapes of the Faerie Queen,

Around 1589 he made the acquaintance of Sir Walter Raleigh, who had a neighboring estate in Munster, and it was Raleigh who, after reading the Faerie Queen, persuaded him to visit London in 1590 , where he presented Spenser and his poem to the Queen.

In June 159 he married Elizabeth Boyle, an event which he celebrated in the sonnet sequence Amoretti and Epithalamium.

In 1596 Spenser returned to London to arrange the publication of the second part of the Faerie Queen (Books IV to VI), but though he stayed for almost a year he failed to secure a position at court, and again returned to Ireland.

In September 1598 he was appointed Sheriff of Cork, but his tenure was short-lived. Spenser returned home because of the defeat of Queens Army so, he went to London with letters for the Queen and it was here that he died in January 1599.

He was buried in Westminster Abbey, his tomb close to that of Geoffrey Chaucer.

An allegory is an extended metaphor, especially a story in which fictional characters and actions are used to understand and express aspects of concepts relating to human existence.

1
The Faerie Queene is an allegorical romance designed to glorify Queen Elizabeth I

2
It is considered as one of the greatest and most important works in English verse.

3
Spenser tried to write 12 books however, he just wrote 6. Each one is based on a different virtue.

4
As a result of this poem, Spenser invented a verse form called Spenserian stanza.

5
The Faerie Qeene is also This Spensers considered an work is allegorical tale, concerned with including many representations subplots. of gender and power.

Prince Artthur: the central character in all twelve books

Queen Gloriana: and allegorical figure for Elizabeth I

The Red Cross Knight: The Hero of book 1

MAJOR CHARACTERS

Guyon: the hero of book II

Una: a young woman who asks for the Faerie Queene for help.

Britomart: A female knight who is the hereine of book III

MAJOR CHARACTERS

Artegal: The hero of book V

Cambel and Trieamond: main characters of book IV

Calidore: the hero of book VI

MAJOR CHARACTERS

MAJOR THEMES
AND THEIR ALLEGORICAL MEANINGS

Holiness

Courtesy

Temperance

Themes through the six books

Justice Chastity

Friendship

Book 1

This book is interpreted as an a religious allegory concerning the split the Catholic Church and the Crurch of England

Book 2

It is also seen as a religious allegory where the hero must learn to overcome the temptations of sensual pleasure.

Book 3

This one refers to chastity but not in modern terms, chastity has a more general purity as a social and religious virtue.

Book 4

This one is about friendship as part of the individual

Book 5

In this book the allgory is based on the fate of Mary Stuart under the rule of Elizabeth I

Book 6

The allegory of this book is the maliciousness of false apperances and public slander.