#faeriequeene

[sorecy]

12th of the Traveller - One Queen

[paradiselostix]

#novemberwrapup The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser was the only book I read in November, because of its length (one of the longest poems in English), archaic writing style and complexity. It was exhausting yet I really enjoyed some parts. It was definitely much more complex, yet slightly better than Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, from which Spenser clearly drew inspiration. However, The Faerie Queene, likewise, was full plotshifts and unnecessary sub-plots, most of which were boring, not related to main story nor to other sub-plots. Spenser definitely creates great worlds, inspired by many myths and legends, but he also creates confusions: makes it hard for the reader to keep track of all the characters and plotlines. Will I re-read? Definitely not entirely but I may re-read some parts which were really fantastic and fascinating, such as the descriptions of the House of Pride, the Bower of Bliss, the Garden of Adonis, Britomart's venture at Busirane's Castle, story of friendship between Telamond and Cambell, Scudamore's seizure of Amoret from the Temple of Venus and the catalogue of invitees at the wedding feast in Proteus' house. Britomart, Belphoebe, Arthegall, the Redcrosse Knight, Florimell, Amoret, Guyon, Timias and Arthur (the king we know, but more as a valiant knight here) are definitely iconic characters of the book. I give it a 7/10. ~ #TheFaerieQueene #FaerieQueene #Spenser #Redcrosse #Gloriana #Arthur #Britomart #Belphoebe #Florimell #ElizabethI #november #wrapup #book #books #bookstagram #bibliophile #reading #read #booklove #instabook #bookish #literature #booktube #bookworm #bookclub #epic #classics #epicreads #classic https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq2sqI3nBdE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10ahaped0w6v5

[paradiselostix]

«... Oft fire is without smoke, And perill without show» (from Book I, Canto I) ~ «The fish that once was caught, new bait will hardly bite.» (from Book II, Canto II) ~ #CurrentlyReading: The Faerie Queene by #EdmundSpenser. It is a highly allegorical romance-like epic poem, first published in three books in 1590 and later in six books in 1596, written for the praise of Queen Elizabeth I, represented by characters like Gloriana (The Faerie Queene herself) and the chaste huntress Belphoebe. It is also notable for being one of the LONGEST poems in English as well as the origin of the verse form known as the Spenserian stanza. In the poem, each book follows the adventures of several knights who represent a particular virtue (holiness, temperance, chastity, friendship, justice and courtesy) or who has that quality in himself or herself tested by other characters or by particular events. It had never been a compulsory reading in faculty, but as I wanted to read all great English classics and I was so curious about the Faerie Queene, I decided to read it. Though it is very fantastic and full of allusions to Greek-Roman mythology (just the way I love), I find it very complex and exhaustive, as much as Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, from which Spenser obviously drew inspiration. Like Aristotle, I think an epic poem shouldn't be so complex and shouldn't include so many subplots. I am currently reading the 4th Book (The Legend of Cambel and Telamond, or of Friendship) of the epic. ~ «The gentle minde by gentle deeds is knowne. For a man by nothing is so well bewrayd, As by his manners, in which plaine is showne Of what degree and what race he is growne.» (From Book VI, Canto III) ~ #TheFaerieQueene #FaerieQueene #Spenser #QueenElizabeth #ElizabethI #Redcrosse #Gloriana #Arthur #Britomart #Belphoebe #Florimell #book #books #bookstagram #currentread #reading #read #booklove #bookoftheday #instabook #literature #love #booklion #booktube #bookworm #epic #epicreads #classics https://www.instagram.com/p/BqUW8lLnWkt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17396dfye22sm

[rafaenglishrenaissance-blog]

The Faerie Queene Book 1 Canto 5 

Redcrosse in his Duel

[lovetravelmerrimentandwar-blog]

Be bolde, be bolde, and everywhere, be bold

Spenser, Faerie Queene (Book iii, Canto xi, St. 54)

[lovetravelmerrimentandwar-blog]

The gentle minde by gentle deeds is knowne; For a man by nothing is so well bewrayed As by his manners

Spenser, Faerie Queene (Book vi, Canto iii, St. 1)

[lovetravelmerrimentandwar-blog]

Ill can he rule the great that cannot reach the small

Spenser, Faerie Queene (Book v, Canto ii, St. 43)

[lovetravelmerrimentandwar-blog]

Who will not mercie unto others show, How can he mercy ever hope to have?

Spenser, Faerie Queene (Book v, Canto ii, St. 42)