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The Faerie Queene

The Faerie Queene. Book I: Canto 9 - 10. What happens?. Arthur explains his reasons for coming to Faerieland Redcrosse and Una come across Trevisan whose friend was overcome by Despair Despair almost makes Redcrosse realise that he’s rubbish and should kill himself

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The Faerie Queene

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  1. The Faerie Queene Book I: Canto 9 - 10

  2. What happens? • Arthur explains his reasons for coming to Faerieland • Redcrosse and Una come across Trevisan whose friend was overcome by Despair • Despair almost makes Redcrosse realise that he’s rubbish and should kill himself • They venture to the House of Holiness • Then there’s the old man on Mount Contemplation...

  3. But what does it all mean??? • Arthur: • From Western Wales (ix.4) the origins of Tudor lineage... Justification of Queen Liz (just like the Aeneid) • Arthur gives RC a liquid – like the Eucharist in Protestantism, another form of justification • RC as becoming a Christ-like figure (ix.19) • The future of Saint George

  4. But what does it all mean??? • Despair • Redcrosse’s Despair is resolved by Una and the True Faith of God; he cannot learn to resist this (like Error) until he has learned his lessons from the House... • Described as a “Snake” – could remind us of Satan in PL, deceptive (ix.28)

  5. But what does it all mean??? • The House of Holiness • Primarily acts as a parallel to the House of Pride; works to raise the profile of Godliness • The members of the House... • Caelia – as opposed to Lucifera • Fidelia – Faith; shows Redcrosse discipline and the Gospel • Sperenza – Hope; comforts Redcrosse out of Despair • Patience and Pennance – purge him of sins (Remorse & Repentance) • Charissa – Charity; instructs him how to be better • Mercie – “in the end his righteous soule might save” (x.34) • X.37-43: Seven Corporal Works of Mercy • What does this scene do then? • Letter of the Author... How to be a gentleman of true virtue

  6. But what does it all mean??? (still...) • Mount Contemplation • Presented with the view of the cities of both God and the Faerie Queene: Jerusalem and Cleopolis, respectively • This puts Gloriana on the same standing as God; i.e. She has created the ideal place • Redcrosse learns of his Fate: he is really St.George (acts as foreshadowing of the end of the Book, as we know the legend)

  7. Now for a special note ... • Arthur • “Full hard it is [...] to read aright/ The course of heavenly cause, or understand/ The secret meaning of th'eternall might/ That rules mens wayes, and rules the thoughts of living wight” (ix.6) • May want to compare this to Paradise Lost – Milton wants to reach a greater task • The House of Holiness • Besides acting as a parallel with the House of Pride, as mentioned before it works to show how a gentleman should behave: • The progress through the members of the House and their allegorical position • He learns that he needs to learn this before he can defeat evils alone

  8. The Path to our destination is not always a straight one... • Canto 10 includes extensive descriptions of paths... • Stanza 5, 10, 33, 35, 51, 55, 61 • In Dante’s Inferno he sets off as so: “Half way along the road we have to go,/I found myself obscured in a great forest” (Inferno 1.Canto 1. 1-2) • This is very similar to (ix) stanza 39 – “wearie wandring way”

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