468. FIRE-MOUTHED DRAGON. The dragons of
romance are all described as fire-breathing,
473. THAT CHOSEN ART, a reference to the doctrine
of Election. Mark, xiii, 20.
476. ACCURST HAND-WRITING. A reference to
Paul’s letter to the Colossians, ii,
14, in which he declares that the gospel of grace has
superseded the law of Moses.
484. HE SO HIMSELFE HAD DREST, he had thus attempted
(to take his life).
(Canto IX)
1. Give an account of Prince Arthur’s vision
of the Faerie Queene. 2. Interpret his search
for her as an allegory of the young man’s quest
after his ideal. 3. Observe in xvii an allusion
to Spenser’s patron, Lord Leicester, who was
a favored suitor for Elizabeth’s hand. 4.
What presents did the Knights exchange at parting?
5. Characterize Sir Trevisan by his appearance,
speech, and actions. What does he symbolize? 6.
Note the skill with which Spenser arouses interest
before telling of the interview with Despair. 7.
What was the fate of Sir Terwin? Its moral significance?
8. Describe the Cave of Despair, and show what
effects are aimed at by the poet. 9. Compare
with Despair Bunyan’s Giant Despair and the Man
in the Iron Cage. 10. Trace the sophistries by
which Despair works in the mind of the Knight, e.g.
the arguments from necessity (fatalism), humanity,
cowardice, discouragement and disgust on account of
his past failures, dread of the future, of God’s
justice, and the relief of death. 11. Does Despair
show knowledge of the Knight’s past? 12.
With what powerful truths does Una meet the arguments
of Despair? 13. Where do you find reference to
mediaeval art?
14. Find examples of Euphuism, metaphors,
similes, Latinisms, and alliteration.
15. Explain the verb forms in ll. 154, 321, 336.
I. The Plot: The Redcross Knight is conducted
by Una to the House of Holiness, where they are welcomed
by Dame Coelia and graciously entertained. The
Knight is instructed by Fidelia, Speranza, and Charissa,
the three daughters of Coelia, in his relations to
God and his fellow-men. He is healed in body,
and undergoes discipline for his sins. Mercy conducts
him through the Hospital of Good Works, where he sees
her seven Beadsmen. He then with Una climbs the
Hill of Contemplation and hears from a holy man the
story of his past with a prophecy of his future, and
obtains a view of the City of Heaven.
This must be pronounced the most beautiful canto of
the first book.
II. The Allegory: 1. The Soul is brought
by the Truth to a knowledge of the Heavenly Life (Coelia),
and is led, through repentance, to seek forgiveness
and to desire a holier life. Having learned Faith
and Hope, it acquires a zeal for Good Works (Charity),
and is strengthened by exercising Patience and Repentance.
At last it enjoys a mood of happy Contemplation of
the past with bright prospects for the future.
The whole canto sets forth the beauty in a life of
faith combined with good deeds.
