375. HER TACKLES SPENT, her worn-out rigging.
(Canto XII)
1. Contrast the tone of this canto with the preceding
two. 2. When does Spenser drop into a lighter,
humorous vein? 3. Find allusions to sixteenth
century customs, e.g. that of sitting on rush-strewn
floors. 4. How was the Redcross Knight received
by the King? 5. Compare Una’s costume with
that described in the first canto. Why this change?
6. What hint of the significance of her name
in xxi? 7. What is the effect of Archimago’s
appearance? (For dramatic surprise.) 8. What is
the effect of Duessa’s letter? (Suspense of
fear.) 9. Observe the confusion of Christian and
Pagan rites in this canto. 10. Where does Spenser
make happy use of maritime figures? 11. Explain
the allegory of this canto.
* * * *
*
[The numbers refer to cantos and stanzas.]
A
Abide, v, 17, to attend on.
About, i, 11, out of.
Acquite, viii, 1, release, set free.
Addrest, ii, 11, armed, equipped; x, 11, directed.
Advise, i, 33, consider.
Advizement, iv, 12, counsel, advice.
Afflicted, Int. 4, humble.
Affray, iii, 12, terror, alarm; v, 30, to startle.
Affronted, viii, 13, opposed.
Afore, x, 49, ahead, in front of.
Agraste, x, 18, favor, show grace.
Albe, v, 45, although.
All, x, 47; xii, 23, although.
Almner, x, 38, almoner, distributer of alms.
Als, ix, 18, also, quite so.
Amate, ix, 45, dismay, dishearten.
Amis, iv, 18, linen head-dress.
Amoves, iv, 45; viii, 21; ix, 18, moves.
Andvile, xi, 42, anvil.
Apply, x, 46, attend to, add.
Aread, viii, 31, 33; ix, 6, 23; x, 51, 64, tell, explain;
xii, 28, advise;
ared, x, 17; explained; areeds, Int. 1,
urges.
Arise, vi, 32, depart, rise out of.
Armorie, i, 27, armor.
Arras, iv, 6; viii, 35, tapestry.
Aslake, iii, 36, appease, abate the fury of.
Assay, ii, 13, approved quality, value; vii, 27, trial;
viii, 8, assault;
ii, 24; iv, 8; viii, 2; xi, 32, try, assail,
attempt.
Assoiled, x, 52, absolved.
Astond, ii, 31; vi, 9; ix, 35, astounded, amazed.
Attach, xii, 35, seize, arrest.
Attaine, ii, 8, reach, fall in with.
Attaint, vii, 34, obscure, discolor.
Avale, i, 21, fall, sink.
Avise, v, 40; viii, 15, perceive.
B
Baite, i, 32, feed, refresh.
Bale, i, 16; viii, 4, disaster, destruction; ix, 16,
29, trouble, grief.
Banes, xii, 36, banns of marriage.
Battailous, v, 2, warlike, ready for battle.
Battrie, ix, 11, assault.
Bauldrick, vii, 29, a leather girdle for the sword
or bugle, worn pendant
across the shoulder and breast.
Bayes, vii, 3, bathes.
Beades, i, 30, prayers.
Beadmen, x, 36, men devoted to prayer for the soul
