The Faerie Queene

[kelby_lake]

I love it :) Have only read Canto 1 of Book 1 so far...I read it out loud, it was so nice.

[Petrarch's Love]

Hi Kelby Lake--Good taste! I'm always glad to hear from someone who is enjoying FQ. Reading aloud is a wonderful idea with Spenser. It's a wonderful idea with any poet, of course, but there's an especially fine musical quality to Spenser that comes out when read aloud.

Having read the poem multiple times, I would be happy to have a chat with you about it as you read about any aspect--story, allegory, versification, historical background etc.--that you're finding of interest as you go through it. I'm a doctoral student in Renaissance lit. and have both researched and taught Spenser at the university level, so I'm also happy to answer questions you may have to the best of my ability.

In any case, enjoy your read of book 1.

[kelby_lake]

I might ask you on the allusions and background of Book 1 once I've finished it, and maybe so on :)

I'm hoping to study English at university and thought I should read an epic. Paradise Lost and Divine Comedy (although most people only read Inferno, I think) are the obvious choices but I wanted to go for something obscurer, and I love really heightened, visual, old-fashioned verse.

[JBI]

Try Tasso he supposedly was read by everyone who was educated up until the end of the 19th century. But yes, The Faerie Queen is a great book, which, I unfortunately read last when I was 17, so I'm a bit scatterbrained about it. I'm do for a reread I guess.

[mono]

Well done at stepping up to the plate on The Faerie Queene, kelby - the longest poem in English literature! I read it for the first time a few years ago, but, like JBI, I feel a bit due for a second read, too. After reading it, I had a long chit-chat with a friend, comparing the six virtues revered by Spenser as opposed to the nine common-believed virtues proprosed before him by Aristotle in Nichomachean Ethics; nonetheless, Spenser never completed The Faerie Queene, hence no one, likely not even Sir Walter Raleigh for sure, should know if he intended to write more - unfortunate, as I have no doubt we probably missed out on some good stuff! From every perspective, whether philosophical, poetic, or simply reading the Spenserian stanzas to their undoubtedly intended rhythm, I feel sure you will enjoy your read. Let us know how it goes! :)

[Petrarch's Love]

I might ask you on the allusions and background of Book 1 once I've finished it, and maybe so on

I'm hoping to study English at university and thought I should read an epic. Paradise Lost and Divine Comedy (although most people only read Inferno, I think) are the obvious choices but I wanted to go for something obscurer, and I love really heightened, visual, old-fashioned verse.

Well, if "really heightened, visual, old-fasioned verse" is your thing, then you couldn't do better than Spenser. :D Glad you're taking on the Faerie Queen. Certainly you'll want to read both Milton and Dante too one of these days, but starting with FQ isn't bad. Just enjoy your reading for now, and post back if you've got some comments or questions, or just want to enthuse about something.

JBI & Mono--Glad to see you both on this thread. If either of you ever feel like doing a re-read of the Faerie Queen and fancy a discussion, let me know. As I said in my reply to Kelby, I'm always happy to chat about Spenser. :)

[stlukesguild]

If either of you ever feel like doing a re-read of the Faerie Queen and fancy a discussion, let me know. As I said in my reply to Kelby, I'm always happy to chat about Spenser.

That's what you said about Chaucer.:D

[Petrarch's Love]

:lol:I know, I know. I'm a constant breaker of literary promises. If you're still up for a Chaucer chat I actually do have some time now and we could start into whatever portion of his oevre you deem fit tomorrow (or whenever you're up for it) with whoever else wants to follow along...I'll post to your profile in this regard so as not to detract from Spenserian musings.

[kelby_lake]

I love this verse:
Eftsoones he tooke that miscreated faire,
And that false other Spright, on whom he spred
A seeming body of the subtile aire,
Like a young Squire, in loues and lusty-hed
His wanton dayes that euer loosely led,
Without regard of armes and dreaded fight:
Those two he tooke, and in a secret bed,
Couered with darknesse and misdeeming night,
Them both together laid, to ioy in vaine delight.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I've not read The Faerie Queen as yet, it is one of those that comes close but passes by, due to more pressing things to read. Though I think I have enough on my plate with Milton at present to be really thinking about taking on another epic, certainly to give it the time it deserves that is, so again it passes by...


Try Tasso he supposedly was read by everyone who was educated up until the end of the 19th century.

This sounds like I should be reading Tasso, I fear another visit to the Amazon fairies is due. Anything in particular of Tasso that was being read and is recommended?