The Faerie Queene

Epic poem by Edmund Spenser. Planned to contain 12 books, as Spenser himself informs Sir Walter Ralegh in a prefatory letter. The first edition, however, consisted of three books, the second of six books. In each book a knight represents one important virtue and experiences several adventures. These adventures can be read on at least two levels: as exciting and entertaining stories and as allegories on Elizabethan (court) culture.

For an overview of knights, virtues and allegorical interpretations: see the course documents on session 9/Renaissance culture.

For The Fairy Queen, a semi-opera by Henry Purcell, see here.