The Faerie Queene

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It reinterprets and expands upon the chivalric quest narrative and the ideals of knighthood established in earlier Arthurian romances, adapting them for an allegorical and nationalistic purpose.

What it is

An epic allegorical poem celebrating Queen Elizabeth I and the Tudor dynasty, it follows several knights on quests to embody different virtues, set in a fantastical realm with Arthurian echoes.

Craft in this work

Theme ⓘ

The individual versus society

Archetype ⓘ

The explorer

Structure ⓘ

The hero's journey Quest structure

Plot device ⓘ

Chivalric Code as Narrative Engine

↑Inherited from(1)

Lancelot-Grail Cycle· 1215↑ open

Spenser explicitly references Arthurian legend and chivalric romance traditions, which were codified and popularized by the Lancelot-Grail Cycle, to construct his own epic narrative of virtue and quest.

↓Passed on to

No known descendants in the dataset yet.