The Faerie Queene A Reader's Guide [Paperback]

'Aimed primarily at undergraduates, this admirable guide ought to be in every library where readers may first encounter The Faerie Queene. Highly recommended.' ChoiceThe first great epic poem in the English language, The Faerie Queene is a long and complex allegory, which presents the first-time reader with many difficulties of allusion and interpretation. This book, designed as a handbook to be consulted by students while reading the poem, is the only convenient and up-to-date guide available. Religious and political contexts ar e explained, while the analysis of Spenser's literary techniques encourages close reading. This revised edition takes account of recent developments in Spenserian criticism, and brings the guidance on further reading up to date.The first great epic poem in the English language, The Faerie Queene is a long and complex allegory, which presents the first-time reader with many difficulties of allusion and interpretation. This book, designed as a handbook to be consulted by students while reading the poem, is the only convenient and up-to-date guide available. Religious and political contexts ar e explained, while the analysis of Spenser's literary techniques encourages close reading. This revised edition takes account of recent developments in Spenserian criticism, and brings the guidance on further reading up to date.The first great epic poem in the English language, The Faerie Queene is a long and complex allegory that presents the first-time reader with many difficulties of allusion and interpretation. This book, designed as a handbook to be consulted by students while reading the poem, is the only convenient and up-to-date guide available. Religious and political contexts are explained, while the analysis of Spenser's literary techniques encourages close reading. This revised edition takes account of recent developments in Spenserian criticism, and brings the guidance on further reading up to date.Preface; Introduction to the second editionlˆ