Spenserian Allegory and Elizabethan Biblical Exegesis: A Context for the Faerie Queene

Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene was first book-length study to clarify his comparison by introducing readers to the biblical typologies of contemporary sermons and liturgies. It demonstrates that precepts, sermoned at large, were often clowdily enwrapped in allegorical devises, and routine churchgoing prepared Spenser's first readers to enjoy and interpret the poem. The chronicle history, Florimell's adventures, and Mercilla's judgment on Duessa all come into sharper focus when juxtaposed with contemporary religious rhetoric.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 272 pages
\n Publication date: 03 July 2019
\n Publisher: Manchester University Press
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Edmund Spenser, renowned for his masterpiece The Faerie Queene, famously acknowledged to his friend Walter Raleigh that his approach might not be appealing to those who preferred straightforward and direct instruction in the form of precepts or sermons. This groundbreaking study is the first of its kind to shed light on Spenser's comparison by introducing readers to the biblical typologies of contemporary sermons and liturgies. The findings reveal that precepts and sermoned lectures, delivered from lecterns and pulpits, often employed allegorical devices to convey their messages. In essence, the regular practice of attending church services prepared Spenser's initial readers to appreciate and interpret The Faerie Queene with greater depth. A plethora of relevant quotations encourages readers to adopt an Elizabethan perspective and experience the poem anew. When juxtaposed with contemporary religious rhetoric, the chronicle history cantos, Florimell's adventures, and Mercilla's judgment on Duessa take on a new significance, enhancing our understanding and appreciation of Spenser's masterpiece.

\n Weight: 356g\n
Dimension: 142 x 217 x 23 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526139504\n \n