The Faerie Queene Summary

Faerie Queene Summary. BOOK 1,2 and 3

Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene is a sixteenth-century English epic poem. Spenser originally intended the poem to be a series of twelve books, each devoted to one of twelve moral virtues as exemplified by the characters of twelve knights. In an introduction addressed to Sir Walter Raleigh, Spenser explains that the Faerie Queene, Gloriana, represents both Queen Elizabeth and the abstract idea of Glory. King Arthur, whom Spenser portrays as the epitome of all twelve virtues, experiences a vision of Gloriana and finds her in “Faeryland,” where she is hosting her twelve-day feast. Each day, a different emblematic knight undertakes a quest, with Arthur often joining the escapades.

Book 1 begins not at the Queene’s feast, but with the in-progress adventure of the Redcrosse Knight, who represents “Holiness.” When Lady Una requests a warrior to free her parents’ kingdom from a rampaging dragon, Gloriana dispatches Redcrosse on the mission. Traveling with Una, Redcrosse defeats Error, a troublesome monster they meet. Soon thereafter, the magician Archimago bewitches Redcrosse into believing Una is unchaste, and he leaves her.

While Una continues to travel with a protective lion escort, Redcrosse falls under the spell of the witch Duessa and lands in the giant Orgoglio’s dungeon. When Una learns of his plight, she recruits Arthur to kill Orgoglio and rescue Redcrosse. On the road again with Una, Redcrosse succumbs to “Despair.” Una guides him to the House of Holiness, where he recovers his spirit, discovering his true identity is St. George. They finally arrive in Una’s kingdom; Redcrosse slays the dragon, and he and Una become engaged.

The virtue of “Temperance” and its patron knight, Sir Guyon, prevail in Book 2. Guyon and his companion, Palmer, come upon Amavia, nearly dead from an act of suicide. With her last breaths, she tells them the witch Acrasia seduced and killed her lover. Vowing to avenge these deaths and destroy the “Bower of Bliss” where Acrasia bewitches unwitting knights, Guyon and Palmer ride off with Amavia’s baby. They arrive at the castle of Medina, a woman of pleasingly balanced temperament, and they entrust the infant to her care.

After scuffles with the brothers Pyrochles and Cymochles and an escape from the temptress Phaedria, Guyon visits the Cave of Mammon. Although tantalized by this chamber of pleasures, Guyon resists its allure, emerging exhausted. Just as Pyrochles and Cymochles set upon him again, Arthur appears, delivering Guyon from the combative brothers. Together, they visit Alma’s Castle of Temperance. Guyon and Palmer sail to Acrasia’s island bower, where they defy numerous sensual enticements designed to trap men. They overpower Acrasia, destroy her evil paradise, and liberate those held captive.

Book 3 emphasizes “Chastity,” as embodied principally by the female knight Britomart. Guyon, Arthur, and Timias, Arthur’s squire, encounter Britomart, and they witness a forester pursuing the maiden Florimell. While the men follow Florimell, Britomart visits the Castle Joyeous and meets with Redcrosse. She confides she is in search of the knight Artegall, with whom she fell in love after seeing his image in a magic mirror. A consultation with Merlin reveals Britomart is destined to marry Artegall and found the line of British monarchs.