Describe the setting of the poem “The Faerie Queene, Book I”
The Faerie Queene is a notable literary work by Edmund Spenser. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Faerie Queene.
Answer
Describe the setting of the poem “The Faerie Queene, Book I”
Spenser’s “The Faerie Queene, Book I” (1590) takes place in Faerie Land. It is a magical and mysterious kingdom, ruled by Queen Gloriana. This kingdom is filled with enchanted forests, dark caves, great castles, and dangerous wilderness. The setting of this poem is like a fairy tale, where good and evil battle everywhere.
Plains and Deep Forest: At the beginning of the poem, the Red Cross Knight and Lady Una are traveling on a great quest. They ride through wide open plains and deep, dark woods. Spenser starts with the knight’s journey through wide open plains:
“A Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine.”
They first face danger in the “wandring wood.” This is a scary and confusing forest. It is home to the monster Error. It is a vile monster that looks like half-woman and half-serpent. After that, they arrive at the “hermitage” of the evil sorcerer Archimago. This is inside a quiet forest. Spenser writes:
“A little lowly Hermitage it was”
Castles and Caves: As the story continues, the knight and Una travel to different places. They go to magical castles and dangerous caves like—Cave of Despair, House of Pride, and House of Holiness. They meet different people. Some are good, like brave knights and holy men. Some are evil, like the wicked sorcerer Archimago and the witch Duessa. They finally reach the kingdom of Lady Una’s parents to fight a deadly dragon.
In short, the world of “The Faerie Queene” is full of magic, monsters, and battles. The places are not just the setting, but they are parts of the poem’s message. Each place represents a lesson the Red Cross Knight must learn to become a true hero.