The Faerie Queene · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.
Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.
Chapter 1
Dedication to the Edition of 1590
Edmund Spenser dedicates The Faerie Queene to Queen Elizabeth I, praising her as the most mighty and magnificent empress and expressing his humble service.
Chapter 2
Dedication to the Edition of 1596
Edmund Spenser dedicates his work to Queen Elizabeth I, praising her piety, virtue, and gracious governance, and expressing his humble wish that his labors may live with the eternity of her fame.
Chapter 3
Dedicatory Sonnets
A collection of dedicatory sonnets addressed to various patrons and figures, praising their virtues and seeking their favor for the poem.
Chapter 4
Sonnet I
The poet addresses Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor of England, drawing a parallel between ancient Roman statesmen who balanced grave affairs with poetic leisure and Hatton's own heavy responsibilities. He suggests that Hatton, like Ennius and Virgil before him, may find respite in these idle rhymes, which may gain favor through their dedication to him.
Chapter 5
Sonnet II
The poet addresses Lord Burleigh, the Lord High Treasurer of England, acknowledging his immense responsibilities in governing the kingdom, comparing him to Atlas bearing the weight of the firmament. The poet humbly presents his idle rhymes, admitting they are the labor of lost time and unsteady wit, yet suggests that if their deeper sense is considered and the veil hiding their fairer parts is removed, they may not seem vain. He asks Lord Burleigh to receive them and overlook their faults with his grave judgment.
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99 more companions → free preview- Chapter 6Sonnet III
- Chapter 7Sonnet IV
- Chapter 8Sonnet V
- Chapter 9Sonnet VI
- Chapter 10Sonnet VII
- Chapter 11Sonnet VIII
- Chapter 12Sonnet IX
- Chapter 13Sonnet X
- Chapter 14Sonnet XI
- Chapter 15Sonnet XII
- Chapter 16Sonnet XIII
- Chapter 17Sonnet XIV
- Chapter 18Sonnet XV
- Chapter 19Sonnet XVI
- Chapter 20Sonnet XVII
- Chapter 21A Letter to Sir Walter Raleigh
- Chapter 22The Faerie Queene
- Chapter 23Book I: The Legend of the Knight of the Red Cross, or of Holiness
- Chapter 24Canto I
- Chapter 25Canto II
- Chapter 26Canto III
- Chapter 27Canto IV
- Chapter 28Canto V
- Chapter 29Canto VI
- Chapter 30Canto VII
- Chapter 31Canto VIII
- Chapter 32Canto IX
- Chapter 33Canto X
- Chapter 34Canto XI
- Chapter 35Canto XII
- Chapter 36Book II: The Legend of Sir Guyon, or of Temperance
- Chapter 37Canto I
- Chapter 38Canto II
- Chapter 39Canto III
- Chapter 40Canto IV
- Chapter 41Canto V
- Chapter 42Canto VI
- Chapter 43Canto VII
- Chapter 44Canto VIII
- Chapter 45Canto IX
- Chapter 46Canto X
- Chapter 47Canto XI
- Chapter 48Canto XII
- Chapter 49Book III: The Legend of Britomartis, or of Chastity
- Chapter 50Canto I
- Chapter 51Canto II
- Chapter 52Canto III
- Chapter 53Canto IV
- Chapter 54Canto V
- Chapter 55Canto VI
- Chapter 56Canto VII
- Chapter 57Canto VIII
- Chapter 58Canto IX
- Chapter 59Canto X
- Chapter 60Canto XI
- Chapter 61Canto XII
- Chapter 62The Legend of Cambel and Triamond, or of Friendship
- Chapter 63Canto I
- Chapter 64Canto II
- Chapter 65Canto III
- Chapter 66Canto IV
- Chapter 67Canto V
- Chapter 68Canto VI
- Chapter 69Canto VII
- Chapter 70Canto VIII
- Chapter 71Canto IX
- Chapter 72Canto X
- Chapter 73Canto XI
- Chapter 74Canto XII
- Chapter 75Book V: The Legend of Artegall, or of Justice
- Chapter 76Canto I
- Chapter 77Canto II
- Chapter 78Canto III
- Chapter 79Canto IV
- Chapter 80Canto V
- Chapter 81Canto VI
- Chapter 82Canto VII
- Chapter 83Canto VIII
- Chapter 84Canto IX
- Chapter 85Canto X
- Chapter 86Canto XI
- Chapter 87Canto XII
- Chapter 88Book VI: The Legend of Calidore, or of Courtesy
- Chapter 89Canto I
- Chapter 90Canto II
- Chapter 91Canto III
- Chapter 92Canto IV
- Chapter 93Canto V
- Chapter 94Canto VI
- Chapter 95Canto VII
- Chapter 96Canto VIII
- Chapter 97Canto IX
- Chapter 98Canto X
- Chapter 99Canto XI
- Chapter 100Canto XII
- Chapter 101Mutability: The Legend of Constancy
- Chapter 102Canto VI
- Chapter 103Canto VII
- Chapter 104Canto VIII: Unperfite