Critical Readings

Released on 14 September 2020:

The panel reviews the epilogue-like Mutabilitie Cantos of the Faerie Queene, reviewing scholarly opinion about their place in the whole poem, and considering the interrelations of the Greco-Roman pantheon to Nature, Time, and the Judeo-Christian God.

Released on 7 September 2020:

The panel reviews the second half of Spenser’s book of courtesy, with attention given to the scholarly view of C. S. Lewis, Northrop Frye, and others, that Courtesy represents the central portion of the poem and that it is the essential Spenserian virtue.

Released on 31 August 2020:

The panel examines the first half of Spenser’s book of courtesy, reading its depictions in the light of the historical development of chevalrie/chivalry and courtoise/courtesy, and comparing its depiction of characters to those found in other Arthuriana.

Released on 17 August 2020:

The panel examines historical criticism of Book V, with particular attention to the mid-twentieth-century development of a moral-allegorical reading in contrast to the earlier historical reading, and considers how the two might best be combined.

Released on 10 August 2020:

The full panel convenes to discuss Spenser’s approach to justice in Book V, with attention given to the challenges Artegall’s Solomon-like judgement faces–a dispute between knights, a giant of revolution, and ultimately the Amazon queen Radigund herself.

Released on 3 August 2020:

The panel concludes the book of friendship with an examination of the character of Sclaunder, and an account of Spenser’s planned poetic cartography–Epithalmion Thamesis–intended to give all the rivers of Britain ‘their right names and right passage’.

Released on 20 July 2020:

The panel turns its attention to the Book of Friendship, sometimes described as the ‘least interesting’ of the sections, and discusses whether it has been unfairly maligned or whether Spenser’s intentions can explain the book’s perceived deficiencies.

Released on 13 July 2020:

The panel addresses a reader question before turning to Book III’s unwholesome delights and the means by which the virtuous refuse them and the sinful fall prey to them, with special attention to the conduct of Hellenore, Malbecco, and the satyrs.

Released on 6 July 2020:

The panel adds a new member, and begins a discussion of the first half of The Faerie Queene, Book III, by focusing on the character of Britomart, her historical and mythological characterisation, potential allegorical connexions, and chivalric impact.

Released on 29 June 2020:

The panel reviews the second half of Book II of Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queene, with particular attention shown to the allegorical representation of the seven deadly sins and the means by which they can be overcome through the virtue of temperance.