Virtue, Allegory, and Idealism in Spenser's Faerie Queene
This essay examines Edmund Spenser's epic poem The Faerie Queene through the lens of his prefatory letter to Sir Walter Raleigh, in which Spenser states his intention to fashion "a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline." The paper analyzes how Spenser employs allegory, characterization, and symbolism to portray Aristotelian virtues and Christian ideals. It discusses the Redcrosse Knight as an emblem of holiness and Protestant faith, Britomart as the icon of chastity, and the Faerie Queen herself as a figure of magnificence representing Queen Elizabeth. Together, these figures construct Spenser's vision of the ideal human being and the ideal social order.
- Introduction: Spenser's Purpose and the Letter to Raleigh: Spenser's stated goal of fashioning virtuous gentlemen
- Arthurian Legend and Aristotelian Virtues: Arthur as portrait of Aristotelian moral ideals
- The Redcrosse Knight and Holiness: Redcrosse as emblem of Protestant faith and holiness
- Britomart and Chastity: Britomart embodies chastity as spiritual strength
- The Faerie Queen as Gloriana: Gloriana represents Queen Elizabeth and worldly glory
- Arthur, Magnificence, and the Ideal Human Being: Arthur's magnificence unifies all Aristotelian virtues
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- The paper grounds every analytical claim in direct quotation from Spenser's prefatory letter, giving the argument a strong textual foundation from the outset.
- It moves logically from Spenser's stated intention to specific characters, showing how each figure — Redcrosse, Britomart, Gloriana, and Arthur — embodies a distinct aspect of the poem's moral program.
- The paper connects literary analysis to historical context, noting the Protestant Reformation and Queen Elizabeth's religious politics as key frames for reading the allegory.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates sustained allegorical reading: it treats characters not as individuals but as symbolic archetypes, and consistently interprets plot events (the dragon, the armor of Saint Paul) as vehicles for moral and religious meaning. This technique is supported by secondary scholarship and kept anchored to the primary text throughout.
Structure breakdown
The essay opens with Spenser's own words to establish intent, then works through the poem's major figures in roughly the order they appear in the text. Each section introduces a character, identifies the virtue they embody, and explains how that virtue fits Spenser's broader social and religious vision. The conclusion returns to Arthur and the concept of magnificence, completing the arc from the letter's promise to its fulfillment in the poem.
Introduction: Spenser's Purpose and the Letter to Raleigh
Edmund Spenser opens, prefaces, and introduces The Faerie Queene with a letter addressed to Sir Walter Raleigh. In this letter, Spenser outlines his intention behind writing the epic poem — a letter that, in his own words, gives "great light to the reader." Spenser writes, "The generall end therefore of all the booke is to fashion a gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline." To accomplish this goal, The Faerie Queene features "the historye of King Arthure, as most fitte for the excellency of his person, being made famous by many mens former workes, and also furthest from the daunger of envy, and suspition of present time."
Spenser thus explains why The Faerie Queene alludes to the Arthurian legends; the hearkening to the past is no small accident. The author hopes to engender in the reader a sense of lofty ambition, hope, and courage that the Arthurian legend represents. In so doing, Spenser also creates the central tone, theme, and motif of The Faerie Queene.
The Faerie Queene also alludes to ancient Greek philosophy and literature. Spenser draws a connection between King Arthur and the Aristotelian virtues, creating a portrait of the ideal man. He writes, "I labour to pourtraict in Arthure, before he was king, the image of a brave knight, perfected in the twelve private morall vertues, as Aristotle hath devised, the which is the purpose of these first twelve books." Spenser achieves his goal of fashioning a "gentleman or noble person in vertuous and gentle discipline" through tone, characterization, and symbolism. In so doing, he presents his ideal social norms.
Works Cited
Jusserand, J.J. "Spenser's 'Twelve Private Morall Vertues as Aristotle Hath Devised.'" Modern Philology, vol. 3, no. 3, 1906.
Nestrick, William V. "The Virtuous and Gentle Discipline of Gentlemen and Poets." ELH, vol. 29, no. 4, 1962.
Neuse, Richard. "Book VI as Conclusion to The Faerie Queene." ELH, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 329–353.
Spenser, Edmund. The Faerie Queene. 1589. Retrieved from
Create your account
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.