Analysis of The Faerie Queene
One of the first traits of the text we will be analyzing that is noticeable is the archaic character of Spencer's language1. Allegedly, this is an imitation of Chaucer's style, but, in my opinion, there are several other issues to be considered. First of all, using archaic language (Chaucer wrote some 200 years previously) allows the reader to perceive more than one sense to a certain word or phrase. This permits an incredible freedom in understanding the text: while the author is writing so as to transmit a message, the reader has the possibility of discovering new images in a phrase, due to a different individual perception in each case. The second explanation for the use of archaic language would be the actual theme of the poem: knights, allegories, all leading to the idea of the present presented through mythical intermediaries. In order to achieve the mythical perception of the reader, Spencer is endowed to often use Greek derivatives or words out of use, referring to a period that is virtually out of time.A close examination on the text will give us a closer perception of Spencer's intentions. The entire passage deals with the description of the castle, but the way Spencer achieves a realistic conceptualization of th
Returning to the description of the palace in the first set of nine verses, following an image that induces awe and an atmosphere of mysticism and mystery, the following verses proceed to a much brighter recreation of the palace's image. There is a golden foil and a real "brightnesse they dismaid". Again we have to note the use of the archaic forms of brightness and foil, in the same manner and senses we have previously mentioned. The windows, on the other hand, have a double meaning and intention here (in fact, we should probably note that Spencer always draws distinctly opposite elements in the same verse or one after the other. As previously mentioned, after the sensation of a strong construction in the first verse, because of the square bricks, we were laid in the subsequent lines before a building that had no mortar, no strength or thickness. Afterwards, the awe impression is counterbalanced by the brightness and golden foil. It seems that Spencer aims to achieve a real equilibrium in all his lines): they are, on one hand, a positive element of brightness, but, on the other hand, give out an impression of hollowness. A construction that is weak and hollow cannot last too long. We almost have the impression that the palace is a mere realistic apparition casuistically related to the action that is supposed to take place within its walls. The moment this action is terminated, the palace will also succumb. The feeling of particularity, combined here with a trace of awe and even fright is emphasized in the second verse: "which cunningly was without mortar laid". Indeed, here we have a construction, made of bricks, but without anything binding together. It is in part a ghostly apparition and the text does not allow us to believe from the beginning where the castle actually exists or not. The last verse of this first set of verses is brilliant in its simplicity and in the numerous senses and connections it gives out: "a Diall told the timely hours". First of all, it is not a clock, it is not a simple time measuring device, it is a dial. The dial can be used even nowadays as an obsolete form to express a timepiece. Nevertheless, in this context it works out much better than a clock because it emphasizes again the perception of mystery we have been induced since the beginning of this passage. A "Diall" (the archaic form of an obsolete word) is somethi
Some common words found in the essay are:
Faerie Queene, , Lady Pallace, previously mentioned, square bricks, set verses, beginning passage, castle castle, golden foil, description castle, verse set, archaic forms, built square,
Approximate Word count = 1607
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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