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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Faerie Queene, Book 1 is absolutely magnificent. It stands alone within the entire poem as a national Epic in its own right, and every line is laced with rich symbolism and allegory. Spenser’s verse is remarkable, and despite its tendency to mimic Chaucer which can become tiresome, it remains mostly accessible to a modern reader. The story is intense, bloody, exciting, cathartic, and deeply reflective - though Book 1 is the only part of The Faerie Queene which features in my English degree syllabus, I am tempted to read the further books for my own enjoyment.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spenser really put my girl Una THROUGH itðŸ˜
Loved reading this with Kelly Cumbee through the House of Humane Letters. So fascinating, encouraging, and deep.
On to Book 2.
2024 Well, I never started Book 2 last time. So I have reread Book 1 and plan to start Book 2 when someone brings it downstairs for me.
It was easier to follow the second time having the background knowledge from the course and and listening to David Timson's reading while following along in the text.
On to Book 2.
2024 Well, I never started Book 2 last time. So I have reread Book 1 and plan to start Book 2 when someone brings it downstairs for me.
It was easier to follow the second time having the background knowledge from the course and and listening to David Timson's reading while following along in the text.
The Faerie Queene is a religious allegory, which makes it thought-provoking to read and interesting to discuss. However, I would not call it an enjoyable read. Spenser really makes his readers work to understand what he is saying about religion through symbolism, and he purposefully changed the language to make it feel like it was from a much earlier century than it actually is. I prefer not to have to work so hard when I'm reading, hence the 2 star rating. I do appreciate the book for what it is, but wouldn't necessarily recommend it to others.
adventurous
I know the whole Protestant Catholic thing was very serious but I find the simplicity of the symbolism and characteristics spencer used petty and hilarious. I barely understood it and only read canto 1 but I think it was pretty entertaining.
this man would hate to meet a muslim spanish disabled woman who has a catholic girlfriend i guess