Replies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Faerie_Queene

The Faerie Queene

The Faerie Queene is an incomplete English epic poem by Edmund Spenser. The first half was published in 1590, and a second installment was published in 1596. The Faerie Queene is notable for its form: it was the first work written in Spenserian stanza and is one of the longest poems in the English language.[1] It is an allegorical work, written in praise of Queen Elizabeth I. Largely symbolic, the poem follows several knights in an examination of several virtues.

*******************************************************************************

How do you know hte religious affiliation of the author? The Protestant Reformation had just begun in GERMANY only a few decades before.

Besides, it’s an ALLEGORY. Nobody is worshiping Queen Elizabeth II.

If you have to go to those kinds of lengths to dig something up to use against Protestants, your case is far weaker than you could imagine.

I certainly hope you’re not a lawyer.

The body of the poem is an allegory, and Elizabeth doesn't appear in it in any guise. The section I quoted is from the dedication (you know, as modern books have rather more modest dedications along the lines of "To my dear friend John"). I no longer have my books from grad school, and Spenser was the easiest to find on the Internet. But there's plenty more of the same type out there.

How do you know hte religious affiliation of the author? The Protestant Reformation had just begun in GERMANY only a few decades before.

- 1517, Hallowe'en, Luther nails theses on chapel door
- 1533, An order is published under Henry VIII saying the pope has no more authority in England than any foreign bishop
- 1552, Spenser is born
- 1558, Elizabeth begins her reign

In 1590:
7.3 decades after Wittenberg,
5.8 decades after Henry VIII breaks with Rome
3.2 decades after the beginning of Protestant Elizabeth's reign

The first half of Faerie Queene is published. It contains an allegory against the Catholic Church.