The Cambridge Companion to Spenser

Front Cover
Andrew Hadfield
Cambridge University Press, Jun 18, 2001 - Literary Criticism - 278 pages
The Cambridge Companion to Spenser provides an introduction to Spenser that is at once accessible and rigorous. Fourteen specially-commissioned essays by leading scholars bring together the best recent writing on the work of the most important non-dramatic Renaissance poet. The contributions provide all the essential information required to appreciate and understand Spenser's rewarding and challenging work. The Companion guides the reader through Spenser's poetry and prose, and provides extensive commentary on his life, the historical and religious context in which he wrote, his wide reading in Classical, European and English poetry, his sexual politics and use of language. Emphasis is placed on Spenser's relationship to his native England, and to Ireland - where he lived for most of his adult life - as well as the myriad of intellectual contexts which inform his writing. A chronology and further reading lists make this volume indispensable for any student of Spenser.

From inside the book

Contents

Spensers life and career
13
Historical contexts Britain and Europe
37
Ireland policy poetics and parody
60
Spensers Pastorals The Shepheardes Calender and Colin Clouts Come Home Againe
79
The Faerie Queene Books IIII
106
The Faerie Queene Books IVVII
124
Spensers shorter poems
143
Spensers languages writing in the ruins of English
162
Sexual politics
180
Spensers religion
200
Spenser and classical traditions
217
Spenser and contemporary vernacular poetry
237
Spensers influence
252
INDEX
272
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Bibliographic information