Edmund Spenser (1552/53–1599) was a distinguished English poet best known for his epic poem “The Faerie Queene”. His work significantly influenced English literature and contributed to the development of modern poetic forms.
Biography
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Edmund Spenser |
| Birth Year | 1552/1553 |
| Death Date | 13 January O.S. 1599 |
| Nationality | English |
| Notable Work | The Faerie Queene |
| Genre | Epic poetry, Allegory |
| Era | Elizabethan |
| Contribution | One of the premier craftsmen of nascent Modern English verse |
| Legacy | Considered one of the great poets in the English language |
Early Life
Edmund Spenser was born in East Smithfield, London, around the year 1552. He was raised in a modest household and received his early education at the Merchant Taylors’ School. Spenser later attended Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1573 and a master’s degree in 1576. After completing his education, Spenser moved to Ireland, where he spent much of his adult life working as a civil servant and writing poetry. His experiences in Ireland had a profound influence on his literary work, contributing to his reputation as one of the preeminent poets of the English Renaissance.
Family
| Relation | Name | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Father | John Spenser | John Spenser was a free journeyman and a clothmaker by profession. He worked in East Smithfield, London. |
| Mother | Elizabeth Spenser | Elizabeth Spenser’s details are less documented, but she was known to be a supportive mother to Edmund. |
| Sibling | None | There are no well-documented records of Edmund Spenser having any siblings. |
Height, Weight, And Other Body Measurements
| Measurement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | Unknown |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Eye Color | Unknown |
| Hair Color | Unknown |
| Other Distinctive Features | Unknown |
Unfortunately, specific body measurements for Edmund Spenser, the renowned poet, are not documented in historical records.
Wife/husband / Girlfriend/boyfriend
Edmund Spenser, the celebrated English poet best known for his epic poem “The Faerie Queene,” was married to Elizabeth Boyle. They were married on June 11, 1594. Elizabeth Boyle was the inspiration behind Spenser’s sonnet sequence “Amoretti” and his poem “Epithalamion,” which celebrates their marriage. Elizabeth Boyle was a member of the Boyle family, a prominent family in Ireland, and their union is believed to have brought Spenser both personal happiness and social advantage.
Edmund Spenser had been married once before his marriage to Elizabeth Boyle. His first wife was Machabyas Childe.
| Name | Relationship Type |
|---|---|
| Machabyas Childe | First Wife |
| Elizabeth Boyle | Second Wife |
Details Of Previous Relationships
Machabyas Childe: Not much is known about Spenser’s first wife, Machabyas Childe. Their marriage likely took place before Spenser’s move to Ireland in the early 1580s. Machabyas Childe passed away, leaving Spenser a widower before he married Elizabeth Boyle.
Career, Achievements And Controversies
Edmund Spenser became famous primarily through his magnum opus, “The Faerie Queene,” a lengthy allegorical poem that celebrated the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. His unique blend of classical and medieval influences, coupled with his innovative use of language and form, brought him considerable acclaim in the literary circles of his time.
Edmund Spenser’s career began with the publication of “A Theatre for Worldlings” in 1569, a collection of poems that garnered some attention. However, it was his association with influential figures like Sir Philip Sidney and his work “The Shepheardes Calender” (1579) that truly launched his literary career. This pastoral work was praised for its originality and complexity, establishing Spenser as a significant poet of the Elizabethan era.
- The Faerie Queene (1590, 1596) – An allegorical epic poem and his most famous work.
- The Shepheardes Calender (1579) – A series of pastoral poems that brought him early fame.
- Amoretti (1595) – A sonnet cycle detailing his courtship and marriage to Elizabeth Boyle.
- Epithalamion (1595) – A marriage ode written to celebrate his own wedding.
- Colin Clouts Come Home Againe (1595) – A pastoral poem reflecting on his return to England from Ireland.
In the Elizabethan era, formal literary awards as we understand them today did not exist. However, Spenser received significant patronage and recognition from powerful figures such as Sir Philip Sidney and Queen Elizabeth I. Notably, he was granted a pension of £50 per year by the Queen, a considerable sum at the time, which can be seen as a form of recognition and reward for his literary contributions.
Edmund Spenser’s career was not without controversy, particularly regarding his views and actions in Ireland:
- Views on Ireland – Spenser held and expressed highly controversial and negative views on the Irish people and culture. His work “A View of the Present State of Ireland” (1596) advocated harsh policies against the Irish, including forced resettlement and severe punishment for rebellion, which have been the subject of much criticism.
- Involvement in the English Colonization of Ireland – As an English settler in Ireland, Spenser benefited from the English colonization policies, receiving land that had been confiscated from the Irish. His role and writings during this period have been viewed as supportive of colonial exploitation.
Despite these controversies, Edmund Spenser remains a towering figure in English literature, celebrated for his poetic innovation and contributions to the English Renaissance.
Faq
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for his epic poem “The Faerie Queene,” which celebrated the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He lived during the Elizabethan era, having been born in 1552 and passing away in 1599.
“The Faerie Queene” is an allegorical epic poem. It tells the tales of several knights, each representing a particular virtue, and their adventures in a fantastical land. The poem is notable for its rich allegory, complex characters, and Spenserian stanza, a unique nine-line verse form.
The Spenserian stanza is a distinctive stanza form created by Edmund Spenser. It consists of nine lines: eight lines of iambic pentameter followed by a single line of iambic hexameter, with the rhyme scheme ABABBCBCC.
Edmund Spenser had a profound impact on English literature, especially through his innovative use of verse and his creation of the Spenserian stanza. His works influenced many later poets, including John Milton, John Keats, and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Spenser is often regarded as one of the greatest poets of the English Renaissance.
Spenser’s works are widely available in both print and digital formats. Many libraries and bookstores carry collections of his poetry, and numerous academic institutions provide online access to his works. Websites like Project Gutenberg and Google Books also offer free digital versions of his texts.
