Epic Love: Tradition and Chastity in Book III of The Faerie Queene — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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Epic Love: Tradition and Chastity in Book III of The Faerie Queene

Name: Susan Peinsipp
Major: Great Ideas & English
Hometown: Lombard, IL
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Senior thesis

Abstract

Britomart, the central knight of Book III and the Knight of Chastity, is the only female knight to have her own book in Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queene. Spenser is using Britomart to expand the female tradition. The female tradition has a foundation in the ancient epics and romance but it is not significant; the focus here is on women. Spenser uses tree imagery to illustrate how he is building up the tradition. Britomart is a female knight in a typically male role and her quest is for empire through love and lineage, instead of empire through war. Love becomes active. Britomart is the allegorical representation of chastity, which is part of love. Love is the moderator for it is steadfast and does not easily give into temptations. Chastity is a sexual responsibility to marry and have children to carry on the empire. Through a primarily Formalist approach, it is revealed how Book III grows the female tradition in literature and defines chastity.

Poster file