Passionate About Love

Haley Curtiss

Historical Background Edmund Spencer was an English poet. Edmund's parents took what may have been the most important step in advancing their Edmund’s fortunes by enrolling him in the Merchant Taylors' school in London, where he became also an advanced student ahead of his class. He was best known for a lot of his famous poems known as “The Faerie Queene” and “Sonnet 1”. He was born in London in 1552. In the mid-year of 1569, Edmund left school and matriculated as a sitar at Pembroke Hall that’s now called Pembroke College. Although he had to work for his meals and accommodation, and may often have been ill during his studies, this appears to have been an important and productive time for the young poet. The most important influence on Edmund during this period, though, was undoubtedly his intimate friendship with Gabriel Harvey, himself admitted as a Fellow of Pembroke Hall in 1570. While Edmund’s relationship with Harvey was later mocked by fellow students in a play titled Pedantries. After getting his Bachelor Degree in 1573 and Masters in 1576, Edmund left Pembroke College for Kent College, where he acted as secretary for John Young, recently created Bishop of Rochester. It was there that the poet probably composed The Shepherds Calendar, which was printed in 1579. Spenser's masterpiece is an extensive poem The Faerie Queen The first three books of The Faerie Queen were published in 1590, and a second set of three books were published in 1596. This extended epic poem deals with the adventures of knights, dragons, ladies in distress, etc. yet it is also an extended allegory about the moral life and what makes for a life of virtue.