The Faerie Queene

The Faerie Queene

by

Edmund Spenser

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Florimell Character Analysis

Florimell is a fair maiden who undergoes numerous misfortunes on her way to eventually marrying Marinell. She wears a gold belt, which she loses when she is attacked by a wild beast and which Sir Satyrane recovers. At one point, a hag creates a false version of Florimell that is so convincing that some people, like Braggadochio, believe it’s even better than the real Florimell. Florimell is attacked at sea and rescued by Proteus, but Proteus tries to woo her and eventually imprisons her in his dungeon. At last, however, Florimell is let out, and her marriage to Marinell is a grand event held at Proteus’s house.

Florimell Quotes in The Faerie Queene

The The Faerie Queene quotes below are all either spoken by Florimell or refer to Florimell. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
).
Book III: Canto IV Quotes

Who through foresight of his eternall skill,
Bad her from womankind to keepe him well:
For of a woman he should have much ill,
A virgin strange and stout him should dismay, or kill.

Related Characters: Marinell, Proteus, Florimell, Britomart, Cymoent
Page Number: 438
Explanation and Analysis:
Book III: Canto VIII Quotes

Now when the Beast, which by her wicked art
Late forth she sent, she backe returning spyde,
Tyde with her broken girdle, it a part
Of her rich spoyles, whom he had earst destroyd,
She weend, and woundrous gladnesse to her hart applyde.

Related Characters: Florimell, Sir Satyrane, Marinell, Venus
Related Symbols: Florimell’s Gold Belt
Page Number: 492
Explanation and Analysis:
Book IV: Canto I Quotes

Of lovers sad calamities of old,
Full many piteous stories doe remaine,
But none more piteous ever was ytold,
Then that of Amorets hart-binding chaine,
And this of Florimels unworthie paine

Page Number: 383
Explanation and Analysis:
Book IV: Canto V Quotes

Then was that golden belt by doome of all
Graunted to her, as to the fairest Dame.
Which being brought, about her middle small
They thought to gird, as best it her became;
But by no meanes they could it thereto frame.

Related Characters: Florimell
Related Symbols: Florimell’s Gold Belt
Page Number: 624
Explanation and Analysis:
Book IV: Canto XII Quotes

Right so himself did Marinell upreare,
When he in place his dearst love did spy;
And though his limbs could not his bodie beare,
Ne former strength return so suddenly,
Yet chearefull signes he shewed outwardly.

Related Characters: Marinell, Florimell, Britomart, Proteus
Page Number: 721
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Faerie Queene LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Faerie Queene PDF

Florimell Character Timeline in The Faerie Queene

The timeline below shows where the character Florimell appears in The Faerie Queene. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book III: Canto V
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
...he’s looking for himself. The dwarf explains that this woman is a fair virgin named Florimell. (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Florimell, according to the dwarf, is in love with the knight Marinell, but news has just... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Meanwhile, Arthur’s squire Timias has been busy defeating the lustful foster who was chasing Florimell earlier. The foster flees Timias because he’s a coward, but as soon as he’s away,... (full context)
Book III: Canto VII
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Long after Florimell is safe from the foster, she keeps fleeing. Her white horse continues to carry her... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Inside the cottage is an old hag. The hag asks angrily why Florimell is there, and she begins to cry. The evil hag gets the idea for a... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Eventually, Florimell feels she’d like to leave the cottage. She knows the hag or the hag’s son... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
...that looks like a deformed hyena, which feeds on women’s flesh. It goes chasing after Florimell. Florimell sees the ugly creature and fears for her life. The monster slays and eats... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
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The hyena-like monster can’t follow Florimell in her boat, but it stands on the shore watching. While the monster is there,... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
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...go down. Finally, Sir Satyrane manages to restrain it with a gold belt taken from Florimell’s waist (which Satyrane found lying in the forest earlier). After tying the beast up, Satyrane... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
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...left the hyena-monster, which has broken free and gone back to tell the hag about Florimell. (full context)
Book III: Canto VIII
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
The hag spots the hyena-like beast running back toward her. She sees Florimell’s gold belt and thinks the beast has destroyed her, which upsets her lovesick son to... (full context)
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
...hag gets the idea of pacifying her son by changing someone else to look like Florimell. She gathers some pure snow and molds it, putting two burning lamps in the eyes... (full context)
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
...they go walking in the woods until eventually they come across Braggadochio. Proud Braggadochio tells “Florimell” (the sprite in disguise) that he’d like to ride off with her, then proceeds to... (full context)
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
But as Braggadochio is riding off with the sprite disguised as Florimell, he comes across a powerful-looking knight. The knight wants the fake Florimell. Braggadochio suggests they... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Meanwhile, the real Florimell is stuck at sea, still in the boat. Though she is safe in the boat,... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
The old fisherman doesn’t heed Florimell’s refusal and throws her down. Florimell shouts and prays for anyone to help her. Proteus,... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Proteus tries to entertain and woo Florimell, even transforming himself into a faerie knight because he believes that’s what she likes. When... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
The narrator regrets that it’s time to turn away from Florimell back to the adventures of Sir Satyrane. Having recently finished talking with the Squire of... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Sir Satyrane tells Paridell that he fears Florimell is dead (since he found her gold belt and since the monster ate her horse).... (full context)
Book IV: Canto II
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
...side comes riding by. His name is Sir Ferraugh, and the lady appears to be Florimell, but in fact it’s the false Florimell who was travelling with Braggadochio. (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
Fickle Blandamour decides that he wants “Florimell” (the disguised sprite) now. He attacks Sir Ferraugh and knocks him off his horse, claiming... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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...they would equally share any spoils they came across. Blandamour takes offense, saying he won Florimell fairly and is prepared to defend his claim. Blandamour and Paridell start a fierce battle.... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
...what the cause of their disagreement is. They both answer that it’s the love of Florimell. The Squire of Dames argues that it would be better for them to join forces,... (full context)
Book IV: Canto IV
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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...tournament is coming up, where the winner will receive a gold belt (from the real Florimell). They all put aside their differences and agree to ride to the tournament. (full context)
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Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
On the way to the tournament, they run into Braggadochio (who had false Florimell stolen from him by Sir Ferraugh). Braggadochio claims Florimell belongs with him, so Blandamour offers... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
...This causes the others to smile and treat him like a coward. Ate and false Florimell try to stir up discord, but Cambell says they should all save their strength for... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
...make it to the tournament, where Sir Satyrane has the gold belt of the real Florimell. He takes up arms against a pagan knight named Bruncheual. A knight called Ferramont joins... (full context)
Book IV: Canto V
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Florimell’s gold belt gives its owner the virtue of chaste love, but it can only be... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
...(who is with Britomart) are all in contention, but the most impressive participant is false Florimell (who is with Blandamour), who looks even fairer than the real Florimell some of them... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
When false Florimell tries to wear the gold belt, however, it keeps slipping off her. She gets embarrassed.... (full context)
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Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
Fake Florimell has nevertheless been voted most beautiful and awarded to Britomart. But since Britomart doesn’t want... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
...their anger fueled in part by Ate. Wishing to avoid more violence, Satyrane suggests placing Florimell (really false Florimell) in the center of all of them and letting her choose who... (full context)
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British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
Braggadochio takes false Florimell away in the middle of the night, and some of the other knights pursue him.... (full context)
Book IV: Canto VII
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
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The narrator laments how Cupid’s arrows can bring down even the greatest: it happened to Florimell, it happened to Britomart, and now it’s about to happen to Amoretta. After leaving the... (full context)
Book IV: Canto IX
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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The Role of Women Theme Icon
...rides on with Amoretta. Eventually, they cross paths with a troop of six riders: false Florimell, Braggadochio, a knight named Druon who loves being a bachelor, Claribell, Blandamour, and Paridell. The... (full context)
Book IV: Canto XI
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Meanwhile, the real Florimell has been in Proteus’s dungeon this whole time. She spent seven months in a dungeon... (full context)
Book IV: Canto XII
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
The voice (which belongs to Florimell), complains about how the seas delight in spoiling mortal lives. She says that though waves... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Marinell tries to think of a way to help Florimell but no matter what option he chooses, the obstacles seem too great to overcome. He... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
...to convince Marinell to tell her which nymph he loves. He admits that he loves Florimell, and Cymoent is upset because Proteus told her that Marinell’s downfall will happen because of... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
...Proteus is just the messenger of her bad news and she knows he is keeping Florimell prisoner, so she goes directly to Neptune to take up the issue. She explains the... (full context)
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Proteus doesn’t dare contradict an order from Neptune, and so he lets Florimell go. Marinell sees Florimell, and immediately his heavy heart is lifted. He is weak from... (full context)
Book V: Canto II
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British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
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Arthegall happens to meet a dwarf on the road who tells him that Florimell is going to marry Marinell. It turns out he’s Florimell’s dwarf, Dony. Dony wants to... (full context)
Book V: Canto III
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The day of Florimell and Marinell’s wedding arrives. It’s a glorious feast where everyone eats until they’re full. There... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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...and frees Marinell, before swapping shields back to Braggadochio. Meanwhile, Braggadochio has been hiding false Florimell. (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
Real Florimell comes to greet all the knights. Braggadochio then comes forward with his shield (which Arthegall... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
...Braggadochio’s shield in the tournament. He shows his wounds as proof, then bets that Braggadochio’s Florimell is not the real one. (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
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Arthegall calls real Florimell forward. But as soon as real Florimell stands next to the false one, the false... (full context)
Book V: Canto IV
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Arthegall leaves Florimell and Marinell’s wedding festivities. As he travels, he meets two handsome squires who are twin... (full context)