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Definition of Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor can be stated explicitly, as... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other. The comparison in a metaphor... read full definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other... read full definition
Book II: Canto I
Explanation and Analysis—New Bait:
Spenser uses a metaphor that compares Archimago to a fisherman and the Redcross Knight to a fish. In the first Canto of Book II, the narrator states that Archimago had not yet given up on his attempt to ensnare Redcross in one of his traps. However, the narrator concludes that Archimago’s task has grown too difficult, leading him to seek new victims:
Still as he went, he craftie stales did lay,
With cunning traines him to entrap vnwares,
And priuie spials plast in all his way,
To weete what course he takes, and how he fares;
To ketch him at a vantage in his snares.
But now so wise and warie was the knight
By triall of his former harmes and cares,
That he descride, and shonned still his slight:
The fish that once was caught, new bait will hardly bite.
Related Themes:
Book II: Canto VII
Explanation and Analysis—Feeding the Eyes:
In a metaphor, Spenser compares Guyon’s curiosity to a form of hunger. Throughout his encounter with Mammon, Guyon is not tempted by any of the demigod’s vast stores of wealth and treasure. However, his desire to prove himself against Mammon is characterized by Spenser as a form of temptation in itself. As Guyon moves through Mammon’s subterranean lair, the narrator notes that:
Unlock with LitCharts A+All these before the gates of Pluto lay,
By whom they passing, spake vnto them nought.
But th’Elfin knight with wonder all the way
Did feed his eyes, and fild his inner thought
Related Themes:
Book III: Canto I
Explanation and Analysis—Her Wanton Eyes:
Spenser employs vision and ways of seeing as a metaphor throughout The Faerie Queene. Just as blindness or impaired vision often symbolize, for Spenser, poor understanding, Malecasta’s “wanton eyes” serve as a metaphor for her unchaste desires. The narrator describes the introduction of Britomart, Guyon, and the other assembled knights to Malecasta, the “Lady of Delight”:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Thence they were brought to that great Ladies vew,
Whom they found sitting on a sumptuous bed,
That glistred all with gold and glorious shew,
As the proud Persian Queenes accustomed:
She seemd a woman of great bountihed,
And of rare beautie, sauing that askaunce
Her wanton eyes, ill signes of womanhed,
Did roll too lightly, and too often glaunce,
Without regard of grace, or comely amenaunce.
Related Themes:
Book III: Canto II
Explanation and Analysis—Love's Ulcer:
Struggling with her deep love for Arthegall, whom she has met only in her vision-like dreams, Britomart metaphorically compares love to a growing ulcer that has afflicted her health. Speaking with her nurse, Glauce, after receiving another vision of Arthegall, Britomart brushes off any attempts to comfort her, insisting that:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Sithens it hath infixed faster hold
Within my bleeding bowels, and so sore
Now ranckleth in this same fraile fleshly mould,
That all mine entrailes flow with poysnous gore.
And th’vlcer groweth daily more and more;
Ne can my running sore find remedie,
Other then my hard fortune to deplore,
And languish as the leafe falne from the tree,
Till death make one end of my dayes and miserie.
Related Themes:
Book III: Canto X
Explanation and Analysis—Chewing the Cud:
Spenser uses a number of digestive metaphors in his portrayal of Malbecco’s frantic and self-defeating response to his wife’s affair. After Paridell and Hellenore have run off together, Malbecco has continued to dwell on his injured feelings. As the narrator states:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Long thus he chawd the cud of inward griefe,
And did consume his gall with anguish sore,
Still when he mused on his late mischiefe,
Then still the smart thereof increased more,
And seem’d more grieuous, then it was before:
At last when sorrow he saw booted nought,
Ne griefe might not his loue to him restore,
He gan deuise, how her he reskew mought,
Ten thousand wayes he cast in his confused thought.
Book IV: Canto V
Explanation and Analysis—Care and Anxiety:
In Book IV, Scudamore seeks refuge in the house of Care while traveling across Faerie Land in an attempt to find his beloved Amoretta. Spenser uses the unceasingly noisy tools of Care’s workshop as a metaphor for the distracting and distressing nature of anxiety. Of Scudamore’s night in the house of Care, the narrator notes.
Unlock with LitCharts A+And euermore, when he to sleepe did thinke,
The hammers sound his senses did molest;
And euermore, when he began to winke,
The bellowes noyse disturb’d his quiet rest,
Ne suffred sleepe to settle in his brest.
And all the night the dogs did barke and howle
About the house, at sent of stranger guest:
And now the crowing Cocke, and now the
Owle Lowde shriking him afflicted to the very sowle.
Book V: Canto II
Explanation and Analysis—A Mirror :
Spenser metaphorically describes the severed head of the villainous Pollente as a “mirror” to warn other potential tyrants. Pollente comes to Arthegall’s attention for his monopolistic control of a bridge; he demands a heavy fee of anyone who desires to cross the bridge and thereby blocks the free exchange of commerce across Faerie Land. After Arthegall has defeated Pollente in a fierce battle and beheaded his opponent, he pitches it upon a pole as a warning to others. As the narrator notes:
Unlock with LitCharts A+His corps was carried downe along the Lee,
Whose waters with his filthy bloud it stayned:
But his blasphemous head, that all might see,
He pitcht vpon a pole on high ordayned;
Where many years it afterwards remayned,
To be a mirrour to all mighty men,
In whose right hands great power is contayned,
That none of them the feeble ouerren,
But alwaies doe their powre within iust compasse pen.
Book VI: Proem
Explanation and Analysis—Side Trips:
In the Proem to Book VI, Spenser employs a metaphor that compares his own process of writing The Faerie Queene to a wandering along a pleasant path. Explaining, and also defending, his approach to writing his epic poem, Spenser notes:
Unlock with LitCharts A+The waies, through which my weary steps I guyde,
In this delightfull land of Faery,
Are so exceeding spacious and wyde,
And sprinckled with such sweet variety,
Of all that pleasant is to eare or eye,
That I nigh rauisht with rare thoughts delight,
My tedious trauell doe forget thereby;
And when I gin to feele decay of might,
It strength to me supplies, & chears my dulled spright
