QUESTIONS AND TOPICS
1. What are the moral reflections in stanza [i]? 2. What suggestion of the condition of the English roads do you find in st. [ii]? 3. But few returned, l. [21]. What became of the rest? 4. Give a description of the House of Pride. Note resemblance to a typical Elizabethan hall. 5. Explain the allegory of the House, noting the association of ugliness and beauty. 6. How is expectation aroused in vi? 7. Describe the dramatic appearance and character of Pride. Cf. description of Satan on his throne in Paradise Lost, iii. 8. What do you learn in this canto of Elizabethan or chivalric manners and customs? 9. Describe the procession at the court of Pride. 10. What satire of the Romish priesthood in [xviii]-xx? 11. Note examples of Spenser's humor in [xiv] and [xvi]. 12. Point out the classical influence (Dionysus and Silenus) in the description of Gluttony. 13. Subject of the interview between Duessa and Sansjoy. 14. Point out the archaisms in l. [10]; alliteration in [xxxix] and [l]; the Latinisms in [xlvi] and [xlvii]. 15. In what case is way in l. [17]? 16. Explain the meaning and historical significance of lazar, l. [24], and diall, l. [36]. 17. Explain the references of the pronouns in l. [55], and ll. [418]-419. 18. Note the Euphuistic balance and antithesis in [xxix] and [xlv]. 19. Explain the suffix in marchen in l. [325]. 20. Note the double negative in [iv], [xlix]. 21. Paraphrase in your own words ll. [239], [243], [360], [437].
[CANTO V]
I. The Plot: (a continuation of [Canto IV]). The Knight fights in the lists with Sansjoy and defeats him, but is prevented by Duessa's magic from slaying him. Duessa descends to Erebus and obtains the aid of Night, who conveys the wounded Saracen in her chariot to Æsculapius to be healed of his wounds. The tortures of some of the souls in Erebus are described, particularly the cause of Æsculapius' punishment. A roll of the prisoners whom the dwarf discovers in Pride's dungeon is given. The Knight flees with the dwarf from her house.
II. The Allegory: When the Christian Soldier is attacked by Joylessness, he has a far more desperate struggle than that with Infidelity, and comes out wounded though victorious. Joylessness when crushed by Holiness is restored by Pagan Philosophy. The backsliding Christian is warned in time by Prudence of the fearful consequences of sin, and hastens to turn his back on Pride and the other sins. The soul is led to dread Pride, not by Truth, but by its sufferings and other inferior motives.
[25.] their timely voyces, their voices keeping time with their harps.
[27.] Old loves, famous love-affairs, the subject of the Minnesängers.
[29.] In woven maile, in chain armor.
[32.] Araby, probably here the Orient in general.