Critics frequently, sometimes irresponsibly, label Spenser's poetry "emblematic" because of the appearance of either striking allegorical figures or moral assertions. This thesis establishes a standard for the application of the term "emblematic": first, by defining those elements which characterize emblems; second, by examining the emblem's cultural milieu; and third, by analyzing the "emblem patterns" that appear in The Faerie Queene.
The study concludes that these "emblem patterns" transform the two essential elements of emblems to a literary treatment: the emblem engraving takes the form of a poetic description of allegorical figures or scenes; the didactic poem is condensed to an explicit moral statement. These "emblem patterns," then, can be regarded as reasonable criteria for labelling Spenser's poem "emblematic."
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc504448 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Howard, Patricia W. |
| Contributors | Henderson, Sam H., Davis, C. Pruitt, Jr., Belcher, William F. (William Francis), 1919- |
| Publisher | North Texas State University |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | iv, 93 leaves : facsim., Text |
| Rights | Public, Howard, Patricia W., Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. |
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