Canto I: Stanzas 1-6; 29-55
Canto II: Stanzas 1-27

EdmundÕs SpenserÕs The Faerie Queene contains 6 books and is an extensive allegory into different aspects of the Christian life. Each book focuses on a virtue or moral and Book 1 is about holiness and the ChristianÕs struggle to attain it.

Holiness and the struggle that a Christian must go through to attain holiness is the focus of this book. This holiness is personified in the Redcrosse Knight. At the beginning of the book he is not holy in the sense that he is perfect. He puts his full trust in Christ. ÒBut on his breast a bloody Cross he bore,/ The dear remembrance of his dying Lord,/ For whose sweet sake that glorious badge he wore,/ And dead as living ever him adored.Ó (i, 2) The Redcrosse Knight instead represents the Christian as he starts out on his journey; faithful but untried. As he meets with temptations and trials his choices will either lead him closer to holiness or will lead him closer to defeat and overthrow.

Una, on the other hand, stands for truth. She is beautiful and unblemished. In fact, she is so white she must cover herself with a veil. It is her parents that the Redcrosse Knight is seeking to save from a Òhorrible and sternÓ (i, 3) dragon. The significance of them traveling together is clear. The Christian seeking holiness (Redcrosse) must be led and directed by Truth (Una).

After a successful battle with the monster Error, which we donÕt cover in the reading, Redcrosse and Una meet an Òaged SireÓ (i, 29). He invites them to stay with him and as he seems very virtuous they accept. It is interesting to note in this whole episode the use of disguises. Things are not what they seem and the Redcrosse Knight fails this test at the end though he resists at first. He flees and deserts Una. The Christian is now alone without Truth to guide him. He did take the dwarf, who represents Human Reason, but reason alone without truth is nothing.

It is in this weakened state that the Redcrosse Knight meets Duessa or Fidessa, as she calls herself. Here is another example of disguise. Duessa (Òtwo essences or falsehood) passes herself off as the opposite of what she really is. Her description of herself in stanzas 22-26 of canto II is very similar to our perception of Una. She claims that she is the daughter of an emperor; Una is the daughter of a king. Duessa, however, is manipulating the Redcrosse Knight in order to get what she wants. In the last part of this canto, Redcrosse and Duessa happen upon a man who has been turned into a tree by Duessa and warns Redcrosse against her. Unfortunately, Redcrosse doesnÕt put it together that Duessa and Fidessa are the same person until it is too late as we will see in the third assignment.

One last note, UnaÕs reaction to the Redcrosse KnightÕs desertion of her is significant. She does not get angry and return home in disgust. No, she ÒDid search, sore grieved in her gentle breast,/ He so ungently left her, whom she loved best.Ó (ii, 8) She is demonstrating Christlike qualities as she is unconditionally searching for Redcrosse. He has certainly done nothing to deserve her love and devotion, but still she gives it freely. This idea will become much more important later on in the story.

1). What does the Redcross Knight represent? What is his quest?
2). What does Una represent? Who was traveling with her?
3). Who do Redcrosse and Una meet and what does he represent?
4). What does their host do after Redcrosse and Una are asleep?
5). Who is Morpheus and what does he do?
6). What temptation does the host create for Redcrosse? How does he respond?
7). What temptation does he try next when the first fails? How does Redcrosse respond?
8). How does Una react to what Redcrosse does?
9). Who does Redcrosse meet in his flight? What happens at this meeting?
10). Who is the women? What is her story?

1). Compare and contrast the descriptions of Una and Fidessa/Duessa.
2). Analyze how Archimago is presented; what he represents and how it relates to Redcrosse and/or Holiness.
3). What role do disguises and coverings play so far in the story? How is UnaÕs covering different from Fidessa/DuessaÕs?