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The Faerie Queene Books #6
The Faerie Queene, Book Six and the Mutabilitie Cantos
Book Six and the incomplete Book Seven of The Faerie Queene are the last sections of the unfinished poem to have been published. They show Spenser inflecting his narrative with an ever more personal note, and becoming an ever more desperate and anxious author, worried that things were falling apart as Queen Elizabeth failed in health and the Irish crisis became ever more terrifying. The moral confusion and uncertainty that Calidore, the Knight of Courtesy, has to confront are symptomatic of the lack of control that Spenser saw everywhere around him. Yet, within such a troubling and disturbing work there are moments of great beauty and harmony, such as the famous dance of the Graces that Colin Clout, the rustic alter ego of the poet himself, conjures up with his pipe. Book Seven, the Two Cantos of Mutabilitie, is among the finest of Spenser's poetic works, in which he explains the mythical origins of his world, as the gods debate on the hill opposite his Irish house. Whether order or chaos triumphs in the end has been the subject of most subsequent critical debate.
264 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2007
3 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Edmund Spenser
1,414 books312 followersEdmund Spenser (c. 1552 - 1599) was an important English poet and Poet Laureate best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem celebrating, through fantastical allegory, the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I.
Though he is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, Spenser is also a controversial figure due to his zeal for the destruction of Irish culture and colonisation of Ireland.
Though he is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, Spenser is also a controversial figure due to his zeal for the destruction of Irish culture and colonisation of Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 26, 2022
The Faerie Queene is one of those classics that I long desired to read but lacked the courage and ability to carry it out. Enter Kelly Cumbee teaching a House of Humane Letter’s FQ class, and here I am at the end! This was a mountaintop kind of reading experience, one I will remember for the rest of my life. How incredible to enter into the work of literature that influenced Lewis, Tolkien, and countless others. One can only hope that in the new heaven and earth we will be able to read all twelve books, but the six we have, along with the Cantos of Mutability, are magnificent. I’m already looking forward to many return journeys to Faerieland.
I previously said that Book 5 was my favorite, but then Book 6 came along and stole my heart. I love the pastoral elements especially. But as I already said in my Book 5 review, I think the truest answer to the question of which FQ book is my favorite is “The one I just read!”
And can we talk about how beautiful and fitting the last lines in the unfinished Book 7, Canto 8 are?! If that’s the last thing I get to read from The Faerie Queene on this side of eternity, it’s perfect:
I previously said that Book 5 was my favorite, but then Book 6 came along and stole my heart. I love the pastoral elements especially. But as I already said in my Book 5 review, I think the truest answer to the question of which FQ book is my favorite is “The one I just read!”
And can we talk about how beautiful and fitting the last lines in the unfinished Book 7, Canto 8 are?! If that’s the last thing I get to read from The Faerie Queene on this side of eternity, it’s perfect:
But thence-forth all shall rest eternally
With Him that is the God of Sabbaoth hight:
O! thou great Sabbaoth God, grant me that Sabaoths sight.
June 1, 2022
All the stars. Perfection. I don't know how he could have kept writing. Neither my mind or heart would have been able to hold the magnificence. And I'm sad it's over.
Pastoral tradition
Mutability cantos
And it ended with rest.
Simply perfection.
Pastoral tradition
Mutability cantos
And it ended with rest.
Simply perfection.
December 16, 2022
Book 6 of the FAERIE QUEENE contains my third favourite knight in the epic - Sir Calidore, who is a lovely polite boi who does not fight when he might persuade with suave words - plus: the heartrending adventures of Serena and Calepine! a not-quite-as-random-as-it-appears pastoral interlude featuring shepherds, pirates, and Spenser depicting Mrs Spenser as one of the Three, Except Now Four, Graces! And, last but definitely not least, Chewbacca! (you'll know when you meet him!)
The topic of this book is Courtesy, which is threatened by a many-tongued beast representing all sorts of scandal and slander. Spenser defines courtesy as the art of rendering what is due to each social position. As a result of this social aspect of the virtues he deals with, Calidore must spend time not only among nobles, but also among the lower ranks - shepherds and savages - before running the Blatant Beast to ground in the third estate, the Church. While the hierarchical/classist social aspects of the story make this story a little less palatable, there's still so much good stuff here. Spenser defines courtesy not as outward displays of meaningless flattery but sincere affection shown from the heart. Then, there's one passage where Calidore must set right an oppressive custom carried out by a certain noblewoman, and when he barges into her castle to put an end to her misdeeds what does she do but pitch a tantrum railing against him for discourtesy to a poor weak woman! Both times I read the book, I laughed so hard it hurt.
The topic of this book is Courtesy, which is threatened by a many-tongued beast representing all sorts of scandal and slander. Spenser defines courtesy as the art of rendering what is due to each social position. As a result of this social aspect of the virtues he deals with, Calidore must spend time not only among nobles, but also among the lower ranks - shepherds and savages - before running the Blatant Beast to ground in the third estate, the Church. While the hierarchical/classist social aspects of the story make this story a little less palatable, there's still so much good stuff here. Spenser defines courtesy not as outward displays of meaningless flattery but sincere affection shown from the heart. Then, there's one passage where Calidore must set right an oppressive custom carried out by a certain noblewoman, and when he barges into her castle to put an end to her misdeeds what does she do but pitch a tantrum railing against him for discourtesy to a poor weak woman! Both times I read the book, I laughed so hard it hurt.
November 22, 2022
Even though this book represented the ultimate failure of Spenser's project, one should by no means infer this is a bad book. It is not. Indeed, in many respects it is quite excellent. The rhythm scans quite nicely.
I think the story itself is a good commentary on Spenser's project. As Spenser's project stalled and appeared chaotic, so too does Chaos ("Mutabilitie") unravel the realm of Faerie.
I think the story itself is a good commentary on Spenser's project. As Spenser's project stalled and appeared chaotic, so too does Chaos ("Mutabilitie") unravel the realm of Faerie.
February 24, 2016
It's bittersweet to have now finished the entirety of The Faerie Queene. Book VI is the least cohesive of the six books; Calidore the least sympathetic and developed knight. But, give me a break: this is absolutely incredible poetry and I always like to remind myself that Spenser is a titan of poetry for completing such a poetic masterpiece as is The Faerie Queene. Book VI does have its bright spots of great interest, however, as in the scene where cannibals are "admiring" thier new catch, Serena, prior to their attempts to consume her:
Her yvorie necke, her alabaster brest,
Her paps, which like white silken pillowes were,
For love in soft delight thereon to rest;
Her tender sides her bellie white and clere,
Which like an Altar did it selfe uprere,
To offer sacrifice divine thereon;
Her goodly thighes, whose glorie did appeare
Like a triumphall Arch, and thereupon
The spoiles of Princes hang'd, which were in battel won.
Those daintie parts, the dearlings of delight,
...
Well, you get the point.
I think I'll reread Book I now.
Her yvorie necke, her alabaster brest,
Her paps, which like white silken pillowes were,
For love in soft delight thereon to rest;
Her tender sides her bellie white and clere,
Which like an Altar did it selfe uprere,
To offer sacrifice divine thereon;
Her goodly thighes, whose glorie did appeare
Like a triumphall Arch, and thereupon
The spoiles of Princes hang'd, which were in battel won.
Those daintie parts, the dearlings of delight,
...
Well, you get the point.
I think I'll reread Book I now.
February 21, 2008
Book 6 is I think my least favorite of FQ. It has more political references and a less unified plot-line than the others. That said, it's still an enjoyable read, especially in the Hackett edition.
October 15, 2018
4.5 stars.
May 3, 2018
You can see my overall thoughts on The Faerie Queene here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Book VI – I read Cantos 9-12. Spenser reminds everyone they will be happiest staying in their humble station. The fortunate like him are favored by god due to their high moral caliber and superior breeding. Ample food, security and wealth are not really that important. Alexander Pope would be pleased.
But I digress. In this installment, Calidore lives the pastoral fantasy. (The Pastoral Fantasy is a highly communicable illness afflicting primarily poets, though some musicians have been known to catch its virus. It is presented by feverish pining for the “old days,” painful convulsions about “the beauty and serenity of nature” followed often by occasional vomiting of “things used to be simpler and better.”
I seem to have digressed into another digression. I apologize. Back to the story. Calidore shucks off the armor of knighthood and decides to live the Pastoral Fantasy, smitten by a sheep, I mean girl, named Pastorella. That life goes smashingly until some rude brigands come and steal his true love, I mean sheep, I mean Pastorella. Dutifully pissed off, he attacks the brigand castles and wipes them out, rescuing his sheep. And Pastorella.
Book VI, The Mutabilitie Cantos – The goddess Mutabilite challenges Jove for mastery of the world and they go before Nature to make the final decision. This is a rather intriguing topic and Mutabilitie has some interesting things to say. But just as it reaches it’s dramatic peak, Spenser goes into another of his pageants, this time featuring the months of the year as well as Day, Night, and the Four Seasons (yes, Big Girls Don’t Cry). Well, that effectively kills the mood. Then Jove speaks one stanza. Mutabilitie replies with a few more stanzas. Then Nature has a stanza. And then it’s over. Problem solved. Kind of strange.
Book VI – I read Cantos 9-12. Spenser reminds everyone they will be happiest staying in their humble station. The fortunate like him are favored by god due to their high moral caliber and superior breeding. Ample food, security and wealth are not really that important. Alexander Pope would be pleased.
But I digress. In this installment, Calidore lives the pastoral fantasy. (The Pastoral Fantasy is a highly communicable illness afflicting primarily poets, though some musicians have been known to catch its virus. It is presented by feverish pining for the “old days,” painful convulsions about “the beauty and serenity of nature” followed often by occasional vomiting of “things used to be simpler and better.”
I seem to have digressed into another digression. I apologize. Back to the story. Calidore shucks off the armor of knighthood and decides to live the Pastoral Fantasy, smitten by a sheep, I mean girl, named Pastorella. That life goes smashingly until some rude brigands come and steal his true love, I mean sheep, I mean Pastorella. Dutifully pissed off, he attacks the brigand castles and wipes them out, rescuing his sheep. And Pastorella.
Book VI, The Mutabilitie Cantos – The goddess Mutabilite challenges Jove for mastery of the world and they go before Nature to make the final decision. This is a rather intriguing topic and Mutabilitie has some interesting things to say. But just as it reaches it’s dramatic peak, Spenser goes into another of his pageants, this time featuring the months of the year as well as Day, Night, and the Four Seasons (yes, Big Girls Don’t Cry). Well, that effectively kills the mood. Then Jove speaks one stanza. Mutabilitie replies with a few more stanzas. Then Nature has a stanza. And then it’s over. Problem solved. Kind of strange.
July 17, 2024
After the comparative lull of Book 5 comes this wonderful, if still utterly insane, book of the FQ. Sir Calidore goes on a quest after the Blatant Beast (I mean, blatant), and gets distracted by repeated encounters with hot women, including some sexy naked female cannibals (like one does).
Sir Calidore is literally the most crap of Spenser's heroes: the entire kingdom is devastated by the Beast (which is made up of many tongues, and I suspect may be an allegory for the Catholic Church, as most of this book seems to be), but basically stops for a year to chirps Pastorella, completely ignoring his mission. Everyone who meets her falls in love with her and (SPOILER) she turns out to be a lost princess (actually, if you hadn't guessed she was a princess, you haven't read the first five books), while he is dressed as a shepherd.
So, both the silliest and the sexiest of the six books, but also, I think, the shortest.
Not quite sure how the Mutability Cantos fit in: apart from keeping to the verse structure of the FQ they seem to be part of a separate poem. Last two stanzas are utterly beautiful, though, and probably you could read through those on their own, if you don't want to read the other 1054 pages first.
Sir Calidore is literally the most crap of Spenser's heroes: the entire kingdom is devastated by the Beast (which is made up of many tongues, and I suspect may be an allegory for the Catholic Church, as most of this book seems to be), but basically stops for a year to chirps Pastorella, completely ignoring his mission. Everyone who meets her falls in love with her and (SPOILER) she turns out to be a lost princess (actually, if you hadn't guessed she was a princess, you haven't read the first five books), while he is dressed as a shepherd.
So, both the silliest and the sexiest of the six books, but also, I think, the shortest.
Not quite sure how the Mutability Cantos fit in: apart from keeping to the verse structure of the FQ they seem to be part of a separate poem. Last two stanzas are utterly beautiful, though, and probably you could read through those on their own, if you don't want to read the other 1054 pages first.
November 29, 2024
Book VI is undoubtedly the frailest part of “The Faerie Queene” marred by a plenty of incoherence and Spenser's uncertainty regarding how the knight Calidore is to fulfil his quest, so much so that he even side-lined him until the culminate few cantos.
“The Mutabilitie Cantos” considerably improve the overall impression, and are mighty paragon of Spenser’s poetic genius and reflection of his deep understanding of classical mythology.
“The Mutabilitie Cantos” considerably improve the overall impression, and are mighty paragon of Spenser’s poetic genius and reflection of his deep understanding of classical mythology.
May 23, 2017
Many people agree this is the weakest of all the Faerie Queene books. I enjoyed it more than Book 5. I loved the random action movie subplot of Calidore rescuing Pastorella from the fortress of brigands. These books would work brilliantly as videogames. Something to think about it, Square Enix.
March 18, 2022
~read for intro to renaissance literature class~
Edmund Spenser really does have a vendetta against the Irish. yikes.
His prose was interesting, though. The irregular use of misspellings in an attempt to sound archaic is hilarious. He thinks very highly of himself.
July 13, 2022
“For, all that moveth, doth in Change delight: but thenceforth all shall rest eternally with Him that is the God of Sabbaoth hight: O! thou great Sabbaoth God, grant me that Sabaoths sight. Finis.”
Finis.
Finis.
October 18, 2017
Though I'd have preferred a better ending, everything leading up to it was worthwhile. I especially enjoyed the variance of Calidore, being the epitome of the courtesy virtue.
July 23, 2024
Jul 2024. Just the two Mutability cantos again, after reading Michael Ward's PLANET NARNIA. What a delight.
Dec 2019. Looking forward to finishing Spenser.
In my estimation, Books VI-VII are Spenser's 'return to form.' Sir Calidore's quest (defeat the Blatant Beast) is obscure, but that almost doesn't matter at this point.
Highlights:
* Battle against the forces of Maleffort, Crudor, and Lady Briana in Canto I
* The Salvage savior of Calepine and Serena
* Prince Arthur's final combat with Turpine et al.
* Backstory and punishment of Mirabella
* Calepine's rescue of Serena from the Salvage Nation
* The entire Pastorella episode, but above all the Dance of the Graces
* The two Cantos of Mutabilitie are a wonderful allegorical conclusion. It doesn't seem controversial to me, despite the scholarly arguments summarized in the introduction and the footnotes. Nature, Jupiter, and Order win the court case both in the present and in eternity. I'm afraid some of these scholars must know too much about Elizabethan politics and too little about classical and medieval philosophy.
I'd never teach Books II-VI, but I'm very glad to have read the entire thing. It will be good to reread Book I next year, given this work.
P. S. The footnotes in this edition are frequently questionable, if not erroneous.
Dec 2019. Looking forward to finishing Spenser.
In my estimation, Books VI-VII are Spenser's 'return to form.' Sir Calidore's quest (defeat the Blatant Beast) is obscure, but that almost doesn't matter at this point.
Highlights:
* Battle against the forces of Maleffort, Crudor, and Lady Briana in Canto I
* The Salvage savior of Calepine and Serena
* Prince Arthur's final combat with Turpine et al.
* Backstory and punishment of Mirabella
* Calepine's rescue of Serena from the Salvage Nation
* The entire Pastorella episode, but above all the Dance of the Graces
* The two Cantos of Mutabilitie are a wonderful allegorical conclusion. It doesn't seem controversial to me, despite the scholarly arguments summarized in the introduction and the footnotes. Nature, Jupiter, and Order win the court case both in the present and in eternity. I'm afraid some of these scholars must know too much about Elizabethan politics and too little about classical and medieval philosophy.
I'd never teach Books II-VI, but I'm very glad to have read the entire thing. It will be good to reread Book I next year, given this work.
P. S. The footnotes in this edition are frequently questionable, if not erroneous.
April 30, 2012
The wheels have fallen off at this point in the poem. It's beautiful, but it is also messy.
October 7, 2025
ENGL 466
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews