IGNOU MEG-01 Block 2 Summary (Unit 8–11) | Undertaking a Study of Spenser
If you are
studying IGNOU MEG-01 (British Poetry), this article provides a complete,
exam-oriented summary of Block 2 – Undertaking a Study of Spenser, covering
Unit 8 to Unit 11 in clear and structured form.
This block
introduces students to the English Renaissance and the poetry of Edmund
Spenser, one of the most important poets in English literary history. The
summaries below are designed to help IGNOU MA English students
understand concepts easily and revise effectively for Term-End Examinations
(TEE).
.jpg "IGNOU MEG-01 Block 1 Summary (Unit 8–11) | Undertaking A Study of Spenser")
📘 About IGNOU MEG-01 Block 2
Block 2 focuses on:
- The cultural and literary
background of the Renaissance
- The life and works of Edmund
Spenser
- A detailed study of The Faerie
Queene
- Spenser’s allegory, morality,
politics, and poetic style
This block
builds a bridge between historical context and poetic analysis, a key
requirement for scoring well in IGNOU exams.
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📌 Unit 8: The Renaissance
Unit 8 situates
Edmund Spenser within the broader framework of the English Renaissance,
a cultural and intellectual movement spanning the late 15th to early 17th
century. The Renaissance marked a revival of classical learning, a
renewed interest in Greek and Roman literature, and a shift toward humanism,
individualism, and artistic creativity.
In England, the
Renaissance coincided with:
- The rise of vernacular English
as a literary language
- The consolidation of national
identity under the Tudor monarchy
- The flourishing of poetry, drama,
and prose
The unit
highlights the influence of Italian Renaissance writers such as Petrarch,
Ariosto, and Tasso, whose ideas shaped English poetry. It also discusses
the importance of Elizabethan court culture, patronage, and political power
in literary production.
Students are
introduced to a key tension of the age: the coexistence of medieval
traditions and Renaissance innovation. This tension becomes central to
Spenser’s poetry, which blends chivalric romance with Renaissance ideals. Unit
8 prepares readers to understand Spenser as both a product of the
Renaissance and a creative force who shaped it.
📌 Unit 9: Edmund Spenser
Unit 9 provides
a biographical and literary overview of Edmund Spenser (1552–1599),
often called the “poet’s poet” because of his lasting influence on
English literature.
Key
biographical points include:
- Education at Merchant Taylors’
School and Pembroke College, Cambridge
- Long residence in Ireland,
where he served in administrative roles
- Experiences in Ireland that influenced
his views on politics, order, morality, and colonisation
Major works
discussed in this unit:
- The Shepheardes Calender (1579) – a pastoral allegory that
established his reputation
- The Faerie Queene (1590, 1596) – his unfinished epic and
greatest achievement
- Amoretti and Epithalamion – poems
expressing personal love and marital devotion
The unit
explains Spenser’s linguistic experimentation, including his deliberate
use of archaism and his invention of the Spenserian stanza (a
nine-line stanza unique in English poetry). It emphasizes Spenser’s ambition to
combine classical, continental, and English traditions, creating a
distinctly national poetic voice.
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📌 Unit 10: Spenser’s Poetry – I
Unit 10 begins
an in-depth study of The Faerie Queene, focusing on its form,
purpose, and moral vision. Spenser conceived the poem as a didactic
allegorical epic, meant to “fashion a gentleman or noble person in
virtuous discipline.”
Key aspects
discussed:
- The plan of the poem as a twelve-book
epic (only six completed)
- Each book representing a moral
virtue
The unit
concentrates mainly on Book I, which tells the story of the Redcrosse
Knight, symbolizing Holiness. His journey represents the Christian
struggle against error, temptation, and falsehood, culminating in
spiritual redemption.
The unit also
explains:
- Spenser’s use of allegory,
symbolism, and Christian morality
- The fusion of Arthurian
romance, biblical imagery, and classical mythology
- The political dimension of the
poem, including its praise of Queen Elizabeth I and Protestant
ideology
Special
attention is given to the Spenserian stanza (eight iambic pentameter
lines followed by an alexandrine), which gives the poem its musical flow and
reflective pace. Unit 10 helps students appreciate both the artistic
complexity and intellectual ambition of The Faerie Queene.
📌 Unit 11: Spenser’s Poetry – II
Unit 11
continues the analysis of The Faerie Queene by examining other books and
broader themes. Major areas of focus include:
- Book III (Chastity) – featuring Britomart, a
female knight who embodies virtue, strength, and moral purity
- Book V (Justice) – featuring Artegall, the
knight of Justice
The unit
highlights the political and gender dimensions of Spenser’s poetry.
Britomart is not only a symbol of chastity but also an allegorical
representation of Queen Elizabeth I, blending myth with political
praise. Artegall’s quest, shaped by Spenser’s experiences in Ireland, raises
complex questions about law, authority, and colonial governance.
This unit also
examines Spenser’s:
- Use of allegory,
personification, and classical references
- Elaborate imagery and descriptive
richness
- Engagement with contemporary
debates on religion, power, virtue, and society
The unit
concludes by discussing Spenser’s lasting influence on later poets such
as Milton, Wordsworth, Keats, and Yeats, who admired his imagination,
moral seriousness, and poetic craftsmanship. Despite being rooted in the
Elizabethan age, Spenser’s poetry continues to resonate because of its ethical
depth and symbolic richness.
🎯 Why This Summary Is Useful for IGNOU
Students
- Covers all units (8–11) of
MEG-01 Block 2
- Written in exam-oriented
academic language
- Ideal for quick revision and
concept clarity
- Helpful for long answers,
critical analysis, and background questions
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