375.  HER TACKLES SPENT, her worn-out rigging.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

(Canto XII)

1.  Contrast the tone of this canto with the preceding two. 2.  When does Spenser drop into a lighter, humorous vein? 3.  Find allusions to sixteenth century customs, e.g. that of sitting on rush-strewn floors. 4.  How was the Redcross Knight received by the King? 5.  Compare Una’s costume with that described in the first canto.  Why this change? 6.  What hint of the significance of her name in xxi? 7.  What is the effect of Archimago’s appearance? (For dramatic surprise.) 8.  What is the effect of Duessa’s letter? (Suspense of fear.) 9.  Observe the confusion of Christian and Pagan rites in this canto. 10.  Where does Spenser make happy use of maritime figures? 11.  Explain the allegory of this canto.

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GLOSSARY

[The numbers refer to cantos and stanzas.]

A

Abide, v, 17, to attend on. 
About, i, 11, out of. 
Acquite, viii, 1, release, set free. 
Addrest, ii, 11, armed, equipped; x, 11, directed. 
Advise, i, 33, consider. 
Advizement, iv, 12, counsel, advice. 
Afflicted, Int. 4, humble. 
Affray, iii, 12, terror, alarm; v, 30, to startle. 
Affronted, viii, 13, opposed. 
Afore, x, 49, ahead, in front of. 
Agraste, x, 18, favor, show grace. 
Albe, v, 45, although. 
All, x, 47; xii, 23, although. 
Almner, x, 38, almoner, distributer of alms. 
Als, ix, 18, also, quite so. 
Amate, ix, 45, dismay, dishearten. 
Amis, iv, 18, linen head-dress. 
Amoves, iv, 45; viii, 21; ix, 18, moves. 
Andvile, xi, 42, anvil. 
Apply, x, 46, attend to, add. 
Aread, viii, 31, 33; ix, 6, 23; x, 51, 64, tell, explain; xii, 28, advise;
  ared, x, 17; explained; areeds, Int. 1, urges. 
Arise, vi, 32, depart, rise out of. 
Armorie, i, 27, armor. 
Arras, iv, 6; viii, 35, tapestry. 
Aslake, iii, 36, appease, abate the fury of. 
Assay, ii, 13, approved quality, value; vii, 27, trial; viii, 8, assault;
  ii, 24; iv, 8; viii, 2; xi, 32, try, assail, attempt. 
Assoiled, x, 52, absolved. 
Astond, ii, 31; vi, 9; ix, 35, astounded, amazed. 
Attach, xii, 35, seize, arrest. 
Attaine, ii, 8, reach, fall in with. 
Attaint, vii, 34, obscure, discolor. 
Avale, i, 21, fall, sink. 
Avise, v, 40; viii, 15, perceive.

B

Baite, i, 32, feed, refresh. 
Bale, i, 16; viii, 4, disaster, destruction; ix, 16, 29, trouble, grief. 
Banes, xii, 36, banns of marriage. 
Battailous, v, 2, warlike, ready for battle. 
Battrie, ix, 11, assault. 
Bauldrick, vii, 29, a leather girdle for the sword or bugle, worn pendant
  across the shoulder and breast. 
Bayes, vii, 3, bathes. 
Beades, i, 30, prayers. 
Beadmen, x, 36, men devoted to prayer for the soul