View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is significant about the three upper rooms of the castle?

2. Why does Timias retreat to the woods as a hermit?

3. What is happening when Britomart finds Amoret?

4. Who is the only woman who can wear the girdle of Florimell?

5. Who does Archimago disguise himself as in an attempt to fool Una

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what was shown to Britomart in the magic mirror of Merlin.

2. What keeps Timias from declaring his love for Belphoebe?

3. What does the blood on the baby's hands symbolize?

4. Why is Calidore distracted from his quest to kill The Blatant Beast?

5. How is Arthur proving his love to Gloriana?

6. What is Orgoglio and who is with him?

7. What happens when Britomart meets Artegall, and why is this so ironic?

8. Who do Talus and Artegall meet on the road home?

9. Explain what happened to Guyon while he was with Mammon.

10. Why does the poet forswear his earthly possessions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Spenser uses the names of his characters as a form of satire on society. He takes some of the key values, emotions, and components of our beings and personifies them in his book. Take five of these names and illustrate whether or not you agree with his stance on that character. Is the description accurate? What would you have changed?

Essay Topic 2

Timias and Serena both have close calls with death due to The Blatant Beast. What instructions are they given by the hermit to be healed? How do these particular instructions really help in the fight against Scandal?

Essay Topic 3

Love is an ongoing theme in this book as Spenser juxtaposes a number of different couples throughout the plot. Explore the best and the worst of these relationships. What makes the best one good and the worst one bad? Are they realistic at all?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 730 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample