EPITHALAMION POEM SUMMARY BY SPENSER ( USEFUL FOR TET/TRB/PGT/NET/SLET STUDENTS)

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Introduction to Edmund Spenser

  1. Edmund Spenser (c. 1552 - 1599) was an English poet best known for his epic poem "The Faerie Queene". 
  2. He is considered one of the greatest poets in the English language and a prominent figure of the English Renaissance. 
  3. Spenser's other notable works include the sonnet sequence "Amoretti" and the marriage ode "Epithalamion", which he composed for his wedding to Elizabeth Boyle in 1594.



Summary of "Epithalamion"

  1. The poem opens with an invocation to the Muses, asking for their assistance in celebrating the poet's marriage to Elizabeth Boyle.
  2. Spenser methodically describes the hours of the day from early morning to late into the wedding night, with 24 stanzas corresponding to the hours of Midsummer Day.
  3. The poet spends a majority of the poem praising his bride, using both innocent and lustful descriptions of her physical beauty.
  4. As the couple heads to the church, the festivities include a traditional ritual chant called "Hymen Hymenaeus" sung by minstrels.
  5. During the ceremony, Spenser shifts from praising Greek gods to using Christian language to praise Elizabeth's inner beauty.
  6. After the ceremony, Spenser becomes increasingly anxious to consummate the marriage as night falls.
  7. The poet rebukes any idea of evil that could ruin their happiness and asks for blessings of childbearing, fidelity, and all things good.

Critical Appreciation

  1. "Epithalamion" is a classic work of literature that combines lyrical beauty, deep insights, and a celebration of love.
  2. Spenser's profound understanding of emotional complexity is evident in the poem, as he depicts both the joy and fragility that come with love.
  3. The poem captures the realities of relationships by addressing the difficulties and roadblocks that partners may encounter, while emphasizing love's ultimate triumph.
  4. The poem's structure, with 24 stanzas corresponding to the hours of Midsummer Day and 365 longer lines representing the year leading up to the wedding, adds a unique numerical element to the work.
  5. Spenser's use of the Blason convention, where a woman's physical characteristics are singled out and metaphorically depicted, is a notable poetic technique in the poem.