LEADER 04069cam 2200589Ii 4500001 ocn889804659 003 OCoLC 005 20141212071934.0 006 m o d 007 cr bn||||||||| 008 140902s2014 ncu ob 000 0 eng d 035 (Sirsi) o889804659 035 (OCoLC)889804659 040 ERE |erda |cERE |dOCLCO |dERE |dUtOrBLW 049 EREE 090 PR428.N37 100 1 Lukens, David, |eauthor. |?UNAUTHORIZED 245 14 The English Eden : |bnationhood and kingship in Shakespeare and Spenser / |cby David Lukens. 264 1 [Greenville, N.C.] : |b[East Carolina University], |c2014. 300 51 pages 336 text |btxt |2rdacontent 337 computer |bc |2rdamedia 338 online resource |bcr |2rdacarrier 347 text file |bPDF |c0.15Mb |2rda 538 System requirements: Adobe Reader. 538 Mode of access: World Wide Web. 502 |bM.A. |cEast Carolina University |d2014. 500 Presented to the faculty of the Department of English. 500 Advisor: Thomas Herron. 500 Title from PDF t.p. (viewed October 1, 2014). 520 3 Throughout the Renaissance in England are works that glorify the nation under a strong nationalistic message. Spenser, with The Faerie Queene, presents a chivalric romance that follows the adventures of several knights who seek to complete tasks for the titular queen Gloriana. It is through multiple levels of allegory that these knights and the enemies they overcome become embodiments of the English nation triumphing over foreign and Catholic nations. It is not just this political lens, but also the blending of religious parallels that elevates these English heroes like Redcrosse and Prince Arthur into Christ-figures, primarily in the context of Christ as a righteous warrior and conqueror. Shakespeare, while not as extensive in the use of allegory as Spenser, also delves into similar ideas concerning the presentation of a strong and united England. However, he also emphasizes the king's role in creating and maintaining a strong nation, with the kings being associated with Christ. Alongside this comparison to Christ is also the recurring conceit that compares the nation to a garden, England as an Eden; such a nation requires a proper gardener, a strong king, to maintain it. By reading in a Spenserian mode, the similarities (and the differences) become apparent in understanding the ideas, praise, and critique for a strong monarch that in turn allows for a strong nation in Shakespeare's English history plays. Though the focus of this thesis will primarily be on the Henriad plays, the inclusion of Spenser provides a contemporary with which to compare and contrast ideas that are shared between both authors. 504 Includes bibliographical references. 600 10 Shakespeare, William, |d1564-1616 |xCriticism and interpretation. |=^A18691 600 10 Spenser, Edmund, |d1552?-1599 |xCriticism and interpretation. |=^A23824 600 10 Shakespeare, William, |d1564-1616 |xSymbolism. |=^A199888 600 10 Spenser, Edmund, |d1552?-1599 |xSymbolism. |=^A23824 650 0 Nationalism in literature. |=^A180146 650 0 Literature and history |zGreat Britain. |=^A1002160 650 0 English literature |yEarly modern, 1500-1700 |xHistory and criticism. |=^A989565 650 0 Kings and rulers in literature. |=^A107079 651 0 England |xIn literature. |=^A376931 653 Literature 653 British and Irish literature 700 1 Herron, Thomas, |d1968- |edegree supervisor. |=^A758347 710 2 East Carolina University. |bDepartment of English. |=^A641948 856 40 |zAccess via ScholarShip |uhttp://hdl.handle.net/10342/4567 949 |ojgml 994 C0 |bERE 596 1 4 998 3510194