Virgil and Spenser

"Virgil and Spenser" is a scholarly exploration of the literary relationship between the Roman epicist Virgil and the master of the English Renaissance, Edmund Spenser. Written by the distinguished scholar Merritt Yerkes Hughes, this work examines how the classical traditions of the Augustan age were inherited, transformed, and revitalized within the context of Elizabethan poetry.

The study delves into the thematic and stylistic parallels between Virgil's pastoral and epic masterpieces-the "Eclogues," "Georgics," and the "Aeneid"-and Spenser's own monumental contributions to English literature, most notably "The Faerie Queene" and "The Shepheardes Calender." Hughes investigates the concepts of poetic imitation and the evolution of the heroic ideal, tracing how Spenser utilized Virgilian models to craft a national epic for England. By analyzing specific linguistic echoes and structural similarities, the author illuminates the deep-seated classical roots that nourish Spenserian verse.

This volume serves as a resource for students and scholars of comparative literature, Renaissance studies, and classical reception. It offers a nuanced perspective on how the legacy of Rome continued to shape the imaginative landscape of the 16th century, making it a significant contribution to the understanding of the English literary canon.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.