The Faerie Queene

Literal Level Summary of Book 1

Plot Summary for Book I.9 & 10 of Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene

Canto 9

His loues and lignage Arthur tells
     The knights knit friendly bands:
Sir Treuisan flies from Despayre,
     Whom Redcrosse knight withstands.

Stanzas:

1-2: As knights were noble in days of yore, so is Arthur now, and his righteousness saved Red Cross Knight; they recuperated in the Giant's castle, and before they parted Una asked Arthur to tell of himself.
3-5: Arthur denies knowledge of his lineage, tells how he was often visited by Merlin as he was growing up in the care of Timon [honour].
6-16: Una asks Arthur what brought him "into Faery land" (1.9.6.4); Arthur replies that it's hard to read "the course of heavenly cause" (1.9.6.7) [i.e. destiny; God's plan] but either he was sent there for a reason he can't guess or to ease the pain of love-sickness. Cupid fired his darts at Arthur often, but he dodged them all, then one day while sleeping in the woods he was visited by the Queen of Faeries. Henceforth he loved her and has sought her.
17-19: Red Cross Knight compares Una to the Faerie Queen, and wishes Arthur success in his quest; they talk thusly until sun rise; before parting Arthur give Red Cross Knight a restorative potion, Red Cross Knight gives Arthur a copy of the Bible.
20: When they part, Una recognizes the need for Red Cross Knight to recover more.
21-[27-30]-32: Una and Red Cross Knight encounter Sir Trevisan racing madly across the plain with a noose around his neck; they stop and interrogate him; he tells them of his and Sir Terwin's encounter with despair, and that he barely escaped with his life but Sir Terwin died; Red Cross Knight insists [too proudly] Sir Trevisan take him to encounter with Despair (1.9.32).
33-7: The cave of Despair is described, Sir Terwin's still warm corpse is seen, and Red Cross Knight tells Despair it would be only just to spill your blood as you have caused Terwin to spill his (1.9.37.8-9).
38-40: Despair's reply is a sophistic claim that he has only given Terwin justice, and that that is all he offers anyone.
41-7: Despair works on Red Cross Knight.
48-51: Red Cross Knight is moved by Despair to take his own life and is about to do so.
52-3: Una intervenes and prevents Red Cross Knight from acting on his despair.
54: Despair despairs, but isn't able to take his own life.

Canto 10

Her faithfull knight faire Vna brings
     to house of Holinesse,
Where he is taught repentance, and
     the way to heauenly blesse.

Stanzas:

1: Exordium.
2: Una realizes Red Cross Knight is not fit for combat.
3 - 4: The House of Holinesse and its residents are introduced.
5 - 8: Una & Red Cross Knight enter the House of Holinesse and meet Dame Coelia [heavenliness].
9 - 11: Dame Coelia recognizes and welcomes Una.
12 - 14: Fidelia [faith] and Speranza [hope] enter & are introduced.
15: Fidelia and Speranza meet Una & Red Cross Knight.
16: Una asks after Charissa [charity].
17: Coelia has Obedience put Red Cross Knight to bed to rest.
18:Una asks Fidelia to educate Red Cross Knight [in the House of Penance].
19 - 28: Red Cross Knight undergoes confession-like transition at the hands of Fidelia & Speranza, with the help of Amendment, Penance, Remorse, Repentance, & Patience.
29: Red Cross Knight introduced to Charissa.
30 - 1: Charissa described.
32 - 5: Charissa takes over Red Cross Knight's education, and leads him to "an holy hospital" (1.10.35).
36 - 43: Seven Corporal Works of Mercy represented in personification allegory.
44 -9: Charissa leads Red Cross Knight to meet Contemplation.
50 - 61: Contemplation shows Red Cross Knight the way to the New Jerusalem [the City of God; heaven], which is then described, and then Contemplation prophecies Red Cross Knight's role as Saint George [cf. 1.11].
62: Red Cross Knight expresses humility.
63: Red Cross Knight asks to stay, is told he must return to the world to serve Una's purpose.