Fairy Land
The enchanted realm ruled by Gloriana in Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene.
“A gentle knight was pricking on the plaine…”
— The Faerie Queene, Book II
Introduction#
Fairy Land is the enchanted kingdom in which the events of Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene take place. Ruled by Gloriana, the Fairy Queen, it is home to knights, enchantresses, monsters, and marvellous adventures. Although presented as a realm of romance and wonder, Fairy Land also functions as an allegory for England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The Realm of Gloriana#
Gloriana presides over Fairy Land from her magnificent court, where she sends her knights on quests that test and demonstrate the virtues. Among her champions are Redcrosse, Sir Guyon, Sir Artegall, and Sir Calidore, while Prince Arthur journeys through the realm in search of the Fairy Queen after beholding her in a dream.
The adventures that unfold throughout Fairy Land form the central narrative of The Faerie Queene.
Legendary History#
Spenser provides Fairy Land with its own legendary history and royal genealogy. According to the poem, its inhabitants descended from Elf, who was created by Prometheus, and a fay from the Gardens of Adonis.
Among its early rulers were Elfin, Elfinan, Elfiline, Elfinell, Elfant, Elfar, and Elfinor, each credited with remarkable deeds, including the founding of cities, the construction of great works, and victories over giants and goblins. This mythical history lends Fairy Land the same sense of antiquity and royal tradition that medieval writers bestowed upon Britain.
Allegorical Significance#
Fairy Land is far more than a magical kingdom. Throughout The Faerie Queene, it serves as an allegorical representation of Elizabethan England, where the moral struggles of Spenser’s knights reflect the religious, political, and ethical concerns of his own age.
By combining Arthurian romance with allegory, Spenser transformed Fairy Land into both a realm of imagination and a vision of the ideal Christian commonwealth.
In the Arthurian Tradition#
Although Fairy Land is Spenser’s own creation, it draws upon many elements of medieval Arthurian romance, including wandering knights, enchanted castles, magical beings, and heroic quests. By making Prince Arthur one of its central heroes, Spenser linked the Arthurian legend with Renaissance ideals of virtue, chivalry, and kingship.
Sources#
The Faerie Queene | Edmund Spenser, 1570-1599
