I have no idea how representative I am in this, but I find it harder to
memorize narrative poetry than poetry that is descriptive, analytical, or
aphoristic. Of course there are plenty of all four kinds in Spenser, but
broadly FQ is a narrative poem: the fights, in particular, tend to blend
together in memory, so that I don't think I could confidently quote two
lines together of any of them.
Perhaps this is wholly idiosyncratic on my part: weren't Victorian
schoolchildren brought up to memorize the Lays of Ancient Rome, after all?
To say nothing of the Idylls of the King? But I mention it for what it's
worth...
Charlie
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