 |
 |
Slightly improved version, which please use hereafter: Symmetrical Mutations and Inversions of the Typography behind Spenser’s Variably Transparent Allegorical Veils, 1579-1599 In 1579 the new poet begins with his Skeltonic persona Colin Clout as an English rustic in a pastoral landscape that includes an identifiable Cambridge don. His London publisher-bookseller is identified as “dwelling in Creed Lane neer unto Ludgate at the syne of the golden Tunne.” This specificity is one pole of our topic; neverland, or otherland, so speak, is the other. The first installment of the poet’s romance epic, published in 1590, takes place in fairyland, its long-term hero being an Saxon Englishman, Prince Arthur, who has been educated by one Timon, it would seem in Merlin’s England, before his being exported — as a kind of landed emigrant or privileged visitor or colonist pro tem — into fairyland: via a dream that has caused him to seek the fairy queen across the various reaches of her territory. There is an allusion in Book III to Drake in Costa Rica, and in Book II to the Spanish in Peru, the English in Virginia, and a kind of garrison beset by the natives in America. In 1595 Colin Clout reappears in the autobiographical poem bearing his name; Colin is now a dweller in the poet’s home in Ireland, the home from which he voyages to England for an interview with the English queen, identified as Cynthia, and from whose court he returns to Ireland: Colonist Clout, but the topographic ratio between Ireland and England, or Arcadia and Britain, has been decisively inverted. In 1596 the poet publishes the second installment of his heroic poem, in which there is a major scene located as/at the confluence of the Thames and Medway and a late reference the Prince of Pictland (Scotland) — and palpable allusions to Mary Stuart's trial in England, which Arthur visits, and Lord Grey's commission in Ireland, which Artegall pacifies. The Indians in Book II's North America have been replaced by the kerns in Book V's Ireland. Colin Clout reappears recognizably — “who knowes not Colin Clout?” — and likewise terminally, this time on a mountain with an Arcadian name from ancient Greece. But the installment ends with all the famous Arthurian knights “borne in Britaine land” receding into the legendary tales “of yore.” Britain land has replaced fairyland. Sometime before 1599 Spenser writes the Mutabilitie Cantos piece, its primary local scene now being Arlo Hill — “who knowes not Arlo hill?” —Or that “Cynthus hill,” from which this epyllion’s local Cynthia takes her name? The English queen never visited her lands in Ireland; but here her cognomen never returns to them. The local Irish story is found in the records of fairyland, but again, the topographic ratio, here between Gloriana’s territory in fairyland and Cynthia’s in Ireland, has been decisively inverted. FIN On Tue, 9 Sep 2014 11:05:46 +0000 "Herron, Thomas" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Dear Colleagues, > > A reminder that abstracts for the International Spenser >Society conference in Dublin Castle are due in >approximately one week, by September 15. > > Please submit individual abstracts through the >conference website, www.Spenser2015.com > > The form is set up for individual abstracts. You can >submit an abstract for a regular paper or for a "poster", >which is for posterboard-style presentations that will >stand unaccompanied in the conference lobby during the >duration of the conference (these "poster" set-ups can >include secured laptops and/or other digital equipment of >your choice, at your own expense/risk; these are for >presenting digital projects). If you have a particular >panel that you are organizing and/or would like to be on, >please indicate that at the top or bottom of your >abstract (including panel organizer name, if known). > Please make sure also that you give your institutional >affiliation. > > If you have trouble with the process, please e-mail >either Jane Grogan or Thomas Herron and we will do our >best to help you. > > Highlights of the conference include: > > 1) three plenaries and various "focus" panels > 2) open receptions on Thursday and Friday nights (June >18 and 19) and an optional conference dinner on Friday >night in Smock Alley Theatre, downtown Dublin > 3) "masterclass" in Irish poetry, taught by Dr. Marc >Caball in the Royal Irish Academy on Thursday afternoon > 4) optional choral concert on Saturday evening >(tentatively scheduled) > 5) tour of the medieval undercroft of Dublin Castle > 6) optional day tour of Kilcolman and other >Spenser-related sites on Sunday, June 21 > > Conference dues (without optional dinner, concert and >tours) are estimated to be between 120-140 euros. > >For conferees arriving early, please note that Bloomsday >and all of its associated festivities occurs on June 16, >and that optional accompanied tours of local sites (such >as Maynooth, Rathfarnham and/or Drimnagh Castles... >Drimnagh was a setting for "The Tudors") may be organized >on the Wednesday, June 17, depending on interest. > > We look forward to seeing you. > > Sincerely, the Organizing Committee > > Jane Grogan (UCD) > Andrew King (UCC) > Thomas Herron (ECU) [log in to unmask] James Nohrnberg Dept. of English, Bryan Hall 219 Univ. of Virginia P.O Box 400121 Charlottesville, VA 22904-4121