To me, Spenser is among the penultimate "social climbers" among poets.
As far as I know, he wasn't "commissioned" to promote his Queen into the
Heavens in his poetry; rather, he did it on his own, in an attempt to
win courtly favor and recognition, all part of a gambit for achieving
long-term fame (such that he might still be read by somebody 400+ years
after his death).
He succeeded better than many of similar poetic ability, in my view...
Kevin
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imogen marcus wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Was Spenser a social climber? If you think he was, do you think this
> manifested itself in any way in his poetry?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Imogen Marcus
>
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