Spenser FQ Bk 1: summary of cantos

In light of Kieran's post regarding the cognitive difficulty posed by long and wandering narratives to first time readers, I'm including for your edification a summary of the cantos from Book 1. It is useful to have an eagle's view to keep track of how the book unfolds; it will also keep you from getting lost in those pleasant woods of error.

The summaries are not terribly elegant, but are simple and fairly concise. Credit goes to an anonymous (and obsessive compulsive?) student at http://www.cc.utah.edu/~mp2434/522fq1.html.


Canto One
RCK, Una (on a Donkey) and the Dwarf are riding through a forest on their way to slay the Dragon (Satan) who has enslaved Una's family. Glorianna has given the RCK this task. It starts to rain so they find shelter in a cave where the half-woman/half-dragon Error lives. The Knight engages the Dragon and with advice from Una, defeats her. After leaving the woods they come across a hermit named Archimago. He gives them lodging. As soon as they are asleep Archimago conjures two spirits, one to steal lusty dreams, and the other to represent Una. The false Una slips into bed with the Knight after he dreams the stolen dream. RCK rebuffs her advances and demands she leave. Archimago then turns the other spirit into a squire so when RCK comes into her room he sees the false Una in bed with the false squire. Judging her as unvirtuous, RCK decides to leave with his Dwarf and without the real Una who has no idea what is going on.

Canto Two
RCK comes across Sansfoy and Duessa, a beautiful maiden. Immediately RCK and Sansfoy attack each other, RCK killing the other and becoming the victor. Duessa tells RCK that her name is Fidessa and that she was held prisoner by Sansfoy. RCK takes her into his protection, Fidessa tells RCK that she's daughter to a king. Later they come across two trees. RCK breaks off some branches to make a crown for Duessa when the tree talks and says his name is Fradubio. He tells that his love, Fraelissa was changed into a tree by a witch (Duessa) disguised as a beautiful maiden. When Fradubio saw the witch in her true form, she turned him into a tree also.
Before RCK can make the connection, Duessa pretends to faint and pull RCK's attention away form the tree. RCK then kisses Duessa many times to reawaken her.

Canto Three
Una wander aimlessly after RCK. She comes across a Lion who becomes her protector after seeing her beauty and truth. Una comes across Abessa and the house of Corcesa. After much reluctance they let her (and the lion) into the house to spend the night. During the middle of the night, Kirkrapine comes into the house and is immediately killed by the Lion. Una cries all night long for her loss of Red Cross. The next morning she comes across Archimago disguised as RCK. They begin traveling when Sansloy finds them. Sansloy thinking Archimago to be the real RCK seeks revenge on him for the death of his brother, Sansfoy. After Sansloy knocks the helmet off RCK, he finds out it is Archimago. The Lion attacks Sansloy, and Sansloy kills and defeats the Lion, taking Una off into the woods and leaving Archimago laying on the ground.

Canto Four
This canto deals with the House of Pride, where Duessa takes the RCK. Much of this canto describes the seven sins and the beasts they sit upon. Sansjoy is there and recognizes the shield of his brother, Sansfoy whom RCK defeated. Sansjoy challenges RCK and Lucifera declares a fight between the two the next morning. Duessa pledges her loyalty to Sansjoy in the middle of the night.

Canto Five The next morning. RCK and Sansjoy fight. Red Cross is about to fall when Duessa pledges her devotion to Sansjoy. RCK believes Duessa is calling this to him and overthrows Sansjoy who dissapears in a mysterious cloud before RCK call kill him. RCK and Sansjoy are both terribly wounded. Red Cross is fixed up with salves and balm and leeches. Meanwhile, Duessa takes Sansjoy down into Hades to get healed. The Dwarf wanders into the dungeon of the house of Pride, sees the prisoners of pride and tells RCK. Together the RCK and the Dwarf decide to leave the House of Pride.

Canto Six: Sansjoy tries to rape Una. Una screams and draws the attention of the local satyrs and nymphs. When Sansjoy sees the coming creatures, he is frightened off. The nature dwellers see Una and begin to worship her as a goddess, taking her into their community. They don't want her to leave, but when Satyrane comes along, he understands her situation and helps to guide her from out of the wilderness. They come across a pilgrim (Archimago in disguise) who tells they he saw RCK defeated in battle with a Sarazin knight who is resting up ahead a little. They come across Sansjoy who does battle with Satyrane. During the melee, Una runs off and is followed by Archimago.

Canto Seven: Duessa follows the RCK and finds him resting by a fountain whose water isn't up to health code standards. This water makes him weak and Duessa tries to take advantage of him. All of a sudden, Orgolio bursts into the area and tries to smash RCK with his club. RCK, being unprepared and weak form the fountain is knocked unconsious from the air of the blow. Duessa pleads with Orgolio not to kill RCK, but to make him his prisoner instead and she will become his mistress. Orgolio then takes the RCK and throws him into the dungeon of his castle. The Dwarf witnesses all of this, picks up RCK's possessions and runs to find Una. After he finds Una and relates his story, they run into Arthur and his squire, Timias. They all share a long discourse and then travel to free Red Cross from the dungeon of Orgolio.Sansjoy tries to rape Una. Una screams and draws the attention of the local satyrs and nymphs. When Sansjoy sees the coming creatures, he is frightened off. The nature dwellers see Una and begin to worship her as a goddess, taking her into their community. They don't want her to leave, but when Satyrane comes along, he understands her situation and helps to guide her from out of the wilderness. They comes across a pilgrim (Archimago in disguise) who tells they he saw RCK defeated in battle with a Sarazin knight who is resting up ahead a little. They come across Sansjoy who does battle with Satyrane. During the melee, Una runs off and is followed by Archimago.

Canto Eight:Arthur and Timias go to the castle of Orgolio. Timias blows a bugle that opens the doors of the castle. Orgolio and Duessa rush out and begin a battle. Timias is almost defeated while Arthur cuts off the arms and legs of Orgolio. Orgolio hits Arthur's shield, unveiling the diamonds underneath and temporarily blinds the giant, the monster, and Duessa. Using this temporary distraction, they are able to defeat Orgolio and and the beast while Duessa is taken hold of by Timias. Arthur and Una get the keys from Ignaro and discover across the RCK very weak and close to death. Then they disrobe Duessa (yummy!).

Canto Nine:Arthur tells of his lineage, then he and RCK exchange gifts. Una, the Dwarf and Red Cross resume their journey to slay the much dreaded Dragon. All of a sudden, Treusian bursts out of the forest with a rope around his neck. He warns that a man named Despair has convinced his friend Terwain to kill himself. He says Despair almost got him too, but he came to his senses at the last second. RCK, wanting to reprimand Despair, travels to his cave whose entrance is littered with dead bodies. RCK meets Despair who convinces Red Cross that he has made too many mistakes and he might as well kill himself before he makes any more. Red Cross starts to plunge a dagger into his heart, but Una slaps it away before he can do this. Una decides that Red Cross is too weak, and takes him to the House of Holiness.

Canto Ten: Our heros three travel to the House of Holiness. Three sisters heal him through repentance. He is then administered many ordeals and treatments to cure his faith and his health. They basically beat the crap out of him in a loving way. RCK learns about forgiveness and repentence. At the end of the canto, he is taken to a mountaintop by Contemplation who shows him the new Jerusalem and tells him that his name is St. George and he is from Saxon Kings.

Canto Eleven: Time to fight the Dragon. While RCK rides off to confront the Dragon, Una hides and prays for him. The first day, RCK attacks and gets a good hit underneath the Dragon's wing. Then he is forced down into the Well-of-Life where he is saturated and emerges the next morning totally refreshed. Day Two: RCK chops off the Dragons tail and claw. . . but is forced back into a marsh. Here he rests under an apple tree while the Dragon retreats. Under this tree, a stream flows, and RCK is soaked all of the next night in it. Una still prays. On the third day, the Dragon makes to swallow the Knight, who then plunges his sword up through his mouth and kills the Dragon.

Canto Twelve: They celebrate. Una and Red Cross are to be married. Then Archimago appears with a note saying that RCK is promised to Duessa. Una stands up for RCK and they realize it is Archimago trying to deceive them once again. Archimago is chained in the dungeon and they celebrate further. They are married, but RCK must return to serve another six years for Glorianna. Una is sad, but understands.