Marathon Reading of Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene

In this three-day, the world’s first of its kind, we will jointly read Edmund Spenser’s epic poem The Faerie Queene (1590/1596) and embark on a wild ride through a world of knights, dragons and magical creatures.

"We will thereby return poetry to its origins of being recited and enjoyed communally," says Associate Professor Johannes Riquet.

The event will begin with a mini-conference on Friday afternoon, with lectures by Dr Antonina Bevan Zlatar (Zurich), a renowned early modernist, as well as Johannes Riquet, University Lecturer Kevin McGinley and University Lecturer Mark Kaunisto (Tampere University).

These lectures will introduce you to the literary, cultural and linguistic contexts of Spenser’s work. The reading will begin on Friday evening and end on Sunday evening.

Conference programme (26 April, Pinni B 1096)

14.00-15.15
Dr. Antonina Bevan Zlatar (Zurich): Gloriana and the Dragon-slayer
15.30-17.30
Johannes Riquet: Replete with magick artes: Witchcraft, Magic and the Reader in Spenser's The Faerie Queene
Kevin McGinley: Spenser’s Monsters
Mark Kaunisto: How Archaicke was Spenser’s Language? Examining the OED and Diachronic Corpora

Marathon reading of The Faerie Queene (26-28 April, Pinni B1029-30):

Friday: 18-24
Saturday: 9-24
Sunday: 10-24

Participants should bring a copy of The Faerie Queene to the reading. Recommended edition: Penguin Classics.

Contact:
Associate Professor Johannes Riquet, 050 437 7060, Johannes.Riquet [at] tuni.fi