Re-gendering the monarchy as the queen's three bodies : Spenser's use of the body politic as a metaphor for England's political state and the de-feminization of the English empire in The Faerie Queen, 2017

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Ris

Identifier: b7717404

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate English program. The holdings are primarily bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts degrees.

From the Collection:

Students become eligible to pursue the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree if they have obtained a Master of Arts (M.A.) in English from Monmouth University and demonstrate a proficiency for creative writing through a thesis or equivalent work.

From the Collection:

After completing their 30-credit M.A. in English with a Creative Writing concentration, Monmouth’s M.F.A. students take an additional 18 credits of intensive creative writing study that includes the completion of a book-length Creative Thesis.

From the Collection:

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2017

Creator

Risden, Jenna N. (Jenna Nicole) (1984- ) (Author, Person)
Werner, Courtney (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 42 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Introduction [excerpt]

In literature, government and its structures are often related to the human body. Edmund Spenser uses the body as a metaphor to represent the body politic of the nation of England in The Faerie Queen .... For example, Britomart's virginity is similar to the powerful political position of England during this time period. All of England's borders were secure and Queen Elizabeth I was successful at maintaining a secure and inviolable nation. Adding to the theoretical and critical conversation, I argue that the metaphorical language in The Faerie Queen is the language of the organic body and its relation to the body politic. Spenser uses his female characters as gendered masculine. The text, as a whole and through the analysis of individual instances, shows that Spenser makes a rhetorical argument supporting the monarchy in England through his construction of gender performances and the hermaphroditic nature of his characters.