The Poet''s Poet

The size and breadth of the work of Edmund Spenser is such that it has been overlooked in terms of Secondary Level pedagogy. However, his work, in particular his epic Faerie Queene, is an ideal piece of literature to study at this level due to the pedagogical flexibility it possesses. As part of this, Spenser''s work can be viewed as encompassing several of the components that span the length of British Literature, and as a result may be used as a means through which to introduce students to its various periods. Additionally, the structure of Spenser''s work is such that it lends itself very well to the field of interdisciplinary study at the Secondary Level. At the University Level, Spenser''s work also carries the same level of flexibility. In addition to focusing a course on a countless number of themes based solely upon his work, a course may also be developed around the combination of Spenser and another poet, such as John Milton.