<P> The poem also displays Spenser's thorough familiarity with literary history . The world of The Faerie Queene is based on English Arthurian legend, but much of the language, spirit, and style of the piece draw more on Italian epic, particularly Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso and Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered . Book V of The Faerie Queene, the Book of Justice, is Spenser's most direct discussion of political theory . In it, Spenser attempts to tackle the problem of policy toward Ireland and recreates the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots . </P> <P> Some literary works sacrifice historical context to archetypal myth, reducing poetry to Biblical quests, whereas Spenser reinforces the actuality of his story by adhering to archetypal patterns . Throughout The Faerie Queene, Spenser does not concentrate on a pattern "which transcends time" but "uses such a pattern to focus the meaning of the past on the present". By reflecting on the past, Spenser achieves ways of stressing the importance of Elizabeth's reign . In turn, he does not "convert event into myth" but "myth into event". Within The Faerie Queene, Spenser blurs the distinction between archetypal and historical elements deliberately . For example, Spenser probably does not believe in the complete truth of the British Chronicle, which Arthur reads in the House of Alma . In this instance, the Chronicle serves as a poetical equivalent for factual history . Even so, poetical history of this kind is not myth; rather, it "consists of unique, if partially imaginary, events recorded in chronological order". The same distinction resurfaces in the political allegory of Books I and V. However, the reality to interpreted events becomes more apparent when the events occurred nearer to the time when the poem was written . </P> <P> Throughout The Faerie Queene, Spenser creates "a network of allusions to events, issues, and particular persons in England and Ireland" including Mary, Queen of Scots, the Spanish Armada, the English Reformation, and even the Queen herself . It is also known that James VI of Scotland read the poem, and was very insulted by Duessa--a very negative depiction of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots . The Faerie Queene was then banned in Scotland . This led to a significant decrease in Elizabeth's support for the poem . Within the text, both the Faerie Queene and Belphoebe serve as two of the many personifications of Queen Elizabeth, some of which are "far from complimentary". </P> <P> Though it praises her in some ways, The Faerie Queene questions Elizabeth's ability to rule so effectively because of her gender, and also inscribes the "shortcomings" of her rule . There is a character named Britomart who represents married chastity . This character is told that her destiny is to be an "immortal womb"--to have children . Here, Spenser is referring to Elizabeth's unmarried state and is touching on anxieties of the 1590s about what would happen after her death since the kingdom had no heir . </P>

Which character of spenser represents queen mary of scots