The Faerie Queene Coming of Age Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Book, canto, stanza

Quote #1

Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde,/ Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remain… Yet armes til that time did [Redcrosse] never wield. (I.i.1)

Even though Redcrosse is wearing armor that has seen a lot of action, he himself hasn't. You might say he has big armor (and shoes) to fill.

Quote #2

But full of fire and greedy hardiment,/ The youthfull knight could not for ought be staide. (I.i.14)

About to foolishly waltz into the cave of Error, we see that Redcrosse still has a lot to learn. The narrator doesn't mince his words here: dude is youthful and foolhardy.

Quote #3

But when strong passion, or weake fleshlinesse/ Would from the right way seeke to draw [Guyon] wide,/ [The Palmer] would through temperance and stedfastnesse,/ Teach him the weake to strengthen, & the stro[n]g suppresse. (II.iv.2)

The Palmer, Guyon's advisor, acts as one of the most explicit representations of education in the poem; he's got Guyon's back.