Grantorto in The Faerie Queene

Grantorto

Another problematic giant in the Faerie Queene, Grantorto is terrorizing Eirene—whose name suggests both "peace" and the country of Ireland. Grantorto's odd combination of cruel tyranny and rebellious chaos suggests he's an amalgamation of both the threat of Spain to England, which was major issue during Spenser's lifetime, and the rebellions going on in Ireland, who didn't want to be under English rule (still an issue today).