University:
Bradley University
Course:
ENG 127 | British Writers
Academic year:

2022
Views:

116

Pages:

13
Author:

Gudrunecg9m

John Milton’s Paradise Lost Epic Poetry As a Classic Literary Form Examples: Homer recorded first major epic poems: The Iliad and The Odyssey Virgil tells story of Rome’s founding in The Aeneid Dante describes Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory in great detail in The Divine Comedy John Milton gives account of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden in Paradise Lost Why Write It? Wanted to surpass previous epics Deals with great deeds on a cosmic scale Attempts to address the reason for sin and suffering in the world: God is not responsible; Adam and Eve “brought death into the world, and all our woe.” Asserts that God gave us free will, and we are responsible for our choosing of evil Why Write It? Shows the struggle between good and evil (goodness is not goodness without a struggle to overcome evil) Virtue is not virtue unless it is won in the “dust and heat” of the conflict with evil. Though Adam and Eve “lose,” they gain the right to prove themselves. Verse Style Paradise Lost is written in blank verse Unrhymed iambic pentameter Example: Paradise Lost John Milton did not think that his poem had to rhyme, since Classical poetry (e.g. The Iliad) did not You will notice when reading that perfect I.P. does not always occur in Paradise Lost I.P. and Paradise Lost (Text from First 5 Lines of Bk. 1) “ When I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold, In slender Book his vast Design unfold Messiah Crown'd, Gods Reconcil'd Decree, Rebelling Angels, the Forbidden Tree, Heav'n, Hell, Earth, Chaos, All; the Argument;” Notice how there are 10 syllables in each line To read correctly, emphasize every second syllable John Milton Born on Dec. 9, 1609 in London, England Graduates from Cambridge with an M.A. Completely blind by 1652 Paradise Lost published in 10-book form, 1667 Paradise Lost re-published in 12-book form, 1674 Dies, Nov. 1674 John Milton´s Times 1642-1649: English Civil War King/Anglican Clergy vs. Parliament (dominated by Puritans) Protestant Revolution (Death of King Charles I) 1649-1660: No British King 1649-1653: Commonwealth 1653-1658: Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell 1660: Restoration (of King Charles II) Paradise Lost – Leading Up to the Beginning At beginning of poem, war in Heaven has been over for two weeks For nine days, Satan and those who fought God alongside him have been lying in Hell, stunned at the outcome The first character to move is Satan, who begins by speaking to Beelzebub Starts to sort of rally his troops The Characters Only Six major characters Satan, the leader of the fallen angels (now known as devils) Beelzebub, Satan´s closest friend/ally God, God the Father The Son, God the Son; also known as the Messiah, Christ Adam, The first man, living in Paradise Eve, His wife, supposed to be under his control Satan Major Quote: "Better to reign in Hell then serve in Heav'n!" The leader of the angels who were cast from Heaven for eternity His big entrance to the poem are lines 84191. He is the focus of the section we’ll read. Beelzebub Satan’s best friend (“Lord of the Flies,” Prince of Demons) He is talking to Satan about a return to Heaven for more fighting Disappears after Book I God The Father Called the Father because of Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit Ruler of Heaven and Creator of Earth It was he who cast Satan out

Paradise Lost John Milton

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