PL Sections for focus Books 1 and 2 Book 3 (lines 1-343) Books 4 and 5 Books 8 through 10 Book 12 (lines 1-649)
Milton
Milton We know quite a bit about him Marriage Blindness Political involvement
PL and Epic Form What is an epic? How does PL engage with this genre? Who is the “hero” in this epic?
PL and Epic Convention A look at the opening: “no middle flight” Invocation of the Muse In medias res Epic similes Drawing on other earlier works—page 1839
Justify the Ways of God to men Theodicy Questions about the human situation (Danielson) 1. God is all powerful God is wholly good 3. There is evil in the world
Milton’s Theodicy Divine providence Free will (III. 98-111)
In medias res In hell with Satan, I. 50 ff PL’s dramatic roots Describing Satan: I. 192, I. 283 PL’s dramatic roots Satan addresses Beelzebub I. 84 Depicting Satan, his followers and hell Satan, determined never to do good: I. 159 Wants to continue to “offend”: I. 187
The convocation in Hell How to proceed: II.40-42 Moloch (I. 392; II. 50 ff.) Belial (I.490; II. 109) Mammon (I.678; II.229) Beelzebub (II. 299 ff.) The plot against Man (II.345ff.)
Hell and Milton’s Politics Anti-monarchical? Satan as champion of this stance? Satan as hero: http://www.stjohns-chs.org/english/gothic/works/satanhero.html
The Topography of Hell Hell as actual place (II. 619) Hell as figurative (à la Faustus) I. 249ff
Winter quarter class Parzival LTWL 172 TuTh 12:30p - 1:50p
Satan as Explorer Colonial metaphor: II. 629 ff.
Sin and Death Allegory Sin (II.648) Death (II. 667) Unholy Trinity Satan freed from Hell A path to Earth (II. 1024)
Invocation Book III Exploration of poetic authority Autobiographical parallels (III. 22) Parallels between narrator and Satan?
Free Will Free to fall (III. 97ff) What kind of God is this?
Paradise Threatened Satan enters Paradise Important Epic Simile (IV. 180) He sees Adam and Eve (IV. 288) He is jealous (IV. 358)
Eve Milton: Misogynist or friend to women? (Married) sexuality in Paradise (IV. 736) Eve’s account of her creation (IV. 450 ff)
Eve’s Dream (IV. 800 ff) The Faculties How does Eve experience her dream: V. 48ff Is this fair?
Raphael’s Visit More discussion of free will as God sends him to Eden: V. 224ff and V. 525 ff The War in Heaven related by Raphael
Adam’s account of his creation 8. 255 ff He doesn’t quite understand how he comes into being, but assumes a maker (compare to Satan) How does Adam’s account of his creation compare to Eve’s? How does Adam view Eve? (8.546ff)
Raphael’s final warning The importance of reason and free will 8. 633 ff.
Book 9 Change in tone—another focus on speaker Disdaining Romance (IX. 30 ff.) Satan the explorer once again
The grail A shameless plug for LTWL 172
The Seduction of Eve Satan’s descent (IX. 75 ff.) Eve’s suggestion (IX. 205) She argues that they have reason and can defend themselves Eden were no Eden thus exposed 9.322-41
The Seduction of Eve Satan spies Eve 9.421-433 ff Epic simile 9.445 Satan almost stops 9.455 Petrarchan address 9.532 References to ancient oration 9.670 Eve’s thoughts 9. 733 ff
Adam’s Fall Eve’s concern she will be replaced 9.826 Adam’s reaction—goes slack 9.886 Why does Adam disobey? Lanyer, Eve’s Apology, page 1317
The Fall Lust enters the world 9. 1013 (Compare to 4. 736) Comparison to Samson 9.1060 Comparison to Indians 9. 1099 They begin to blame one another
Changes After the Fall A. Adam and Eve divided B. Sin and Death come into the World C. Satan 1. Rejoicing in Hell 10. 418 2. Punishment in Hell 10.500
Adam and Eve Reunited Adam’s despair 10. 725 Eve’s reconciliation 10. 909 Suicide? 10. 1000
Book 12—Christian future Archangel provides view of future View of future kings 12.65 Christ and Mary 12. 375 Triumph over Death 12.420 Fortunate Fall 12. 469 Corrupt Church 12. 502
Adam and Eve leave Eden Paradise Within 12. 586 Compare 1.254
PL as Poem of Empire Satan as explorer 2.440 God “sovran Planter” 4.691 Satan adventurer 10. 440 Earth as New World: 2.403, 2.867, 4.34 4.133, 4.391, 10. 257, 10. 377
PL as Poem of Empire Columbus 9. 1116 Montezuma 11.407 God’s empire 1.114 Nether empire 2.296 Divided empire 4.111 Eve as place/empire
Review question: Themes in PL Theodicy Sin, death, evil Questions of gender Metaphors of exploration//empire Contemporary religious/social issues Poetry, poetic voice, genre….