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
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 2.God is wholly good 3. There is evil in the world
Milton’s Theodicy Divine providence Free will (III )
In medias res In hell with Satan, I. 50 ff –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 I.315 How to proceed: II 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: chs.org/english/gothic/works/satanhero.ht ml
The Topography of Hell Hell as actual place (II. 619) Hell as figurative (à la Faustus) –I. 249ff
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 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 ff.
Book 9 Change in tone—another focus on speaker Disdaining Romance (IX. 30 ff.) Satan the explorer once again 75 ff.
The Seduction of Eve Eve’s suggestion (IX. 205) –She argues that they have reason and can defend themselves –Eden were no Eden thus exposed
The Seduction of Eve Satan spies Eve ff Epic simile Satan almost stops Petrarchan address References to ancient oration Eve’s thoughts ff
Adam’s Fall Eve’s concern she will be replaced Adam’s reaction—goes slack Why does Adam disobey? 9.997
The Fall Lust enters the world (Compare to ) Comparison to Samson Comparison to Indians 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 Punishment in Hell
Adam and Eve Reunited Adam’s despair Eve’s reconciliation Suicide?
Book 12—Christian future Archangel provides view of future View of future kings Christ and Mary Triumph over Death Fortunate Fall Corrupt Church
Adam and Eve leave Eden Paradise Within Compare 1.254
PL as Poem of Empire Satan as explorer God “sovran Planter” Satan adventurer Earth as New World: 2.403, 2.867, 4.34 –4.133, 4.391, ,
PL as Poem of Empire Columbus Montezuma God’s empire Nether empire Divided empire 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….