1. JOHN MILTON 1608-1674

2. JOHN MILTON Regarded as one of the greatest English poets Comparatively small body of work; much of it in Latin Born in a middle class London family Grew up in a highly cultured environment Father was deeply religious and committed to the Protestant cause

3. JOHN MILTON Mastered Greek, Latin, Hebrew and several modern European languages Attended Christ’s College at Cambridge Prepared to be a great poet “God’s Poet” Considered joining the ministry Early works “Lycidas”, “L’Allegro” and “Il Penseroso established him as a gifted poet

4. JOHN MILTON Travelled and studied in Europe, including a visit with Galileo Parliament rebelled against Charles I; Cromwell replaced the monarch; establishing Puritans as the political leaders Returned home and wrote many pamphlets supporting the Puritan cause

5. JOHN MILTON Wrote an essay defending the execution of Charles I Lost his eyesight during the 1650s Monarchy was restored in 1660, and Milton was imprisoned for a time Blind and stripped of most of his property, Milton wrote Paradise Lost in 1667; considered to be the greatest epic of English Language

6. PARADISE LOST Written after his blindness – dictated nearly 11,000 lines of poetry Story of Satan and the demon angels being expelled from heaven into hell and the subsequent battle for humanity – tells the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden War in heaven is Milton’s invention; the rest relies heavily on the Book of Genesis

7. REASON, FREE WILL & PREDESTINATION Humanity can see the difference between right and wrong. With that ability comes the freedom to choose. God knows everything that is, was, and will be. Yet God’s foreknowledge does not mean that people’s choices are determined by God in advance. People have free will.

8. REASON, FREE WILL & PREDESTINATION By affirming free will, Milton broke away from the sternest Puritans of his day. Most Puritans believed that people were predestined to salvation (heaven) or damnation (hell). Milton’s epic finds people responsible for their own actions and fate, thereby granting them dignity.

9. PARADISE LOST England had just gone through a great historical crisis. Puritans had challenged the official Church of England. Led to Civil War, the execution of the king, and the cessation of the monarchy.

10. PARADISE LOST These upheavals shattered the symbolic centers of English life and culture – the Church and the King. Paradise Lost helped the nation find its bearings. Satan represents the destructive forces that had torn through the nation. The fall of Satan symbolically puts rebellious urges into their proper place – hell.

11. PARADISE LOST The fall of Satan symbolically puts rebellious urges into their proper place – hell. Basically, Milton relates that the rebellion of the Puritans and the removal of the monarchy were wrong.

12. PARADISE LOST Perhaps Milton wrote Paradise Lost because he sensed that the nation needed an anchor, a literary work that would once again help define and unite a culture. His explanation of God’s reason for allowing suffering in the world, and the dark, proud figure of the rebel Satan pitted against God in civil war, must have led readers to reflect on England’s own civil war.

13. EPIC CONVENTIONS A long narrative poem about a hero. An opening invocation in which the poet calls for divine aid in telling his story. In media res – a story that begins in the middle of the action. Ornate language, especially extended similes.

14. PARADISE LOST

15. HELL LIMBOURG BROTHERS - BEFORE 1416

16. HELL HIERONYMOUS BOSCH - 1490

17. THE FALLEN ANGELS ENTERING PANDEMONIUM, FROM PARADISE LOST, BOOK 1 JOHN MARTIN - 1841

18. SATAN’S TREASURES JEAN DELVILLE - 1895

19. Question #2 - Lines 28-36 Nor the deep tract of Hell, say first what cause Moved our grand Parents, in that happy state, Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the World besides. Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? The infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile, Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had cast him out from Heaven

20. Question #3A - Lines 59-74 A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames No light; but rather darkness visible Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace And rest can never dwell, hope never comes That comes to all, but torture without end Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. Such place Eternal Justice had prepared For those rebellious; here their prison ordained In utter darkness, and their portion set, As far removed from God and light of Heaven As from the centre thrice to the utmost pole.

21. Question #3B - Lines 94-99 Yet not for those, Nor what the potent Victor in his rage Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, And high disdain from sense of injured merit, That with the Mightiest raised me to contend

22. Question # 4A - Lines 116-124 This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods, And this empyreal substance, cannot fail; Since, through experience of this great event, In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, We may with more successful hope resolve To wage by force or guile eternal war, Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, Who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven."

23. Question #4B - Lines 105-116 What though the field be lost? All is not lost-the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome. That glory never shall his wrath or might Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee, and deify his power Who, from the terror of this arm, so late Doubted his empire-that were low indeed; That were an ignominy and shame beneath This downfall.

24. Question #5A & B - lines 250-255 Where Joy for ever dwells: Hail horrors, hail Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings A mind not to be chang'd by Place or Time. The mind is its own place, and in it self Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n. What matter where, if I be still the same,

25. Question #6 - Lines 256-263 What matter where, if I be still the same, And what I should be, all but less then he Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n.