Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
JOHN MILTON(1608-1674)
“ON HIS BLINDNESS”(1655) ?
When I consider how my light is spent, Ere(1) half my days in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hideLodged with me useless, though my soul more bentTo serve therewith(2) my Maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide(3);“Doth(4) God exact day-labor, light denied?”I fondly ask. But Patience, to preventThat murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need Either man’s work or His own gifts. Who best Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His stateIs kingly: thousands at His bidding speed, And post o’er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait.”1. Before
2. With that3. Reprimand4. Does
love
THREE PERIODS1. The years before the Great
Rebellion
11. The years from the beginning of the Rebellion to the Restoration
111. The years after the restoration
1. The years before the Great Rebellion
December 9, 1608 (London)
Educational influence of his father
St. Paul’s School, private tutors. Christ’s College, Cambridge, 1625 (Charles I) «Lady of Christ’s»
1632, M.A degree Cum Laude
Anglican orders vs. Rebellion against corruption
Cambridge abandoned for joining his father in Horton
Horton solitudeComus (1634)Lycidas (1637)L’allegro and II penseroso (1645)
1635, M.A by OxfordApril, 1637 his mother died.1638, journey Florence, GalileoWar rumors from home, 1639
COMUS (1634)
love
De Doctrina Christiana
Misogynist
polygamy
LYCIDAS (1637)
L’ALLEGRO and 11 PENSEROSO (1645)
11. The years from the beginning of the Rebellion to the Restoration
1641 Of the Reformation Touching Church Discipline in England
1643 He married Marry Powell1649 He became foreign tongues
mister1652 Marry Powell died1653 He became totally blind1656 He married Catherine Woodcock1658 Oliver Cromwell died
Areopagiticia (1644)
Eikonoklastes (1649)
Defensio pro Populo Angelicano (1651)
111. The years after the Restoration
A treatise of Civil Power
1663 He married Elizabeth Minnshell
1667 He wrote Paradise Lost
Paradise Regained (1671)
Samson Agonistes (1671).
Paradise Lost
Book IA brief introduction mentions the fall
of Adam and Eve caused by the serpent.
Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruitOf that forbidden tree whose mortal taste
Brought death into the World, and all our woe,With loss of Eden, till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspireThat shepherd who first taught the chosen seed
In the beginning how the heavens and earthRose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill
Delight thee more, and Siloa’s brook that flowedFast by the oracle of God, I thence
Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song,That with no middle flight intends to soarAbove th’ Aonian mount, while it pursues
Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.
Book I
Book IIA debate is held whether or not to
attempt recovery of heaven.
Book IIIGod sees Satan flying towards this world and foretells the success of
his evil mission to tempt man.
Book IVSatan experiences
dissillusionment, but soon proceeds on his evil errand.
Book VEve relates to Adam a troublesome
dream, and is comforted by him.
Book VIRaphael continues to relate how
Michael was sent to lead the faithful angels into battle against Satan (then called Lucifer) and
his army.
Book VIIRaphael then relates to Adam how
God sent his son to create a new world and new creatures to fill
the place left by the fallen angels.
Book VIIIAdam, desiring to extend the
pleasurable visit with the angel, relates to Raphael what he
remembers of his own creation, his first impressions of the world and its creatures, the Garden of Eden, and his first meeting and
marriage to Eve.
Book IXSatan returns to earth, where he chooses the serpent as his best
disguise.
Book XThe guardian angels return to
heaven, sad for man's failure, and the Son of God descends to earth to judge the sinners.
Book XIGod sends Michael and his band to
expel the sinning pair from Paradise, but first to reveal to Adam future events, resulting
from his sin.
Book XIIMichael continues in prophecy
from the flood by degrees to explain who the Seed of woman shall be, the Savior which was promised, who shall redeem mankind.
