English Literature - Forum 1

Michael Peter Yarnold Brown

Introduction.
For the first forum I have chosen one of the greatest English epics by John Milton (1608-1674), whose works would glorify any age and people, and in his work the indomitable revolutionary spirit found its noblest expression. For this reason, this period is also called Age of Milton The main literary form of the period was poetry Milton shared the period with two other groups of poets, the Metaphysical Poets and the Cavalier Poets. The English Revolution was carried out under a religious cloak, so it was also known as the Puritan revolution. The Puritan Movement aimed to make man honest and free. Puritanism was the religious doctrine of the revolutionary bourgeoisie during this period. It preached thrift, sobriety, hard work, but with very little extravagant enjoyment of the fruits of labor. Worldly pleasures were condemned as harmful. So in the triumph of Puritanism under Cromwell, severe laws were passed, many simple pleasures were forbidden and an austere standard of living was forced upon an unwilling people. The London theaters were closed in 1642. John Miltons major works were Paradise Lost (1665), Paradise Regained (1671) and Samson Agonistes (1671) I have chosen what is deemed to be his masterpiece which was written to justify the ways of God to man, to preach submission to the Almighty. But hidden under the surface of the poem, is the main idea of the heroic revolt against God's authority. Plot Paradise Lost is an elaborate retelling of the most important and tragic incident in the book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Genesis narrates the creation of the world and all its inhabitants, including Adam and Eve, the first human beings. Initially, everything was just perfect; God gave Adam and Eve the Garden of Eden to live in, there was no death, no seasons, all the animals were nice, etc. The only thing they were not allowed to do was eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Well, one day the devil disguised himself as a serpent and convinced Eve to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. She in turn convinced Adam to partake. God became very angry with Adam and Eve for disobeying his one rule; as punishment, he banished them from Paradise, instituted death, suffering, pains while giving birth, and a whole lot more. Adam and Eve effectively "lost" Paradise.

Adam and Eve embody Milton's belief in the powers of man. Their craving for knowledge denied them by God, as Milton stresses, adds a particular significance to their character. It is this longing for knowledge that opens up an avenue to an intelligent and active life. Running through the poem are the key political questions of the 17th century of freedom and choice. From the perspective of Satan and his followers, rebellion against God was inevitable. The revolt may have failed, but it has given them their freedom. The final image of the poem is profoundly revolutionary, an image of reward through deficit. As Adam and Eve go out of Eden hand in hand, the loss of Paradise is seen as the reward for the future of humanity on earth. Characters
Satan, Adam and Eve, God the father and God the son.

Setting
The first two books are set in Hell. Milton spends a good amount of time describing Hell's surroundings.

Heaven is the setting of Books 3 and 6; Milton moves from Hell to Heaven right away in order to highlight the contrast between the two. The Garden of Eden is, for the most part, the setting of the rest of the poem. Paradise is exactly what you would expect. Every single sweet-smelling plant and tasty fruit exists there; all the animals get along (lions and tigers appear to be vegetarians because Milton tells us they don't chase other animals); and the weather is always perfect.

Sample from Book 1 Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of 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 inspire That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed In the beginning how the heavens and earth Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed Fast by the oracle of God, I thence Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, That with no middle flight intends to soar Above th' Aonian mount, while it pursues Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, Instruct me, for thou know'st; thou from the first

Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast Abyss, And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark Illumine, what is low raise and support; Book 12 Last paragraph. .. Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast To the subjected plain; then disappeared. They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate With dreadful faces thronged, and fiery arms: Some natural tears they dropt, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.

Finally: The poem is a great saga very long, difficult to grasp if you dont have a good command of English (including a knowledge of the styles and manner of speech in use during the 17th Century.