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Lecture 7

John Milton

Paradise Lost

Miltons Sonnets

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Part One John Milton

1.1.John Miltons Lifeborn in London in 1608: His father, a scrivener, was a Puritan and a

lover of music and literature.

Old Milton, very early recognizing his sons exceptional abilities,

encouraged them by private tutoring in Italian, French, music and other

subjects as well as by a day school education. Thus Milton blossomed inthe atmosphere of a home full of music and respect for learning. Then he

was sent to Christs College, Cambridge, where he acquired a good

knowledge of Latin. He defined the true aim of knowledge as making the

spirit of man reach out far and wide until it fills the whole world and the

space far beyond with the expansion of its divine greatness. Milton received his Masters degree in 1632. After leaving Cambridge he

retired to his fathers country house at Horton and devoted himself for six

years to private study, roaming over the wide fields of classical Hebrew,

Italian and English literatures, and studying science, theology and music.

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1.2. Miltons Early Poems

While in Cambridge, Milton wrote his first important work, On

the Morning of Christs Nativity. LAllegro" and II Penseroso," the

twin lyrical poems were probably written during his years at Horton.They describe respectively the cheerful social mood and the

meditative solitary mood of the poet, and their ease and lightness

make them today perhaps the most generally read of his poems.

Then. at the request of a friend, a musician of his time, Milton wrote"

Comus," a masque in blank verse, to be set to music and performed.

In 1637, Edward King, a young minister, who had been a

classmate of Miltons at college and had shared his ambition to write

poetry, was drowned at sea. The college decided to publish a

memorial volume and Milton was asked to contribute. His reply was"Lycidas, an elegy. Expressing the pathos of his friends premature

death, Milton took the occasion to attack " the corrupt clergy of the

time and prophesy their ruin.

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1.3. Areopagitica

During the stirring years of the civil war, Milton had

not, of course, confined his interests or activities to thediscussions of divorce. In 1644 the Presbyterians inParliament had re-established the censorship of booksbefore publication. This filled Milton with a noble rage.He wrote and published his best-known prose work, "

Areopagitica", in the form of a speech addressed to theHouses of Parliament, in which he appealed for thefreedom of the press. Throw open all the doors; let therebe light; let every man think and bring his thoughts to

the light; dread not any diversities of opinion. ---This isthe gist of his pamphlet. In defending the freedom of thepress, Milton was fighting for a further development ofthe bourgeois revolution.

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1.4. Second Defence of the Eng l ish People

After the establishment of the Commonwealth, Milton

became Latin Secretary to the Council of Foreign Affairs.It was his business to translate English despatches into

Latin and foreign despatches into English. He also wrote

a number of pamphlets defending the English revolution.

Most well-known is his controversy with the European

scholar Salmasius on the execution. Second Defence

of th e Engl ish Peop le.

His "Second Defence" was published in 1654. In it Milton

further testifies to his loyalty to the revolution, gives an

outspoken warning to Cromwell on the danger of

personal dictatorship and appeals to him for the

preservation of Englands liberty.

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1.5. Miltons major Works

On the Morning of Christs Nativity, Comus,Lycidas, Il Penseroso, and LAllegro. Through thesepoems, Milton honed his skills at writing narrative,dramatic, elegiac, philosophical, and lyrical poetry. Hehad built a firm poetic foundation through his intensestudy of languages, philosophy, and politics, and fused itwith his uncanny sense of tone and diction.

Even in these early poems, Miltons literary output wasguided by his faith in God. Milton believed that all poetryserved a social, philosophical, and religious purpose. He

thought that poetry should glorify God, promote religiousvalues, enlighten readers, and help people to becomebetter Christians.

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Paradise Lost

Paradise Regained

Samson Agonistes

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Part Two Paradise Los t

2.1. Brief Introduction:

" Paradise Lost" is Miltons masterpiece. It is a long epic in 12 books, written in blank

verse.

The stories were taken from the Old Testament:the creation; the rebellion in Heaven of Satan

and his fellow-angels; their defeat and expulsion

from Heaven; the creation of the earth and of

Adam and Eve; the fallen angels in hell plottingagainst God; Satans temptation of Eve; and the

departure of Adam and Eve from Eden.

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2.2. The Story:

The epic opens with the description of a meeting among the fallenangels. Led by the freedom-loving Satan, the rebellious angels roseagainst God himself, but in the battle they were finally defeated. Satan

and his followers are banished from Heaven and driven into hell. Buteven here in hell, amidst flames and poisonous fumes, Satan and hisadherents are not discouraged. Satans proud spirit is not subdued; hefearlessly withstands all agonies and passionately strives for victory.

Satan chooses for his battlefield the most perfect of spots evercreated by God-the Garden of Eden, where live the first man and woman,

Adam and Eve, provided they do not eat the fruit that grows on the Treeof the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan desires to tear them awayfrom the influence of God and make them tools in his struggle againstGods authority.

God learns of his intention, however, and sends the Archangel

Raphael to warn Adam and Eve of Satans plan. No sooner is Raphaelgone than Satan assumes the shape of a serpent and appears beforeEve. He persuades her to break Gods command. Eve eats an applefrom the forbidden tree and plucks another one for Adam. Adam and Eve,husband and wife, are both deprived of immortality, exiled fromParadise and doomed to an earthly life full of hardship and sufferings.

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2.3. Theme and Characterization:

the main idea of the poem is a revolt against Gods authority.

In the poem God is no better than a selfish despot, seated upon a

throne with a chorus of angels about him eternally singing his praises.

He is cruel and unjust in his struggle against Satan HIS Archangel is a

bore. His angels are silly. While the rebel Satan who rose against God

and, though defeated, still sought for revenge, is the most striking

character in the poem.

Adam and Eve embody Miltons belief in the powers of man. Their

craving for knowledge, adds a particular significance to their

characters.

Satan and his followers, who freely discuss all issues in council, bear

close resemblance to a republican Parliament. This alone, is sufficientto prove that Miltons revolutionary feelings made him forsake

religious orthodoxy.

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2.4. The Image of Satan:

Satan is the real hero of the poem. Like a conquered

and banished giant, he remains obeyed and admired,by those who follow him down to hell. He is firmer than

the rest of the angels. Though defeated, he prevails,

since he has won from God the third part of his angels,

and almost all the sons of Adam. Though wounded, hetriumphs, for the thunder which hit upon his head left

his heart invincible:

Satan is the spirit questioning the authority of God.

When he gets to the Garden of Eden, he can see noreason why Adam and Eve should not taste the fruit of

the Tree of Knowledge.

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2.5. Miltons Style

Milton is a great stylist. He is famous for his grand style,

which is the result of his life-long classical and biblicalstudy. It is art attained by definite and conscientious

rhetorical devices. For example, he likes to use

Latinisms and proper names of resonance and colour to

create an elevated and dignified effect. Milton has always been admired for his sublimity of

thought and majesty of expression. But, in order to

appreciate Milton, it is necessary to know the English

language thoroughly and with a close intimacy.

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2.6. Excerpt ofParadise Los t

Nine times the Space that measures Day and Night

To mortal men, he with his horrid crew

Lay vanquisht, rolling in the fiery GulfeConfounded though immortal: But his doom

Reserv'd him to more wrath; for now the thought

Both of lost happiness and lasting pain

Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes

That witness'd huge affliction and dismayMixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate:

At once as far as Angels kenn, he views

The dismal Situation waste and wilde,

A Dungeon horrible, on all sides round

As one great Furnace flam'd, yet from those flamesNo light, but rather darkness visible

Serv'd only to discover sights of woe,

Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace

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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 unconsum'd:Such place Eternal Justice had prepar'd

For those rebellious, here their Prison ordain'd

In utter darkness, and their portion set

As far remov'd from God and light of Heav'nAs from the Center thrice to th' utmost Pole.

O how unlike the place from whence they fell!

There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelm'd

With Floods and Whirlwinds of tempestuous fire,He soon discerns, and weltring by his side

One next himself in power, and next in crime,

Long after known in PALESTINE, and nam'd

BEELZEBUB. To whom th' Arch-Enemy,

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And thence in Heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words

Breaking the horrid silence thus began.

If thou beest he; But O how fall'n! how chang'd

From him, who in the happy Realms of LightCloth'd with transcendent brightness didst outshine

Myriads though bright! If he whom mutual league,

United thoughts and counsels, equal hope,

And hazard in the Glorious Enterprize,Joynd with me once, now misery hath joynd

In equal ruin: into what Pit thou seest

From what highth fal'n, so much the stronger provd

He with his Thunder: and till then who knew

The force of those dire Arms? yet not for those

Nor what the Potent Victor in his rage

Can else inflict, do I repent, or change,

Though chang'd in outward lustre; that fixt mind

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And high disdain, from sence of injur'd merit,That with the mightiest rais'd me to contend,

And to the fierce contention brought alongInnumerable force of Spirits arm'dThat durst dislike his reign, and me preferring,His utmost power with adverse power oppos'dIn dubious Battle on the Plains of Heav'n,

And shook his throne. 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 mightExtort from me. To bow and sue for grace

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With suppliant knee, and deifie his power

Who from the terrour of this Arm so late

Doubted his Empire, that were low indeed,

That were an ignominy and shame beneath

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 advanc't,

We may with more successful hope resolve

To wage by force or guile eternal Warr

Irreconcileable, to our grand Foe,

Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy

Sole reigning holds the Tyranny of Heav'n.

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2.7. Understanding Milton begins his epic poem Paradise Lost with an invocation to a muse.

He does this for two reasons: he believes the muse will help him write,

and invoking a muse is a convention of epic poems such as Homer'sIliadand Virgil'sAeneid. He wants the muse to sing about man's firstdisobedience.

Milton explains that his goal in the poem involves justifying the ways ofGod to men. He explains that God threw rebel angels out of heaven intohell, a scene which will be discussed in detail later on in the poem. Thepoem's action shifts to hell, where Satan and his confidante Beelzebubhave just been thrown. Lying in a fiery lake, Satan and Beelzebubdebate whether they should try to get revenge on God by force or guile.Beelzebub feels that God cannot be overcome, but Satan is confidentthat he can defeat God. Satan tells Beelzebub that "the mind is its ownplace, and in itself can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n." Book 1,lines 254-5

Satan God's adversary. Once one of the highest-ranking Archangels in heaven

(known as 'Lucifer' there), Satan's pride and rebellion cause him to bethrown down into hell, where he rules and establishes Pandemonium.He eventually destroys Paradise by assuming the shape of a serpentand tricking Eve into eating from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. He is

the father of Sin and Death.

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2.8. Characters

Satan - Head of the rebellious angels who have just

fallen from Heaven. As the poems antagonist, Satan isthe originator of sinthe first to be ungrateful for Godthe Fathers blessings. He embarks on a mission toEarth that eventually leads to the fall of Adam and Eve,but also worsens his eternal punishment. His character

changes throughout the poem. Satan often appears tospeak rationally and persuasively, but later in the poemwe see the inconsistency and irrationality of his thoughts.He can assume any form, adopting both glorious andhumble shapes.

Adam - The first human, the father of our race, and,along with his wife Eve, the caretaker of the Garden ofEden. Adam is grateful and obedient to God, but fallsfrom grace when Eve convinces him to join her in the sinof eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

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Eve - The first woman and the mother of mankind. Eve was made

from a rib taken from Adams side. Because she was made from

Adam and for Adam, she is subservient to him. She is also weaker

than Adam, so Satan focuses his powers of temptation on her. Hesucceeds in getting her to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree despite

Gods command.

God the Father - One part of the Christian Trinity. God the Father

creates the world by means of God the Son, creating Adam and Eve

last. He foresees the fall of mankind through them. He does not

prevent their fall, in order to preserve their free will, but he does

allow his Son to atone for their sins.

God the Son - Jesus Christ, the second part of the Trinity. He

delivers the fatal blow to Satans forces, sending them down into

Hell, before the creation of Earth. When the fall of man is predicted,

He offers himself as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of mankind, so

that God the Father can be both just and merciful.

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Devils, Inhabiting Hell

Beelzebub - Satans second-in-command. Beelzebub discusses with

Satan their options after being cast into Hell, and at the debate suggests

that they investigate the newly created Earth. He and Satan embody

perverted reason, since they are both eloquent and rational but use theirtalents for wholly corrupt ends.

Belial - One of the principal devils in Hell. Belial argues against further

war with Heaven, but he does so because he is an embodiment of sloth

and inactivity, not for any good reason. His eloquence and learning is

great, and he is able to persuade many of the devils with his faultyreasoning.

Mammon - A devil known in the Bible as the epitome of wealth.

Mammon always walks hunched over, as if he is searching the ground

for valuables. In the debate among the devils, he argues against war,

seeing no profit to be gained from it. He believes Hell can be improvedby mining the gems and minerals they find there.

Mulciber - The devil who builds Pandemonium, Satans palace in Hell.

Mulcibers character is based on a Greek mythological figure known for

being a poor architect, but in Miltons poem he is one of the most

productive and skilled devils in Hell.

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Moloch - A rash, irrational, and murderous devil. Moloch

argues in Pandemonium that the devils should engage in

another full war against God and his servant angels. Sin - Satans daughter, who sprang full-formed from

Satans head when he was still in Heaven. Sin has the

shape of a woman above the waist, that of a serpent

below, and her middle is ringed about with Hell Hounds,who periodically burrow into her womb and gnaw her

entrails. She guards the gates of Hell.

Death - Satans son by his daughter, Sin. Death in turn

rapes his mother, begetting the mass of beasts thattorment her lower half. The relations between Death, Sin,

and Satan mimic horribly those of the Holy Trinity.

A l I h biti H d E th

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Angels, Inhabiting Heaven and Earth

Gabriel - One of the archangels of Heaven, who acts as a guard at the

Garden of Eden. Gabriel confronts Satan after his angels find Satan

whispering to Eve in the Garden.

Raphael - One of the archangels in Heaven, who acts as one of Godsmessengers. Raphael informs Adam of Satans plot to seduce them into

sin, and also narrates the story of the fallen angels, as well as the fall of

Satan.

Uriel - An angel who guards the planet earth. Uriel is the angel whom

Satan tricks when he is disguised as a cherub. Uriel, as a good angeland guardian, tries to correct his error by making the other angels aware

of Satans presence.

Abdiel - An angel who at first considers joining Satan in rebellion but

argues against Satan and the rebel angels and returns to God. His

character demonstrates the power of repentance. Michael - The chief of the archangels, Michael leads the angelic forces

against Satan and his followers in the battle in Heaven, before the Son

provides the decisive advantage. Michael also stands guard at the Gate

of Heaven, and narrates the future of the world to Adam in Books XI and

XII.

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Part Three

Miltons Sonnets

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3.1. On his Blindness

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide And that one talent which is death to hide,

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he returning chide;

Doth God exact day-labor, light denied? I fondly ask; but Patience to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need

Either mans work or his own gifts; who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state Is kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed

And post oer land ocean without rest

They also serve who only stand and wait.

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3.1.1. Notes

1....light is spent: This clause presents a double meaning: (a) how I

spend my days, (b) how it is that my sight is used up.

2....Ere half my days: Before half my life is over. Milton wascompletely blind by 1652, the year he turned 44.

3....talent: See Line 3: Key to the Meaning.

4....useless: Unused.

5....therewith: By that means, by that talent; with it

6....account: Record of accomplishment; worth

7....exact: Demand, require

8....fondly: Foolishly, unwisely

9....Patience: Milton personifies patience, capitalizing it and having it

speak. 10..God . . . gifts: God is sufficient unto Himself. He requires nothing

outside of Himself to exist and be happy.

11. yoke: Burden, workload.

12. post: Travel.

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3.1.2. Analysis

"On His Blindness" is a Petrarchan sonnet,

a lyric poem with fourteen lines. This typeof sonnet, popularized by the Italian priestPetrarch (1304-1374), has a rhymescheme of ABBA, ABBA, CDE, and CDE.John Milton wrote the poem in 1655.

Theme

God judges humans on whether they labor

for Him to the best of their ability. For, asMilton says in the last line of the poem,"they also serve who only stand and wait."

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Lines 3-6: Key to the Meaning

Lines 3 to 6 of the poem allude to the "Parable of the Talents" in

Chapter 25 of the Gospel of Matthew, verses 14 to 30. In this

famous parable, an employer who is going away for a time gives histhree servants money in proportion to their ability to increase its

value. He distributes the money in talents, a unit of weight used in

ancient times to establish the value of gold, silver, or any other

medium used as money. Thus, a Roman might pay ten talents of

gold for military supplies or seven talents of silver for a quantity of

food. In the "Parable of the Talents," the employer gives the firstservant five talents of silver, the second servant two talents, and the

third servant one talent. After the employer returns from the trip and

asks for an accounting, the first servant reports that he doubled his

talents to ten and the second that he doubled his to four. Both men

receive promotions. The third servant then reports that he still hasonly one talent, for he did nothing to increase its value. Instead, he

buried it. The employer denounces him for his laziness, gives his

talent to the man with ten, and casts him outside into the darkness.

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Meter

All the lines in the poem are in iambic pentameter. In this

metric pattern, a line has five pairs of unstressed andstressed syllables, for a total of ten syllables. The firsttwo lines of the poem illustrate this pattern:

1...........2........... 3............4............5

When I | con SID | er HOW.| my LIFE | is SPENT

1................2............ 3...............4....................4 Ere HALF | my DAYS | in THIS | dark WORLD.| and

WIDE

Background

John Milton's eyesight began to fail in 1644. By 1652, hewas totally blind. Oddly, he wrote his greatest works,Paradise Lostand Paradise Regained, after he becameblind. Many scholars rank Milton as second only toShakespeare in poetic ability.

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Examples of Figures of Speech

Alliteration: my days in this dark world andwide (line 2)

Metaphor: though my soul more bent / Toserve therewith my Maker (lines 3-4). The

author compares his soul to his mind. Personification/Metaphor: But Patience, to

prevent / That murmur, soon replies . . .

(lines 8-9). Paradox: They also serve who only standand wait.

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Origin of the Sonnet Form

.......The sonnet form originated in Sicily in the thirteenth Century

with Giacomo da Lentino (1188-1240), a lawyer. The poetic

traditions of the Provenal region of France apparently influencedhim, but he wrote his poems in the Sicilian dialect of Italian. Some

authorities credit another Italian, Guittone d'Arezzo (1230-1294),

with originating the sonnet. The English word "sonnet" comes from

the Italian word "sonetto," meaning "little song." Some early sonnets

were set to music, with accompaniment provided by a lute.

.......The Italian poet Petrarch (1304-1374), a Roman Catholic priest,

popularized the sonnet form. Other popular Italian sonneteers were

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), Italy's most famous and most

accomplished writer, and Guido Cavalcante (1255-1300).

.......Petrarch's sonnets each consist of an eight-line stanza (octave)and a six-line stanza (sestet). The first stanza presents a theme, and

the second stanza develops it. The rhyme scheme is as follows: (1)

first stanza (octave): ABBA, ABBA; (2) second stanza (sestet): CDE,

CDE (or CDC, CDC; or CDE, DCE). Sonnets written in this format

by later poets came to be known as Petrarchan sonnets.

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The sonnet form was introduced in England by Sir Thomas Wyatt

(1503-1542) and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517-1547). They

translated Italian sonnets into English and wrote sonnets of their

own. Surrey introduced blank verse into the English language in histranslation of the Aeneid of Vergil. Wyatt and Surrey sometimes

replaced Petrarch's scheme of an eight-line stanza and a six-line

stanza with three four-line stanzas and a two-line conclusion known

as a couplet. Shakespeare adopted the latter scheme in his sonnets,

and this form came to be known as the Shakespearean sonnet.

.......Besides Shakespeare, well known English sonneteers in the

late 1500's included Sir Philip Sydney, Samuel Daniel, and Michael

Drayton.

.......In Italy, England, and elsewhere between the thirteenth andearly sixteenth Centuries, the most common theme of sonnets was

love. Sonnets in later times also focused on religion, politics, and

other concerns of the reading public.

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3.1.3

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3.2. On His Deceased Wife

Methought I saw my late espoused saint

Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave, Whom Joves great son to her glad husband gave,

Rescued from death by force though pale and faint.

Mine, as whom washed from spot of childbed taint,

Purification in the old law did save,

And such, as yet once more I trust to have

Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint,

Came vested all in white, pure as her mind.

Her face was veiled, yet to my fancied sight,

Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined

So dear, as in no face with more delight.

But O, as to embrace me she inclined,

I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night.

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3.2.1. Notes

1 This sonnet was written about the year 1656,on the death of his second wife, Catharine, the

daughter of Captain Woodcock of Hackney. She

died in child-bed of a daughter, within a year

after their marriage. Milton had now been sometime totally blind.

2 'Alcestis:' see Euripides.

3 'Great son:' Hercules. 'Glad husband:' Admetus.

5 'Veil'd:' so was Alcestis.

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3.2.2. Analysis

In this poem it seems that John Milton

visits his deceased wife in a dream. In the

last line "I waked, she fled, and day

brought back my night" he is saying that

as he woke from his sleep it was literallyday outside but it was dark to him

resembling grief and sadness in his world

from the loss of his lover.

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3.2.3.

-