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SEMINAR No. 1

Literature of the 17th Century

Classicism

John Milton. Paradise Lost

I. Historical and literary background

1. Recall the major historical and political events of the 17th century:

  • the establishment of the Stuart dynasty (1603);

  • Charles I's dissolution of Parliament (1629);

  • the growth of the Puritan movement;

  • the Civil War/the Bourgeois Revolution/ (1642-1648);

  • execution of the king and proclamation of Commonwealth /Republic/ with Cromwell as the leader (1649);

  • Cromwell's death (1658), restoration of the monarchy (1660);

  • the compromise of 1688 (the Glorious Revolution).

2. Comment on the work of such prominent men of the 17"' century as John Locke, Sir Christopher Wren, John Bunyan, Samuel Butler, John Dryden.

II. Theoretical premises

1. Consider the basic features of classicism: imitation of the past models of excellence, concision, elegance, clarity, aiming at combining pleasure with instruction.

2. Recall some writers, poets, dramatists - both English and continental - whose works exemplify classicism.

III. Author discussion – John Milton (1608-1674)

1. Make an overview of Milton's life.

2. Comment on the peculiarities of the three periods of his literary activities.

3. Consider the select list of Milton's works, split them into genre groups. Characterize his early poems, point out the themes of his publicist works and sonnets, analyse the form and subjects of his last works.

SONG ON THE MORNING OF ON MA Y MORNING, 1630

CHRIST'S NATIVITY, 1628 L'ALLEGRO, 1631

THE PASSION, 1628 II PENSEROSO, 1631

CОМUS, 1637 ON HIS BLINDNESSS, 1655

LYCIDAS, 1637 ON THE LATE MASSACRE AREOPAGITICA, 1644 IN PIEDMONT, 1655

ON HIS 23D BIRTHDAY, 1645 PARADISE LOST, 1667

PRO POPULO ANGLICANO PARADISE REGAINED, 1671

DEFENSIO, 1650 SAMSON AGONISTES, 1671 TO THE LORD GENERAL

CROMWELL, 1652

IV Text discussion - Paradise Lost (1667)

I Study the following information on the structure and contents of Paradise Lost, comment on the sources of the poem:

"Paradise Lost" is a vast narrative poem, an epic, modelled on the classic lines of the works of Homer and Virgil, setting forth the story of the fall of man through the first sin of Adam and Eve. Round this central event is woven the tale of the rebellion and fall of the rebel angels, their first fortunes in Hell, Satan's journey thence to Earth and the Garden of Eden, the story of the Creation, the judgment passed by God upon Adam and Eve, the promise of the Redemption, and their expulsion from the Garden. For the central event Milton's authority is, of course, the first chapters of Genesis. For the rest he had to rely, in part on a mass of literary tradition accumulated round central mysterious passages in the Bible, but also very largely on his own powers of invention. The narrative of "Paradise Lost" has itself become a part of our popular tradition, and probably many a man attributes to the Bible itself details that belong only to Milton. “Paradise Lost", therefore, presents a Biblical tale in a Classical guise.

(D.С. Somervell. Milton's "Paradise Lost")

2. Read the chapters from the Bible relevant to the poem:

a) The story of the Creation of Adam and Eve, the Fall and Expulsion.

(Genesis 2, 3)

b) Satan's (Lucifer's) rebellion (Isaiah 14:12-15)

3. Compare the following brief outline of the poem with the succession of events as they are presented in Genesis:

Book I. Satan rises with Beelzebub from the burning lake of hell, whither he has been cast. He rouses his stupefied legions, and calls them to fresh effort against the Almighty, telling them of Earth and its new inhabitants.

Book II. A Council of war in Hell; as a result of which Satan sets forth through Chaos to discover what he may of this new World.

Book III. God, looking down from Heaven, foretells the success of Satan's mission, and the Son offers Himself as a ransom for Man. Meanwhile Satan visits the "outermost orb" of the World (as figured in mediaeval astronomy), and, disguised, enquires his way of the Angel of the Sun; finally he alights on Earth.

Book IV. Satan enters the Garden of Eden, and sees Adam and Eve. Gabriel, the warder of the garden, is warned of Satan's presence, discovers and interviews him. A combat is prevented by a sign from Heaven, and Satan flees.

Book V. Raphael is sent to warn Man of the enemy that threatens him.

Book VI. Raphael describes to Adam and Eve the War in Heaven and the defeat of the rebel Angels.

Book VII. Raphael describes the Creation of the World.

Book VIII. Further conversation: Adam relates to Raphael his own first memories. Raphael departs.

Book IX. Satan returns. The Temptation and Fall of Man.

Book X. God sends his Son to judge Man. Sin and Death leave the gates of Hell, their previous station, and build a bridge across Chaos from Hell to Earth. Satan returns to Hell.

Book XI. God accepts the repentant prayers of Man, but sends Michael to lead them forth from Paradise. Michael shows Adam and Eve in a vision the fortunes of their descendants until the Flood.

Book XII. Michael relates the further fortunes of Man, and reveals the future Redemption of Man by Christ, the Seed of the Woman. Adam and Eve are led forth from the Garden.

4. Read the opening 26 lines of Book I (Excerpt 1) and say whom they are addressed to and what the poet's purpose of writing the poem is. Do these lines resemble a prayer? Substantiate your opinion.

5. Compare the opening lines of the poem with those of Homer's Odyssey (See Supplement) and say what they have in common. What does the similarity suggest?

6. Study other excerpts from the poem and state their themes.

7. Speak on the artistic quality of the poem. Analyse its imagery, the poet's descriptive mastery and his narrative skill.

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