Milton: Paradise Lost (Landmarks of World Literature (New))

Offering a stimulating introduction to one of the most influential texts of Western literature, this book highlights Milton's imaginative daring, in considering the heretical dimensions of Paradise Lost and its theology. It situates Milton's great poem in its literary, religious, and political contexts and includes an extremely useful and newly updated guide to further reading. First Edition Hb (1993): 0-521-39303-5 First Edition Pb (1993): 0-521-39899-1 Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Preface and note on abbreviations......Page 11 The chronology of events in Paradise Lost......Page 20 1 “Long choosing, and beginning late”......Page 23 2 Lycidas......Page 29 3 Writing in the English Revolution and the Restoration......Page 33 4 Milton’s blindness......Page 41 5 Milton’s theological heresies......Page 45 6 “Say first what cause”: Paradise Lost and beginnings......Page 51 7 “To raise / That Name”: Paradise Lost and epic ambition......Page 53 8 The voice of the poet......Page 59 9 Answerable styles......Page 68 10 Satan: daring ambition and heroic ideology......Page 77 11 Hell: geographical place and internal state......Page 88 12 God, providence, and free will......Page 94 13 Milton’s Eden......Page 100 14 Adam and Eve and human sexuality......Page 103 15 The material cosmos of Paradise Lost......Page 111 16 War in Heaven......Page 115 17 Creation......Page 122 18 The tragedy of the Fall......Page 125 19 Postlapsarian history and the inner paradise......Page 133 20 Revisions from the Restoration to the Romantics......Page 144 Editions......Page 152 Cultural and historical context......Page 153 Other critical studies......Page 155 Literary after-life......Page 158 This volume offers an accessible and stimulating introduction to one of the most influential texts of western literature. This guide highlights Milton's imaginative daring as he boldly revises the epic tradition, brilliantly elaborates upon Genesis, and shapes his ambitious narrative in order to retell the story of the Fall. The book considers the heretical dimensions of Paradise Lost and its theology, while situating Milton's great poem in its literary, religious, and political contexts. A concluding chapter addresses the influence of Milton's sublime poem as a source of creative inspiration for later writers, from the Restoration to the Romantics. Finally, the volume offers an extremely useful and newly updated guide to further reading, which students will find invaluable. "This volume offers an accessible and stimulating introduction to one of the most influential texts of western literature. This book highlights Milton's imaginative daring and considers the heretical dimensions of Paradise Lost and its theology, while situating Milton's geat poem in its literary, religious, and political contexts. Finally, the volume offers an extremely useful and newly updated guide to further reading, which students and teachers will find invaluable."--Jacket An introduction to the great English epic examines Milton's poem in its historical, theological, and literary context.