John Milton (1608-1674)

Key points and difficulties (重点和难点 )

◆ Analyze the image of Satan in Paradise Lost

( 撒旦在 <<失乐园 >>中的人物分析 )

◆ The themes of Paradise Lost

(<<失乐园 >>的主题 )

◆ Interpreting Milton’s sonnet On His

Blindness

(解读弥尔顿的十四行诗 “咏失明” )

I. Biographical Introduction ◆ born into a prosperous family

◆ received good education from his father,

private teacher, studied in St. Paul’s and

Cambridge University

◆ living in the country house and writing

poetry for some years

◆ took part in political activities by writing

public works

◆ in 1652, became totally blind for his heavy

reading and writing

◆ three marriages with Mary Powell,

Katherine Woodcock, Elizabeth Minshull

Works

◆ writing for the revolution—pamphlets

◆ writing poetry

epic : Paradise Lost Paradise Regained

drama: Samson Agonistes

Sonnets (Italian Sonnet)

Sonnet: On His Blindness

Sonnet: On His Deceased Wife

Brief Introduction to Paradise Lost

A great epic poem in blank verse, one of the late works by John Milton, consisting of 12 books.

Considered by many scholars to be one of the greatest poems of the English language, Paradise Lost tells the biblical story of the fall from grace of Adam and Eve. The main characters are God, Lucifer (Satan), Adam and Eve.

Devils (inhabiting hell) and angels

(inhabiting heaven and earth)

Main Plot

• The story is taken from the Old Testament: Satan and other angels rebel against God, but they are defeated and driven from Heaven into Hell. Even amidst the furnace of Hell, Satan is determined to fight back. He assumes the shape of a snake and comes to the Garden of Eden, a paradise where Adam and Eve live. God, after knowing Satan’s plot, sends the Archangel Raphael to warn Adam and Eve. However, Satan still succeeds in seducing Eve to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, which has been totally forbidden by God. As a result, Adam and Eve are exiled by God from the paradise and thereafter live a life full of hardship.

• 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 plotting against God----Satan’s temptation of Eve----and the departure of Adam and Eve from Eden

Excerpt from Book One

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:

That glory never shall his wrath or might

Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace

With suppliant knee, and deify his power

Who from the terror of this arm so late

Characterization and Theme

Old Bible Paradise Lost

God authority Despot, selfish, cruel and unjust

Satan devil Grand hero/to lead an active and fresh life

Adam and Eve obedient rebellious

The Image of Satan

Head of the rebellious angels who have just fallen from Heaven.

As the poem’s antagonist, Satan is the originator of sin—the first to

be ungrateful for God the Father’s blessings.

Satan is depicted as 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 and wounded, he never loses heart in the struggle.

Adam and Eve

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

• Eve -  The first woman and the mother of mankind. Eve was made from a rib taken from Adam’s 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. He succeeds in getting her to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree despite God’s command.

Themes

• The theme of God’s absolute authority• The theme of rebellion against God’s authority• The theme of original sin (the fall of Adam and

Eve)

Significance

• Paradise Lost was actually written after Milton became totally blind. He spent seven years upon this epic poem. The rebellious Satan is the embodiment of the revolutionary Milton. In spite of his blindness, he endeavors to do his utmost.

On His BlindnessWhen 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 man’s 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 o’er land ocean without rest:

They also serve who only stand and wait.”

Questions for Discussion

• 1. If one becomes disabled, for example, being blind, can he do some significant things for the society? Please illustrate your points by giving us an example.

• 2. What kind of mood is revealed in Milton’s On his Blindness? Optimistic or pessimistic?

• 3. Please scan the poem.

On his Blindness

• This sonnet is written in iambic pentameter rhymed in abba abba cde cde, typical of Italian sonnet.

• This poem was made when Milton lost his eyesight. It’s about his meditation over his blindness.

Overall explanation

• Understand “light’

• Light: refers to his blindness and also his inner light (spiritual light and the light of life)

• Talent: monetary exchange.

when talent is used, it can refer to the story of a master giving three servants coins to hold for him. The master rewards the two that spent them wisely and cast into darkness the servant that has buried it. If Milton buries his talent to use at a later date, it might become hidden forever, and no good will come of it.

Actually, his talent of writing poetry is not hidden even after his death.

• Yoke: the will of God

• Patience answers that God does not need man to do work for Him and those obedient to Him bear his mild yoke.

• Patience continues to tell Milton that God is being served by thousands of people and the natural world. It seems like that the existence of the speaker makes no significance.

• “They also serve who only stand and wait”

• Waiting and standing can be its own kind of service. When expressing this, Milton expressed it in a tone of depression and frustration.

Tone and Themes

• tone: slow, unhappy, and despaired• Themes• The theme of limitation• The theme of light• The theme of duty and submission