The Humanism of Milton's Paradise Lost"The great divide in commentary on Paradise Lost is between historical and critical analysis. In his discussion of the poem, David Reid combines both approaches, at once placing it historically in terms of neoclassical humanism, and reflecting on it critically as a late twentieth-century humanist." "As a historian, Reid argues that Paradise Lost shares in the cultural effort of neoclassical humanism, and yet, in its picture of volition, the poem stands apart from it - Milton's understanding of freedom, error and guilt owing more to his Protestant than to his humanist concerns. And as a critic, Reid argues that surprisingly Milton's religious understanding speaks more directly to our humanism than his splendid articulation of neoclassical humanist themes."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
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Page 88
... ( lines 242–3 ) and ' the flowery lap / Of some irriguous valley spread her store ' ( lines 254-5 ) . The form which the opulence takes is variety . This emerges in the composition of the picture of ' the happy rural seat of various view ...
... ( lines 242–3 ) and ' the flowery lap / Of some irriguous valley spread her store ' ( lines 254-5 ) . The form which the opulence takes is variety . This emerges in the composition of the picture of ' the happy rural seat of various view ...
Page 101
... ( lines 79–80 ) . The temptation and seduction of Absalom continually recalls the Fall and indeed Milton's treatment of it . " Achitophel's role is satanic : Dryden calls him ' Hells dire Agent ' ( line 373 ) . His lengthy temptation of ...
... ( lines 79–80 ) . The temptation and seduction of Absalom continually recalls the Fall and indeed Milton's treatment of it . " Achitophel's role is satanic : Dryden calls him ' Hells dire Agent ' ( line 373 ) . His lengthy temptation of ...
Page 148
... ( lines 853-4 ) . The odd theatrical image , with its implications of acting and self - division , conveys how her look has become a pretence . Once she ' with countenance blithe her story told ' ( line 886 ) , the assumed expression ...
... ( lines 853-4 ) . The odd theatrical image , with its implications of acting and self - division , conveys how her look has become a pretence . Once she ' with countenance blithe her story told ' ( line 886 ) , the assumed expression ...
Common terms and phrases
Absalom and Achitophel Adam and Eve Adam's angels Armida Arminian Augustan Bondage Book choice Christian Doctrine Christian humanism concerns corruption creation creaturely culture death despair divine Dryden earth earthly eloquence Empson Erasmus Erasmus's Essays Eve's evil experience Faerie Queene fall fallen feel forbidden knowledge freedom from constraint fruit God's heaven heavenly hell heroic human action human finitude human nature ideal imitation imagination innocence invocation involved Jerusalem Delivered John Dryden judgement light lines literary literature London looks Luther means Middlemarch Milton Milton's treatment mind moral ideas motions neoclassical epic neoclassical humanism neoclassical humanist Paradise Lost Petrarch philosophy poem poet poetry prohibition Raphael rational reason religious Renaissance Renaissance humanism Renaissance humanists rhetorical Rinaldo Satan scheme scholastic scholasticism schoolmen seems sense serpent shows sort soul speaks spirit suggests talk Tasso temperance theology thought turns understanding unfallen universal Valla virtues and vices volition