John Milton is a poet who wrote in the 17th century. It was a time of great upheavel in England, and Milton was in the thick of it. I started this book in January read up to Paradise Lost and put it down again and just lately I read that and the last two poems Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes. I'll review these poems as these are epic works.
Paradise Lost- traces the beginnings of the fall of man in creation. From the moment Satan was cast out of heaven till Adam's expulsion from the garden. I don't know where Milton got all his ideas but it is a very well written poem that manages to capture the tragedy of Adam's sin.
Paradise Regained- Poem about the temptation of Christ in the desert. Connects to Paradise Lost in Jesus' substitution of Adam in being tempted by the Devil. I often wonder about Jesus' unique combination of humanity and divinity and while this poem doesn't solve that it provides some idea of the degree of Satan's challenge.
Samson Agonistes- This poem takes place in the jail after Samson's arrest and betrayal by Delilah and ends with his death and the resulting death of the Philistines and the destruction of Dagon's palace. ( )

I am exceedingly grateful to the media for their interest in Milton's 400th anniversary which, encouraged me to revisit the works of one of England's greatest authors.
I find poetry quite difficult to read: it does not take well to speed reading techniques, as every word is significant but, I am willing to struggle with quality such as this. Paradise Lost is unlike anything else I have ever read and, apparently Milton added more new words to the English language than did Shakespeare! ( )

Milton's father was a scrivener and musical composer with sufficient prosperity to provide academic tutoring for his 'special' intelligent and effeminate son, who studied very hard, and is among the most learned and poly-lingual (8 languages) of the English poets. Traveling in Europe, he met Grotius, Galileo, and many Lords of Church and State, whose tyranny he came to despise.

The poems are not all political, but most. Real eloquence lights up the rough controversial style of the period, in defense of Republican causes (Parliament), and Puritan (Protestant) reforms against High-church Anglicans.

It got personal. After Milton's young bride abandoned him during the Civil War, he published pamphlets favoring legalization of divorce. Hostile responses to the pamphlets spurred Milton to write Areopagitica, his attack on Censorship. Ironically, with the victory of Parliamentarians in the Civil War, Milton was appointed Censor. He drew upon vast learning to compose a defense of the regicide, published as Pro Populo Anglicano Defensio (1652). He was the toast of all of Europe. After Oliver Cromwell made himself Lord Protector, Milton praised him and exhorted him to remain true to the principles of the Revolution. He worked for the Commonwealth until glaucoma resulted in total blindness by 1654, after which he dictated to amanuenses.

In other words, Paradise Lost (1658, quarto edition published 1667), and Paradise Regained (1665) were dictated; Milton was gone blind. He was also interrupted with having to go into 'hiding' after Cromwell's death in 1658 and the collapse into feuding factions. He was arrested and briefly imprisoned . Milton continued publishing jeremiads damning the English people for backsliding from the cause of LIBERTY, his great passion and the lietmotif of his work.

PARADISE LOST. Dilation of the moment that Adam and Eve bit the apple -- Eve having been seduced by Satan, and Adam choosing to join Eve and die in love's fallen embrace, 'to lose thee were to lose myself'. The Magnum Opus, epic poem in heroic blank verse, and like Homer and Vergil, without 'rime'. Reflects Milton's personal despair over the failure of the Revolution, yet affirms human potential. Milton encoded many references to the 'Good Old Cause'. Monism (animist materialism) is reflected in the fact that he has angels eat (5.433) and have sex (8.622). Places the Son of God at the creation--creating a coherency between the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, and encoding Unitarianism against the Trinitarian heresy.

Milton's fervent commitment to republican Liberalism -- of which he is one of the early courageous disciples -- perdures throughout this age of absolute monarchy.

PARADISE REGAINED. No rhymes.

Themes: Strongly held opinions supported by deep learning on Liberty, religious toleration, free elections, and the inviolability of conscience.

SAMSON AGONISTES.

A contemporary star 'Milton scholar' is Stanley Fish, with his HOW MILTON WORKS (2007) and SURPRISED BY SIN (Harvard 1967). 'The energy of Milton's writing comes from the effort to maintain his faith against the allure of plot, narrative, representation, signs, and drama, temptations which in any other aesthetic would be seen as the very essence of poetic value.' ( )

I'm glad I finally read this. I was amazed at how much poetry could come from what is essentially such a short story in the Bible. I respect the depth of Milton's intellect and the sincerity of his beliefs. Perhaps because I was influenced by Professor Savage, I don't feel myself falling prey to the thinking that Satan is the real hero of the poem -- but I certainly empathize with that point of view, as Milton succeeds in making Satan the most sympathetic and psychologically realistic character. No, I think Paradise Lost is more interesting if you reject this reading, and realize that in spite of his sympathetic portrayal, Satan is evil.

Intellectual admiration for Milton's accomplishment aside, what I feel most about Paradise Lost is frustration at the portrayal of women. All of this "weaker vessel" / "source of sin" crap had such a horrible impact on Western civilization. I know the viewpoint didn't start with Paradise Lost, but it was certainly reflected and perpetuated there. Grr. ( )

I listened to Paradise Lost on CD whilst I breastfed my daughter. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Surely there is no greater poem written in English? ( )