by Seth Lerer
I selected this audiobook as a supplement to First Son's tenth grade English course. The Mater Amabilis™ beta high school plans recommend Paradise Lost as the second of three epics for English. I tried to read Paradise Lost when I was in college and failed. I was hoping to find something that would help put Milton in context for First Son (and myself) without putting too much strain on our schedule with a bunch of lectures.
This is a reasonably short series of lectures, six hours in total. There are a few that cover Milton in general but most focus on one or more of his works, or part of a work in the case of Paradise Lost. I listened to the whole series without reading any of Milton's works and was able to follow along, though I think it would be better to read the work in question and then listen. Milton is still not my favorite writer, but I think I will be able to grapple better with Paradise Lost after listening to these lectures.
I do think these will be helpful for First Son, so I included some of them in his assignments. I have decided to use the online edition of Paradise Lost found at the Dartmouth College website, The John Milton Reading Room. I appreciate being able to click on words for additional information.
Our schedule takes more than twelve weeks, so we will have to move through The Song of Roland and Idylls of the King a little faster. I have a sense that Paradise Lost might be the most difficult of the three and therefore worth the additional time, but I haven't read any of these three epics so we'll have to see how it goes. Here's what we have scheduled for the second term of epics.
Week 1
1. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 5: Paradise Lost--An Introduction - listen and narrate (Note: we skipped lectures 1-4)
2. Book 1 lines 1-399 - narrate.
Week 2
1. Book 1 lines 400-798 - narrate.
2. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 6: Paradise Lost, Book 1 - listen and narrate
Week 3
1. Book 2 lines 1-527 - narrate.
2. Book 2 lines 528-1055 - narrate.
Week 4
1. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 7: Paradise Lost, Book II - listen and narrate.
2. Book 3 lines 1-371 - narrate.
Week 5
1. Book 3 lines 372-742 - narrate.
2. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 8: Paradise Lost, Book III - listen and narrate
Week 6
1. Book 4 lines 1-504 - narrate.
2. Book 4 lines 505-1015 - narrate.
Week 7
1. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 9: Book IV—Theatrical Milton - listen and narrate
2. Book 5 lines 1-460 - narrate.
Week 8
1. Book 5 lines 461-907 - narrate.
2. Book 6 lines 1-445 - narrate.
Week 9
1. Book 6 lines 446-912 - narrate.
2. Book 7 lines 1-338 - narrate.
Week 10
1. Book 7 lines 339-640 - narrate.
2. Book 8 lines 1-337 - narrate.
Week 11
1. Book 8 lines 338-640 - narrate.
2. Book 9 lines 1-612 - narrate.
Week 12
1. Book 9 lines 613-1189 - narrate.
2. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 10: Book IX—The Fall - listen and narrate
Week 13
1. Book 10 lines 1-590 - narrate.
2. Book 10 lines 591-1104 - narrate.
Week 14
1. Book 11 lines 1-452 - narrate.
2. Book 11 lines 453-901 - narrate.
Week 15
1. Book 12 lines 1-334 - narrate.
2. Book 12 lines 335-649 - narrate.
Week 16
1. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 12: Milton's Living Influence - listen and narrate (Note: we skipped lecture 11)
2. Test on Paradise Lost (not yet written)
I purchased this audiobook. I have received nothing for this post which only shares my honest opinions. I did attend Dartmouth College but had nothing to do with the creation of the website devoted to John Milton. The links to Amazon are affiliate links.
