Paradise Lost
by John Milton
Mater Amabilis™ recommends Paradise Lost for Level 5 Year 2, tenth grade, in the epics portion of English. I read this ahead of First Son on the Dartmouth College John Milton Reading Room website. The website had some helpful explanations of phrases and references. I have a very old copy picked up at a library sale, but First Son and I found it difficult to read. I haven't tried the Penguin one linked here, but I have found other Penguin books well-edited, so it's probably a decent choice if you want a hard copy rather than one online.
I tried to read Paradise Lost when I was in high school and gave up when I got bogged down in all the mythological references and denigrating references to women. After ten years of Mater Amabilis™ reading and enough experience to accept Milton for who he is, I muddled through all the way to the end this time. First Son read it quite happily and enjoyed it, too.
I finished the poem in the midst of a shelter-at-home order when our bishop has stopped all public masses. Though our situation is a little different than Adam's banishment from Eden, Michael's words to Adam as he realizes the drastic change in his situation were profoundly comforting.
Yet doubt not but in Vallie and in PlaineI decided First Son would read just two epics this year: Song of Roland and Paradise Lost. That gave us some extra time in the schedule to include some of the lectures from The Life and Writings of John Milton by Seth Lerer, especially since we finished Song of Roland in only seven or eight weeks.
God is as here, and will be found alike
Present, and of his presence many a signe
Still following thee, still compassing thee round
With goodness and paternal Love, his Face
Express, and of his steps the track Divine.
Book 11, lines 349-354
In my review of the Milton audiobook, I included our anticipated schedule for the year. I ended up splitting the Paradise Lost readings a bit more. Some of them were rather long, and reading them was even harder online than they would have been in a book. The updated line numbers also work better with the Dartmouth site because they match up with the breaks they've formatted into the poem.
Here's our updated schedule (twice a week):
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 1-330 - narrate.
3. Book 1 lines 331-798 - narrate.
4. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 6: Paradise Lost, Book 1 - listen and narrate
5. Book 2 lines 1-283 - narrate.
6. Book 2 lines 284-628 - narrate.
7. Book 2 lines 629-870 - narrate.
8. Book 2 lines 871-1055 - narrate.
9. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 7: Paradise Lost, Book II - listen and narrate.
10. Book 3 lines 1-371 - narrate.
11. Book 3 lines 372-742 - narrate.
12. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 8: Paradise Lost, Book III - listen and narrate.
13. Book 4 lines 1-357 - narrate.
14. Book 4 lines 358-719 - narrate.
15. Book 4 lines 720-1015 - narrate.
17. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 9: Book IV—Theatrical Milton - listen and narrate
18. Book 5 lines 1-307 - narrate.
19. Book 5 lines 308-576 - narrate.
20. Book 5 lines 577-907 - narrate.
21. Book 6 lines 1-295 - narrate.
22. Book 6 lines 296-608 - narrate.
23. Book 6 lines 609-912 - narrate.
24. Book 7 lines 1-338 - narrate.
25. Book 7 lines 339-640 - narrate.
26. Book 8 lines 1-356 - narrate.
27. Book 8 lines 357-640 - narrate.
28. Book 9 lines 1-375 - narrate.
29. Book 9 lines 376-833 - narrate.
30. Book 9 lines 834-1189 - narrate.
31. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 10: Book IX—The Fall - listen and narrate
32. Book 10 lines 1-382 - narrate.
33. Book 10 lines 383-866 - narrate.
34. Book 10 lines 867-1104 - narrate.
35. Book 11 lines 1-555 - narrate.
36. Book 11 lines 556-901 - narrate.
37. Book 12 lines 1-371 - narrate.
38. Book 12 lines 372-649 - narrate.
39. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 12: Milton's Living Influence - listen and narrate (Note: we skipped lecture 11)
40. Part I of the test on Paradise Lost.
41. Part II of the test on Paradise Lost.
42. Final essay (Composition assignment for the week)
You could choose to do a test or an essay, rather than both, but because we're only reading two epics this year, we did both. I also count the tenth grade English class (which also includes poetry, daily writing and grammar, and three Shakespeare plays) as an honors level course. The essay will count as his rough draft composition for the week and probably a final draft composition the following week.
I think these test questions would work even if you didn't listen to the audio lectures.
Test
You may not use your text, notes, or narrations for the test. Exact quotations and book/line numbers are not required.
Part I
- What similarities do you see between Milton’s Paradise Lost and the ancient epics you read last year?
- Tell what you know about the great battle between the armies of angels.
- How does Raphael interact with Adam and what do they discuss?
- Tell what you know about Eve’s encounter with Satan in Paradise.
- How does Paradise Lost show free will or a lack of it in the actions of each of these characters?
- Satan
- Eve
- Adam
- How do Adam and Eve differ before and after the Fall?
- How does Michael interact with Adam and what do they discuss?
- Do you think Milton is sexist? Explain.
- Who do you think is the hero of Paradise Lost? Explain.
- Defend each of the following positions using examples from the poem:
- Adam should not have eaten of the fruit offered by Eve.
- Adam was right to eat the fruit offered by Eve.
Choose one of the questions from your exam. Write an extended essay using quotations and evidence from the poem. You should express an opinion and give at least three reasons you believe your opinion is correct.
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I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Bookshop.org are affiliate links.
