John Milton's Paradise Lost

In this course we will work our way methodically through John Milton’s genre-defining epic tale of good and evil, pride, ambition, temptation, rebellion, revenge, omnipotence, patriarchy, providence, fate, free will, and the (fallen) human condition. Along the way, we will learn about the political upheavals of Milton’s era, his heretical theological beliefs, and his life as a radical agitator in opposition to tyranny and in support of free speech and polygamy. Although the epic will be our primary concern, we will also consider relevant excerpts from his essays and his more important short poems. Our approach will be through in-class close reading and discussion, historical reconstruction, personal reflection, and the full spectrum of modern literary theories at our disposal. Pre-1800. (Not open to students who have already taken ENGL 0204.)