John Milton: Paradise Lost Edwards, Mike

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Paradise Lost is for many the greatest poem written in English. Composed late in the author's life, it deals with nothing less than the destiny of mankind.

This essential introductory guide:
- Leads the reader into the epic poem through detailed analysis of key extracts, exploring Milton's original thought and style
- Provides useful sections on 'Methods of Analysis' and 'Further Work' to aid independent study
- Offers valuable information on Milton's life, times and literary legacy
- Examines the development of critical opinion and discusses some recent critical views of the poem.

John Milton: Paradise Lost is ideal for anyone who is studying this complex and beautiful work for the first time. It will enable you to approach your own critical analysis of the poem with confidence.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• General Editor's Preface (p. ix)
• How to Use this Book (p. x)
• A Note on Texts and Supplementary Materials (p. xii)
• Abbreviations and References (p. xiv)
• Part I Analysing Paradise Lost
• 1 Milton's Conception in Paradise Lost (p. 3)
• With special reference to the invocations Extracts used: 1. 1-26 (p. 3)
• 3. 1-55 (p. 3)
• 7. 1-40 (p. 3)
• 9. 1-47 (p. 3)
• Prosodic Structure (p. 7)
• Syntactic Structure (p. 10)
• Thematic Structure (p. 15)
• Imagery and Symbolism (p. 18)
• An Overview of the Four Proems (p. 22)
• Autobiographical Elements and Narrative Method (p. 25)
• Conclusions (p. 28)
• Thematic Features (p. 28)
• Stylistic Features (p. 29)
• Methods of Analysis (p. 30)
• Further Work (p. 30)
• 2 The Epic Structure of Paradise Lost (p. 32)
• Extracts used: 6. 296-315 (p. 32)
• 1. 192-213, 283-313 (p. 32)
• Epic Language and the Use of Epithets (p. 32)
• Chronology (p. 38)
• Epic Similes (p. 40)
• The Dissimile (p. 49)
• The Pun and the Anti-pun (p. 51)
• Conclusions (p. 51)
• Methods of Analysis (p. 52)
• Further Work (p. 54)
• 3 God, His Son, and the Realms of Light (p. 56)
• With special reference to Books 3, 5, 6 and 7 Extracts used: 3. 56-79 (p. 56)
• 6. 824-66 (p. 56)
• 7. 192-220 (p. 56)
• 5. 616-38 (p. 56)
• God (p. 57)
• The Son (p. 65)
• The Angels and Other Heavenly Entities (p. 74)
• Conclusions (p. 80)
• Methods of Analysis (p. 81)
• Further Work (p. 82)
• 4 Satan, the Rebel Angels, and their World of Darkness (p. 84)
• With special reference to Books 1, 2 and 4 Extracts used: 1. 27-75, 314-30 (p. 84)
• 2. 1-10 (p. 84)
• 4. 1-30, 172-204 (p. 84)
• Satan on the Border of the Garden of Eden (p. 96)
• Satan Enters the Garden of Eden (p. 101)
• The World of the Fallen Angels (p. 105)
• The Transformation of Satan (p. 108)
• Conclusions (p. 110)
• Methods of Analysis (p. 111)
• Further Work (p. 111)
• 5 Adam, Eve and their Perfect Paradise (p. 114)
• With special reference to Books 4 and 5 Extracts used: 4. 204-51, 288-324 (p. 114)
• 5.35-93 (p. 114)
• The Garden of Eden (p. 114)
• Adam and Eve (p. 120)
• Eve's Dream (p. 125)
• Conclusions (p. 135)
• Methods of Analysis (p. 136)
• Further Work (p. 136)
• 6 The Fall and its Aftermath (p. 138)
• With special reference to Book 9, and touching on Book 12 Extracts used: 9. 494-551, 780-833 (p. 138)
• 12.610-49 (p. 138)
• The Temptation (p. 139)
• Original Sin (p. 145)
• The Loss of Eden, and the Promise of the Future (p. 153)
• Conclusions (p. 161)
• Methods of Analysis (p. 162)
• Further Work (p. 163)
• Part II The Context and the Critics
• 7 Milton's Life as it Relates to Paradise Lost (p. 169)
• The Genesis of Paradise Lost (p. 170)
• Milton's Education (p. 172)
• European Travel (p. 174)
• Pamphleteer and Political Activist (p. 176)
• Blindness (p. 180)
• Last Years (p. 181)
• 8 The Context of Paradise Lost (p. 183)
• Literary Antecedents (p. 184)
• Science (p. 187)
• Politics (p. 189)
• Religion and Theology (p. 191)
• Marriage and Related Matters (p. 194)
• The Influence of Paradise Lost (p. 199)
• Conclusion (p. 203)
• 9 Some Critical Approaches (p. 204)
• Early Criticism (p. 204)
• Stanley Fish: Surprised by Sin (1967) (p. 208)
• Feminist Antagonism (p. 210)
• Nick Davis: 'Milton Swallows Chaos' (1999) (p. 212)
• Karen L. Edwards 'Gender, Sex and Marriage in Paradise' (2007) (p. 216)
• Theresa DiPasquale: 'Eve and Wisdom in Paradise Lost' (2008) (p. 218)
• Notes (p. 223)
• Glossary (p. 232)
• Appendix A Characteristics of Epic (p. 246)
• Appendix B Milton's Rhetoric (p. 248)
• Further Reading and Bibliography (p. 253)
• Index (p. 257)