Paradise Lost by John Milton

[clemsontigers23]

Soon I will be diving head first into John Milton's "Paradise Lost" for an upcoming research paper. I wanted to go ahead and start discussion on the poem and wanted to know if anyone's read it and, if so, what are your thoughts?

[catman]

I read it as part of a literature class about 35 years ago, so my memories of it are sketchy at best. I recall that it was a tedious read, however. It is not one that I would have thought to read again, but now I might have to do so.

[Genna14]

I so wanna read it! However, I am in the midst of "Les Miserables", and well...its taken most of my attention. Haha!

My sister does own the book and I will get to reading it after the large stack of books I have sitting here is finally diminished.

Please let me know how it is!

[Pixie Wildflower]

Very interesting, since it was quite an influence on Philip Pullman who wrote the "Golden Compass". I know how you feel about that. ;)

Both it and Dante's "Divine Comedy" has inspired some fantastic art by Gustave Dore.

It also inspired a mini series on ABC Family about Fallen Angels. The name escaped me at the moment.

[clemsontigers23]

Well I chose it mainly because there's a lot of literary criticism written on it. It seemed like an interesting book so I chose that one. Haven't gotten it yet but will let you know what I think once I've started reading it.

[HotWireD]

Very interesting, since it was quite an influence on Philip Pullman who wrote the "Golden Compass". I know how you feel about that. ;)

Both it and Dante's "Divine Comedy" has inspired some fantastic art by Gustave Dore.

It also inspired a mini series on ABC Family about Fallen Angels. The name escaped me at the moment.

I have read it a while ago - I like the way the lines 'fall of your tongue'.

It is a tad long though.

I collect Dore's work and have a few books (including an Holy Bible) with his engravings in.

[Pixie Wildflower]

We have a couple of Dore's art books too. I love his style. Sorry Clemson about hijacking your thread, but I can't think of Milton without thinking of Dore too!

I have read it a while ago - I like the way the lines 'fall of your tongue'.

It is a tad long though.

I collect Dore's work and have a few books (including an Holy Bible) with his engravings in.

[clemsontigers23]

We have a couple of Dore's art books too. I love his style. Sorry Clemson about hijacking your thread, but I can't think of Milton without thinking of Dore too!

It's no problem. :)

The book hasn't gotten here yet so I'm still waiting. I'll let you know when I start reading it. I kind of wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were on the theology of the book and the literary style of the book. Everything I've heard is that Milton is an amazing writer and that a lot of people look at Paradise Lost as scripture.

[clemsontigers23]

I finished Book One a couple of days ago. Milton's writing style is very interesting and sometimes confusing. His lack of punctuation and the rhythm he writes in can be somewhat hard to read. A few times I had to go back and re-read things multiple times in order to understand them. I can definitely see why most Christians today get their idea of Satan from this epic. In the first book, there was interesting dialogue between Satan and Beezlebub about their mission to overthrow God and how even when they were thrown out of Heaven, Satan still spoke about overthrowing God. It really shows the hubris of Satan and how that was his downfall. Very interesting book. I will let you know what I think after I read a more of it.

[Godgrl Gomer]

What class is it that you are writing the paper for?

I think you will find William Blake very interesting, especially after reading Milton. Check out the Red Dragon & the Woman clothed with the Sun.....;)

[Pixie Wildflower]

What class is it that you are writing the paper for?

I think you will find William Blake very interesting, especially after reading Milton. Check out the Red Dragon & the Woman clothed with the Sun.....;)

I think Blake is fantastic. Perhaps someone should start a thread on how literature has inspired art. Maybe I'll go do that now!

[Godgrl Gomer]

Great Thread idea!


How you going with Milton, Clemons?
Do you have a specific question? Or do you get to make up your own hypothesis?

[clemsontigers23]

I'm doing the paper for AP Literature. I haven't decided on a topic yet. The book actually got a little easier to read in Book 3 when God the Father was talking with God the Son about the Fall of Man and when the Son of God offered Himself as a sacrifice, but still, I haven't gotten used to the style he writes in. I'm almost done with Book 3 out of 12 so I've got much more to read before I'm really able to come up with a topic to write about.

[Godgrl Gomer]

AP Literature?

[clemsontigers23]

AP Literature?

Yes.

[Godgrl Gomer]

What is AP Literature?

[clemsontigers23]

What is AP Literature?

Advanced Placement Literature.

[Buttabean]

What is AP Literature?

Here in America, some high schools give students the opportunity to receive college credit for a high school class that has advanced topics. A student takes the class and then has the opportunity to take an exam that will determine how many hours of credit the student can count towards their degree at uni.

For instance, I took an advanced placement history class my senior year of high school, took the exam (which cost me $80) and I did well enough on it that I received 3 hours of university credit, which is the equivalent of 1 history class in university. Its a lot less expensive than the actual university class would have cost!

:)

[Godgrl Gomer]

Here in America, some high schools give students the opportunity to receive college credit for a high school class that has advanced topics. A student takes the class and then has the opportunity to take an exam that will determine how many hours of credit the student can count towards their degree at uni.

For instance, I took an advanced placement history class my senior year of high school, took the exam (which cost me $80) and I did well enough on it that I received 3 hours of university credit, which is the equivalent of 1 history class in university. Its a lot less expensive than the actual university class would have cost!

:)

That is so cool!!!
We have things like that with points, but not based on an hourly rate. (Not to my knowledge or experience) The points = skipping a whole subject because the student basically did it in their high school subjects or are simply bright enough to move to a higher level.
I am ...was a High School English teacher and I taught, primarily, the senior classes. (I left the classroom to raise my two boys) So I get all ..umm.. emotional...gooey...when I hear of a student doing so well. Regardless of the subject...but it tugs at my heart strings a little bit more when it is English.

I remember that on the last class period of the day, especially Fridays, I would let my students goof off a little. I bribed them with chocolate to read their assigned novels or work on their assignments. Chocolate works wonders, especially for 16-17 year olds!!! hahaha

I am proud of you Clemsontigers23!!!!
Very, very proud!:cool:

I'm proud of you too, Buttabean!


BTW AP Literature here would stand for Applied Literature.... meaning the classes for those students who struggle. Thats why I was confused as to why Milton would be in AP....LOL:rolleyes: ;)

[Jason]

Joan, AP means Advanced Placement. University level courses in high school.

[clemsontigers23]

That is so cool!!!
We have things like that with points, but not based on an hourly rate. (Not to my knowledge or experience) The points = skipping a whole subject because the student basically did it in their high school subjects or are simply bright enough to move to a higher level.
I am ...was a High School English teacher and I taught, primarily, the senior classes. (I left the classroom to raise my two boys) So I get all ..umm.. emotional...gooey...when I hear of a student doing so well. Regardless of the subject...but it tugs at my heart strings a little bit more when it is English.

I remember that on the last class period of the day, especially Fridays, I would let my students goof off a little. I bribed them with chocolate to read their assigned novels or work on their assignments. Chocolate works wonders, especially for 16-17 year olds!!! hahaha

I am proud of you Clemsontigers23!!!!
Very, very proud!:cool:

I'm proud of you too, Buttabean!


BTW AP Literature here would stand for Applied Literature.... meaning the classes for those students who struggle. Thats why I was confused as to why Milton would be in AP....LOL:rolleyes: ;)

Thanks, it's a challenge but it's worth it considering the payoff.

[Buttabean]

That is so cool!!!
We have things like that with points, but not based on an hourly rate. (Not to my knowledge or experience) The points = skipping a whole subject because the student basically did it in their high school subjects or are simply bright enough to move to a higher level.
I am ...was a High School English teacher and I taught, primarily, the senior classes. (I left the classroom to raise my two boys) So I get all ..umm.. emotional...gooey...when I hear of a student doing so well. Regardless of the subject...but it tugs at my heart strings a little bit more when it is English.

I remember that on the last class period of the day, especially Fridays, I would let my students goof off a little. I bribed them with chocolate to read their assigned novels or work on their assignments. Chocolate works wonders, especially for 16-17 year olds!!! hahaha

I am proud of you Clemsontigers23!!!!
Very, very proud!:cool:

I'm proud of you too, Buttabean!


BTW AP Literature here would stand for Applied Literature.... meaning the classes for those students who struggle. Thats why I was confused as to why Milton would be in AP....LOL:rolleyes: ;)

Thanks!!

I'm actually studying to be a Language Arts teacher. :) But I'm studying for 4-8 grade students, and plan on certifying for high schoolers later. :)