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Paradise Lost and Other Poems
These three major works by the seventeenth-century English poet show why Milton takes his place beside Shakespeare, Dante, Homer, and Vergil. They ring with the unmistakable clarity of genius, with majesty of language, splendor and wealth of detail, and with the deep conviction of a powerful mind. Milton's masterpieces reflect the light of a many-faceted tradition; the ...more
Mass Market Paperbound, 395 pages
Published
December 2nd 2003
by Signet Classics
(first published November 1st 1961)
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Milton wrote this while blind, and claimed it was the result of divine inspiration which visited him nightly. There are few texts that could reasonably be added into the Bible, and this is certainly one of them (the Divine Comedy is another). Paradise Lost outlines portions of the Bible which, thanks to its haphazard combination of mythic stories, are never fully explored.
In fact, most of Paradise Lost has become tacitly accepted into the Christian mythos, even if most Christians do...more
In fact, most of Paradise Lost has become tacitly accepted into the Christian mythos, even if most Christians do...more
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Note that this is only a review of Paradise Lost. Lycidas and Samson Agonistes are also included in this volume. They are both great in their own right, but fall beyond the scope of this review.
Paradise Lost is truely, truely great, and anything that I could say in this review would only do it an injustice.
The Language is daunting, yes. It's stilted, latinate English that would have sounded overblown when it was written, but my word. I can excuse all that and more in thi...more
Paradise Lost is truely, truely great, and anything that I could say in this review would only do it an injustice.
The Language is daunting, yes. It's stilted, latinate English that would have sounded overblown when it was written, but my word. I can excuse all that and more in thi...more
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After reading Paradise Lost, I can say without hesitation that John Milton is commander of the English language. His ability to express emotion, beauty, and destruction exceeded all expectations I had for Paradise Lost. Milton takes readers through the fallen angel's quest for vengeance; however, in doing so, he exposes readers to a surprisingly emotional Satan. Book 4 blew me away with Milton's description of Eden and Satan's initial amazement and wonder at its beauty.
Although beautifull...more
Although beautifull...more
Satan I get you. You feel you were treated unfairly. But instead of communicating those feelings to the group, you went ahead and started a war, got yourself kicked out of heaven, disfigured and now your stuck in hell.
Forever!
So the big G decided to have a few pets (Adam, Eve etc.)
No big deal! You had a good thing going.
But NOooo! you had to go get all jealous and outspoken. Now what? War? Really? Do you really think you have a chance... in hell?
*Authors note...more
Forever!
So the big G decided to have a few pets (Adam, Eve etc.)
No big deal! You had a good thing going.
But NOooo! you had to go get all jealous and outspoken. Now what? War? Really? Do you really think you have a chance... in hell?
*Authors note...more
This book has an interesting perspective on the devil. There is a line in there that I thought was particularly masterful:
"The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n."
I haven't got the hang of the rhyme yet, but the words are majestic and broad (albeit a little difficult to decipher in its entirety). I'm looking forward to finishing it.
"The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n."
I haven't got the hang of the rhyme yet, but the words are majestic and broad (albeit a little difficult to decipher in its entirety). I'm looking forward to finishing it.
This poem has a reassuring, dreammlike meter and beautiful imagery. I'm pondering how Adam and Eve both wanted to know God, but took different approaches: Adam wanted to know God through philosophical or worshipful methods, while Eve took the shortcut of eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Where's the sin, Eve asked?
Although I'm not into spirituality, the writing is absolutely elegant and superb. One of the strongest products of literature I've ever seen. Every line, despite being only a handful of words, evokes such rich and deep imagery I need to force myself to slow down so I can enjoy the deep immersion.
While his use of language and creating an interesting story can be looked upon with praise, his portrayal of Eve is nothing short of appalling. I realize it would be impossible for someone not in the 20th century to portray 20th century ideals, but still. It's appalling.
A few months ago I was taking the funicular in downtown El Lay and saw the sign that called it "Angel's Flight," but I read it wrong, thinking "Angels Fight." I thought, what a cool idea for a story!
Then I remembered Paradise Lost. Never mind!
Then I remembered Paradise Lost. Never mind!
I am only part way through, but just the descriptions of the generation of Sin and Death are worth reading the book. The language that Milton uses is beautifully precise, although it does not always create beautiful pictures.
A book worth rereading frequently. Its interesting to ponder how the depiction of the prince of darkness by a deeply religious man reads like a modern hero. This Satan has balls, a ethics.
To be fair, I would have enjoyed this more if it weren't taught to me by a drab, sickly old man who smelled of cheap pipe tobacco and puncutated every sentence with a chest-rattling hack.
I was persuing this last winter, and Paradise Lost remains as mind-expanding as ever, action packed, with possibly the richest prose in the English language.
One of the most dense books I've ever read. It was difficult to read, but it wasn't a terrible book.
It's a hard read but once you learn the language...the book is freakin' hilarious and moving.
Fantastical. Audacious. Milton linked his piety with his imagination to great success...
The very end is just as good as the very beginning.
Such a sympathetic main character.
Essential.
Turly an epic, that's for sure. Milton's language is poetry at its best--sweeping, dramatic, and fully of beauty and substance. I'm not a religious person, but I can say that I've been to sunday school and mass, and this book was a much more entertaining way to read about god.
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John Milton was an English poet, prose polemicist, and civil servant for the English Commonwealth. Most famed for his epic poem Paradise Lost, Milton is celebrated as well for his eloquent treatise condemning censorship, Areopagitica. Long considered the supreme English poet, Milton experienced a dip in popularity after attacks by T.S. Eliot and F.R. Leavis in the mid 20th century; but with multip...more
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