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Paradise Lost/Samson Agonistes/Lycidas
Paradise Lost revivifies Adam's fall from the Garden of Eden. Samson Agonistes follows blind Samson, whose titanic strength destroyed both himself and the Philistines to bring his people deliverance. Lycidas is a pastoral lamentation for a Cambridge student who drowned, and an immortal elegy of all lost hopes.
Library Binding
Published October 1, 1999
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About the author
John Milton
3,769 books2,248 followersPeople best know John Milton, English scholar, for
Paradise Lost
, the epic poem of 1667 and an account of fall of humanity from grace.
Beelzebub, one fallen angel in Paradise Lost, of John Milton, lay in power next to Satan.
Belial, one fallen angel, rebelled against God in Paradise Lost of John Milton.
John Milton, polemicist, man of letters, served the civil Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote in blank verse at a time of religious flux and political upheaval.
Prose of John Milton reflects deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. He wrote in Latin, Greek, and Italian and achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica (1644) in condemnation of censorship before publication among most influential and impassioned defenses of free speech and the press of history.
William Hayley in biography of 1796 called and generally regarded John Milton, the "greatest ... author," "as one of the preeminent writers in the ... language," though since his death, critical reception oscillated often on his republicanism in the centuries. Samuel Johnson praised, "with respect to design may claim the first place, and with respect to performance, the second, among the productions of the ... mind," though he, a Tory and recipient of royal patronage, described politics of Milton, an "acrimonious and surly republican."
Because of his republicanism, centuries of British partisanship subjected John Milton.
Beelzebub, one fallen angel in Paradise Lost, of John Milton, lay in power next to Satan.
Belial, one fallen angel, rebelled against God in Paradise Lost of John Milton.
John Milton, polemicist, man of letters, served the civil Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote in blank verse at a time of religious flux and political upheaval.
Prose of John Milton reflects deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. He wrote in Latin, Greek, and Italian and achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica (1644) in condemnation of censorship before publication among most influential and impassioned defenses of free speech and the press of history.
William Hayley in biography of 1796 called and generally regarded John Milton, the "greatest ... author," "as one of the preeminent writers in the ... language," though since his death, critical reception oscillated often on his republicanism in the centuries. Samuel Johnson praised, "with respect to design may claim the first place, and with respect to performance, the second, among the productions of the ... mind," though he, a Tory and recipient of royal patronage, described politics of Milton, an "acrimonious and surly republican."
Because of his republicanism, centuries of British partisanship subjected John Milton.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 27, 2015
I read Samson Agonistes not by plan, but due to a plane layover, though glad I did. Milton gives Samson some flavor and spunk and makes him an admirable hero as he refuses Delila's apology, and also invites Harapha (the father of Goliath) to fight him although Samson is blinded and bound by chains. In addition, Samson does not lose faith in God, and takes the blame for his situation on himself for his choices.
18 - "Ease to the body some, none to the mind" - when Samson finds a place to rest, but saying that it is the mental pain, not the physical that most afflicts him
53-54 - "But what is strength without a double share of wisdom." - Samson realizing that he should have been wiser and not just relied on his strength
189.. Samson on his "friends" - "How counterfeit a coin they are who 'friends' Bear in their superscription in prosperous days They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head.
268.. Samson on how the Israelites have learned to live in bondage (but he won't) "But what more oft, in nations grown corrupt,
And by their vices brought to servitude,
Than to love bondage more than liberty,
Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty.
358... Samson's father (Manoa) on the downside of God's gift to Samson:
"Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt
Our earnest prayers, then given with solemn hand
As graces, draw a scorpion's tail behind."
but Samson won't accept that - he takes the blame rather than blame God - 373
"Appoint not heavenly disposition, Father.
Nothing of all these evils hath befallen me
But justly; I myself have brought them on;
Sole author I, sole cause: if aught seem vile,
As vile hath been my folly, who have profaned
The mystery of God, given me under pledge
Of vow, and have betrayed it to a woman"
Manoa in a gross understatement after Samson decries his marraige choice - "I cannot praise thy marriage-choices, son
Manoa advises Samson to be contrite, but not hurt himself or make the situation worse - 502
"Be penitent and for thy fault contrite,
But act not in thy own affliction, son,
Repent the sin, but if punishment
Thou canst avoid, self-preservation bids"
Dalila comes to see the blind and enslaved and enchained Samson to apologize, but he is not buying it - 748
"Our, out, hyaena; these are thy wonted arts,
And arts of every woman false like thee."
"How cunningly the sorceress displays
Her own transgressions, to upbraid me mine!
The giant Harapha (father of Goliath) comes to taunt Samson. Samson, blinded, chained and enslaves, challenges Harapha to a fight then and there. 1104
"Boast not of what thou wouldst have done, but do
What then thou wouldst; thou seest it in thy hand.
1235 - "My heels are fettered, but my fists are free."
18 - "Ease to the body some, none to the mind" - when Samson finds a place to rest, but saying that it is the mental pain, not the physical that most afflicts him
53-54 - "But what is strength without a double share of wisdom." - Samson realizing that he should have been wiser and not just relied on his strength
189.. Samson on his "friends" - "How counterfeit a coin they are who 'friends' Bear in their superscription in prosperous days They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their head.
268.. Samson on how the Israelites have learned to live in bondage (but he won't) "But what more oft, in nations grown corrupt,
And by their vices brought to servitude,
Than to love bondage more than liberty,
Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty.
358... Samson's father (Manoa) on the downside of God's gift to Samson:
"Why are his gifts desirable, to tempt
Our earnest prayers, then given with solemn hand
As graces, draw a scorpion's tail behind."
but Samson won't accept that - he takes the blame rather than blame God - 373
"Appoint not heavenly disposition, Father.
Nothing of all these evils hath befallen me
But justly; I myself have brought them on;
Sole author I, sole cause: if aught seem vile,
As vile hath been my folly, who have profaned
The mystery of God, given me under pledge
Of vow, and have betrayed it to a woman"
Manoa in a gross understatement after Samson decries his marraige choice - "I cannot praise thy marriage-choices, son
Manoa advises Samson to be contrite, but not hurt himself or make the situation worse - 502
"Be penitent and for thy fault contrite,
But act not in thy own affliction, son,
Repent the sin, but if punishment
Thou canst avoid, self-preservation bids"
Dalila comes to see the blind and enslaved and enchained Samson to apologize, but he is not buying it - 748
"Our, out, hyaena; these are thy wonted arts,
And arts of every woman false like thee."
"How cunningly the sorceress displays
Her own transgressions, to upbraid me mine!
The giant Harapha (father of Goliath) comes to taunt Samson. Samson, blinded, chained and enslaves, challenges Harapha to a fight then and there. 1104
"Boast not of what thou wouldst have done, but do
What then thou wouldst; thou seest it in thy hand.
1235 - "My heels are fettered, but my fists are free."
Displaying 1 of 1 review