Friday, March 23, 2018
Blogging question on Book V: What is the nature of redemption available to angels within Paradise Lost?
In the end of Book V, we see Abdiel change sides from that of Satan back to that of God. This raises a serious question regarding the nature of redemption for angels. Before this incident we are under the belief that angels, once fallen, cannot be forgiven or repent. In lines 903-905 we read, "From amidst them forth he passed, Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained Superior, nor of violence feared aught;" Here, Abdiel steps out of the camp of fallen angels back to God, and is received. We also see the question of redemption come up in Satan's self reflective speech in Book IV when he states, "But say I could repent and could obtain By act of grace my former state; how soon Would heighth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay What feigned submission swore... This knows my punisher; therefore as far From granting he, as I from begging peace:"(93-96;103-104) Satan is saying here that if he were redeemed from his actions, he would forget what he has done and rebel against God again. In this, God not redeeming him is a form of grace for him. Now, if we look back at Abdiel, we read he was, "...faithful found, Among the faithless, faithful only he; Among innumerable false, unmoved, unshaken, unseduced, unterrified His loyalty kept, his love, his zeal:"(Book V Lines 896-900) Abdiel did not fall like the other angels, but instead stood against them all, and because of that he was welcomed back into Heaven. We see that angels who fall, fall on their own accord and own choice, and would fall again if redeemed, and because they have fallen on their own devices, they are not allowed redemption, because they will fall again.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Weekly Literary Terms: Beat writers, Bombast, and Bowdlerize.
Beat Writers:
The Beat Generation was a literary movement started by a group of authors whose work explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-World War II era. The bulk of their work was published and popularized throughout the 1950s.
Examples:
Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Carl Solomon, Gary Snyder, and Neal Cassady
Bombast:
Bombast language is high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.
Example:
Just about any politician.
Bowdlerize:
To bowdlerize something is to remove material that is considered improper or offensive from (a text or account), especially with the result that it becomes weaker or less effective.
Example:
In the drafting of early U.S documents, people would often refer to blacks as "certain persons" rather than naming them blacks in order to keep it less derogatory.
The Beat Generation was a literary movement started by a group of authors whose work explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-World War II era. The bulk of their work was published and popularized throughout the 1950s.
Examples:
Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Carl Solomon, Gary Snyder, and Neal Cassady
Bombast:
Bombast language is high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.
Example:
Just about any politician.
Bowdlerize:
To bowdlerize something is to remove material that is considered improper or offensive from (a text or account), especially with the result that it becomes weaker or less effective.
Example:
In the drafting of early U.S documents, people would often refer to blacks as "certain persons" rather than naming them blacks in order to keep it less derogatory.
Blogging: According to Book IV, what would you say is the nature (essence) of prelapsarian Eden, Adam, and Eve?
I would have to say that according to book IV, the nature of prelapsarian Eden is lush and full.Within the initial description of Eden, there are lines that describe the plants as, "...a circling row of goodliest trees loaden with fairest fruit, Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue Appeared, with gay enameled colors mixed."(Book IV, L. 146-149) Milton continues, describing Eden as this kind of dense nature, full and intense with life. Adam and Eve, as they work in the garden, seem to be strongly innocent, having freedom to wander and enjoy the Garden in a pure form. This is a beautiful image in which Milton paints for us and is truly a paradise to admire.
Friday, March 9, 2018
Literary Terms and Vocab: Define the poetic device, "Apostrophe," and give an example from Paradise Lost. Define the word "Subversive" and put it into a meaningful sentence.
In poetry, an apostrophe is a term used when a speaker directly addresses someone or something that isn't present in the poem. The speaker could be addressing an abstract concept like love, a person (dead or alive), a place, or even a thing, like the sun or the sea.
"Hail holy Light, offspring of Heav'n firstborn,
Or of th' Eternal coeternal beam
May I express thee unblamed?"(PL Book III, Ln. 1-3)
Something that is subversive is something that creates trouble or tries to overthrow the ruling power.
Satan's subversive intent cannot allow him to do anything but corrupt God's creating and try to overthrow His power.
"Hail holy Light, offspring of Heav'n firstborn,
Or of th' Eternal coeternal beam
May I express thee unblamed?"(PL Book III, Ln. 1-3)
Something that is subversive is something that creates trouble or tries to overthrow the ruling power.
Satan's subversive intent cannot allow him to do anything but corrupt God's creating and try to overthrow His power.
Friday, March 2, 2018
Weekly Literary Terms: Anaphora, Bathos and Anti-climax, and Blank Verse
Anaphora:
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
Example:
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Bathos and Anti-climax:
Bathos is anti-climax. An anti-climax is the usually sudden transition in discourse from a significant idea to a trivial or ludicrous idea
Example:
Blank Verse:
Blank Verse is a verse that has a meter, but does not have a rhyming scheme.
Example:
Paradise Lost
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
Example:
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Bathos and Anti-climax:
Bathos is anti-climax. An anti-climax is the usually sudden transition in discourse from a significant idea to a trivial or ludicrous idea
Example:
Blank Verse:
Blank Verse is a verse that has a meter, but does not have a rhyming scheme.
Example:
Paradise Lost
Friday, February 23, 2018
Paradise Lost: Book II Part B
Re-read Satan's journey through chaos (Book II, Lines 890-967). What is the "nature" of chaos according to Milton's description, and how does he create that nature through the language?
Milton speaks of many beings such as Night, Hot, Cold, Moist, Dry, Rumor, Chance, and Confusion. These, as we know, are aspects of the world we know. With this, Milton is able to personify them, and use them as aspects of Chaos. This is very interesting because he uses them a warring forces and descriptions of Chaos. Chaos is then the center of both everything and nothing at the same time. The "nature" of chaos is a space that is both life and death, or land and ocean at the same time. It is the center of all of these warring aspects, and the warring aspects.
Milton speaks of many beings such as Night, Hot, Cold, Moist, Dry, Rumor, Chance, and Confusion. These, as we know, are aspects of the world we know. With this, Milton is able to personify them, and use them as aspects of Chaos. This is very interesting because he uses them a warring forces and descriptions of Chaos. Chaos is then the center of both everything and nothing at the same time. The "nature" of chaos is a space that is both life and death, or land and ocean at the same time. It is the center of all of these warring aspects, and the warring aspects.
Weekly Literary Terms: Aestheticism, Ambiguity, and Ballad
Aestheticism:
Aestheticism is the acceptance of artistic beauty and taste as a fundamental standard, ethical and other standards being secondary.
Example:
Ambiguity:
Ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement that can have more than one meaning or is vague. An ambiguous statement is one in which the reader does cannot fully understand the meaning, whether intentional or not.
Example:
I did stuff the other day.
Ballad:
A ballad is a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing.
Example:
Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water...
Aestheticism is the acceptance of artistic beauty and taste as a fundamental standard, ethical and other standards being secondary.
Example:
Ambiguity:
Ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement that can have more than one meaning or is vague. An ambiguous statement is one in which the reader does cannot fully understand the meaning, whether intentional or not.
Example:
I did stuff the other day.
Ballad:
A ballad is a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing.
Example:
Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water...
Paradise Lost: Book II Part A
What are the main positions suggested by the chief devils within the debate? Summarize these positions and comment on how Milton develops the rhetoric of hell.
Moloch takes the first position when he suggests the devils make open war on Heaven. He makes the argument that nothing could be worse than they have it in hell now. Belial then steps up and counters that, saying that God has not punished them as harshly as he might if they did attack again, pointing to the fact that they are no longer chained to the lake of fire for evidence. Mammon then steps up and suggests that they be industrious in hell, making it a heaven. This position takes root until Beelzebub stands up and speaks. He instead suggests that they go and corrupt what God has created, making sure that His creation cannot last in perfection. The demons enjoy this idea and Satan then steps up, volunteering to explore the unknown and go to Creation. With his speech, Satan at once establishes his power over the demons and portrays himself as the tragic hero of them all. Now Satan sits unquestioned as god of hell. Milton sets a very interesting rhetoric for hell here, in which it is a gilded democracy. With this, pandemonium seems to be democratic, every devil kind of getting a vote, but in all reality, Satan controls the opinions of the devils. Beelzebub's idea for corrupting creation was first stated to him by Satan when they first left the lake of fire. Then, Satan spun the story to make him seem like he was sacrificing everything for all of the other demons. With this, the rhetoric of hell cannot be trusted, and is manipulated by Satan.
Moloch takes the first position when he suggests the devils make open war on Heaven. He makes the argument that nothing could be worse than they have it in hell now. Belial then steps up and counters that, saying that God has not punished them as harshly as he might if they did attack again, pointing to the fact that they are no longer chained to the lake of fire for evidence. Mammon then steps up and suggests that they be industrious in hell, making it a heaven. This position takes root until Beelzebub stands up and speaks. He instead suggests that they go and corrupt what God has created, making sure that His creation cannot last in perfection. The demons enjoy this idea and Satan then steps up, volunteering to explore the unknown and go to Creation. With his speech, Satan at once establishes his power over the demons and portrays himself as the tragic hero of them all. Now Satan sits unquestioned as god of hell. Milton sets a very interesting rhetoric for hell here, in which it is a gilded democracy. With this, pandemonium seems to be democratic, every devil kind of getting a vote, but in all reality, Satan controls the opinions of the devils. Beelzebub's idea for corrupting creation was first stated to him by Satan when they first left the lake of fire. Then, Satan spun the story to make him seem like he was sacrificing everything for all of the other demons. With this, the rhetoric of hell cannot be trusted, and is manipulated by Satan.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Book I Blog
Based off your reading of Book I, why do you think Milton uses epic simile so frequently? What does he hope to accomplish through his use of simile?
Through epic simile, Milton is able to texture the world he describes. By comparing the pieces of his world to common pieces of ours that we know well, Milton is able to better pull our imagination into his world. We are able to see it better, but also hear and feel Hell because he is calling to mind images, sounds, and feelings that we are very familiar with. However, but only comparing it to it, he is able to build off of our experiences and pull at our imagination to extend those experiences.
Through epic simile, Milton is able to texture the world he describes. By comparing the pieces of his world to common pieces of ours that we know well, Milton is able to better pull our imagination into his world. We are able to see it better, but also hear and feel Hell because he is calling to mind images, sounds, and feelings that we are very familiar with. However, but only comparing it to it, he is able to build off of our experiences and pull at our imagination to extend those experiences.
Weekly Literary Terms: Antithesis, Archaism, Atmosphere, and Augustan Age
Antithesis:
Antithesis is a literary device used when two contrasting ideas are used together to create emphasis.
Example:
"One small step for man, one giant step for mankind."
Archaism:
Archaism is a figure of speech in which an a word or phrase that is used is considered old fashioned.
Example:
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."
Atmosphere:
Atmosphere refers to the feeling, emotion, or mood a writer conveys to a reader through the description of setting and objects.
Example:
"It was a dark stormy night; the rain fell in torrents..."
Augustan Age:
The Augustan Age is the period of English literature in the early 18th century, when writers such as Swift and Pope were active. The name comes from that of the Roman emperor Augustus, who ruled when Virgil, Horace and Ovid were writing, and suggests a classical period of elegant literature.
Example:
Alexander Pope wrote an Epistle to Augustus which was in fact written to George II of Great Britain
Antithesis is a literary device used when two contrasting ideas are used together to create emphasis.
Example:
"One small step for man, one giant step for mankind."
Archaism:
Archaism is a figure of speech in which an a word or phrase that is used is considered old fashioned.
Example:
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."
Atmosphere:
Atmosphere refers to the feeling, emotion, or mood a writer conveys to a reader through the description of setting and objects.
Example:
"It was a dark stormy night; the rain fell in torrents..."
Augustan Age:
The Augustan Age is the period of English literature in the early 18th century, when writers such as Swift and Pope were active. The name comes from that of the Roman emperor Augustus, who ruled when Virgil, Horace and Ovid were writing, and suggests a classical period of elegant literature.
Example:
Alexander Pope wrote an Epistle to Augustus which was in fact written to George II of Great Britain
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Epic Simile
An example of Epic Simile in Paradise Lost:
"...his ponderous shield...
Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb
through optic glass the Tuscan artist views
At evening from the top of Fesole,
Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands,
Rivers or mountains in her spotty globe" (Bk. 1; Ln.284-291)
Here, Beelzebub's superior(I believe is Satan) is stepping up after Beelzebub has finished speaking. His shield is compared to the moon and Valdarno. Both of these are rough, but beautiful surfaces. I believe Milton is speaking to the nature of Satan, his legions, and Hell in this comparison as being rough, and imperfect, but still admired, loved, and closely inspected by people for its beauty. Before Galileo, people assumed that the Moon's surface was that of a sphere, but when Galileo looked at it "through optic glass," he found it to be rough and jagged with craters. This same concept is made with Valdarno's "Rivers or mountains in her spotty globe." While this is true, the moon and this valley are both beautiful sights to humanity.
"...his ponderous shield...
Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb
through optic glass the Tuscan artist views
At evening from the top of Fesole,
Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands,
Rivers or mountains in her spotty globe" (Bk. 1; Ln.284-291)
Here, Beelzebub's superior(I believe is Satan) is stepping up after Beelzebub has finished speaking. His shield is compared to the moon and Valdarno. Both of these are rough, but beautiful surfaces. I believe Milton is speaking to the nature of Satan, his legions, and Hell in this comparison as being rough, and imperfect, but still admired, loved, and closely inspected by people for its beauty. Before Galileo, people assumed that the Moon's surface was that of a sphere, but when Galileo looked at it "through optic glass," he found it to be rough and jagged with craters. This same concept is made with Valdarno's "Rivers or mountains in her spotty globe." While this is true, the moon and this valley are both beautiful sights to humanity.
Weekly Literary Terms: Assonance, Consonance, and Allusion
Assonance:
Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound in the same position of words near each other.
Example:
"The crumbling thunder of seas"
Consonance:
Consonance is the repetition of similar consonant sounds between near by words
Example:
"The silent sound seeped slowly into his mind"
Allusion:
Allusion is an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it specifically
Example:
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