This class is a study of Milton's poetry, with attention paid to his literary sources, his contemporaries, his controversial prose, and his decisive influence on the course of English poetry. Throughout the course, Professor Rogers explores the advantages and limitations of a diverse range of interpretive techniques and theoretical concerns in Milton scholarship and criticism. Lectures include close readings of lyric and epic poetry, prose, and letters; biographical inquiries; examinations of historical and political contexts; and engagement with critical debates.
Introduction: Milton, Power, and the Power of Milton
The Infant Cry of God
Credible Employment
Poetry and Virginity
Poetry and Marriage
Lycidas
Lycidas (cont.)
Areopagitica
Paradise Lost, Book I
God and Mammon: The Wealth of Literary Memory
The Miltonic Smile
The Blind Prophet
Paradise Lost, Book III
Paradise Lost, Book IV
Paradise Lost, Book V-VI
Paradise Lost, Book VII-VIII
Paradise Lost, Book IX
Paradise Lost, Book IX-X
Paradise Lost, Book XI-XII
Paradise Lost, Book XI-XII (cont.)
Paradise Regained, Books I-II
Paradise Regained, Books III-IV
Samson Agonistes
Samson Agonistes (cont.)