English 365 Byron Nelson

CRN #85338 341 Stansbury

Fall 2003 293-3107, x4 19

12:30 MWF bnelson2@wvu.edu

368 BUE Office: 9-9:30, 10:30-11:30 MWF

JOHN MILTON

REQUIRED TEXTS (3):

Milton, THE RIVERSIDE MILTON, ed. Flannagan (Houghton Mifflin)

Danielson, ed., THE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO MILTON (Cambridge U P)

Milton, AREOPAGITICA AND OF EDUCATION, ed. Sabine (Harlan Davidson)

READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS:

I 8-18 Introduction: why read John Milton?

8-20 L'Allegro, 65-71 in RIVERSIDE MILTON

8-22 IlPenseroso,71-77

II 8-25 Nativity Ode, 33-44 (introduction, Proem, stanzas I-XVII)

8-27 Nativity Ode, 44-47 (stanzas XVIII-XXVII)

8-29 The Passion, 50-52; Upon the Circumcision, 54-55; SHORT PAPER DUE

III 9-1 Labor Day Holiday

9-3 Milton's languages; his Latin poetry: In Quintum Novembris, 201, 207- 14

9-5 Arcades, 89-93; also Brown 25-37 in CAMBRIDGE COMPANION

IV 9-8 Maske (Comus), 109-52

9-10 Comus 153-71

9-12 Lycidas 94-107; COMUS PAPER DUE

V 9-15 Lycidas continued; also Evans 39-53 in CAMBRIDGE COMPANION

9-17 Milton's prose: Corns 84-97 in CAMBRIDGE COMPANION

9-19 FIRST EXAM

VI 9-22 Areopagitica, 1-19 top in AREOPAGITICA, ed. Sabine; REPORTS ON

AREOPAGITICA DUE THIS WEEK

9-24 Areopagitica, 19-38 top

9-26 Areopagitica, 38-56

VII9-29 Genesis 3 in Old Testament; also "Critical Questions," 320-27 in RIVERSIDE

10- 1 Paradise Lost I, 352-78

10-3 Paradise Lost I continued; also Lewalski, 113-26 in CAMBRIDGE COMPANION

VIII 10-6 ParadiseLostII,381-412

10-8 Paradise Lost III (lines 1-415), 416-28

10-10 Paradise Lost IV, 441-73; SHORT PAPER ON PARADISE LOST DUE

IX 10-13 Paradise Lost IX, 584-621

10-15 Paradise Lost IX continued

10-17 Paradise Lost IX continued

X 10-20 Paradise Lost X (lines 1-584), 623-642

10-22 Paradise Lost XI (lines 1-477), 659-74

10-24 Paradise Lost XII, 689-710

XI 10-27 SECOND EXAM

10-29 Paradise Regained I, 716, 721-36

10-31 Paradise Regained IV (lines 541-639), 779-82

XII 11 -3 Judges 13- 16 in Old Testament; also Bennett, 219-34 in CAMBRIDGE

COMPANION

11-5 Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, 934-37 (Book I: Preface, Ch. 1)

11-7 Milton's blindness: Sonnets 19 and 23, 255-56, 258-59

XIII 11-10 Samson Agonistes (preface, lines 1-174), 799-807

11-12 Samson Agonistes (lines 175-724), 807-821

11-14 Samson Agonistes (lines 725-1060)

11 -21 Samson Agonistes, conclusion

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY: 11-22 through 11-30

XV 12-1 Edward Phillips, Life of Milton, 18-28 in RIVERSIDE

12-3 Second Defense, 1106-1109 top

12-5 Second Defense, 1115- 1118 and summary; SAMSON AGONISTES PAPER DUE

FINAL EXAMS: 12-8 through 12-13-- Our final exam is scheduled for Fri., Dec. 12,3-5 pm

The course is designed to offer an overview of the life, ideas, poetry and prose of John Milton, who is the most important and influential non-dramatic poet in the English language, his attitudes toward the English Revolution, Oliver Cromwell, kings, bishops, women, Catholics and the Irish remain controversial, but his lyric poetry and Paradise Lost have never ceased to intrigue English poets and poetry readers. After a quick survey of his life and early lyrics in English and Latin (which we'll read in translation), we'll read Milton's most enduring prose work, Areopagitica, then focus on his mature poetic masterworks, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes. Your grade will depend on the following factors: the quality of your papers (both your arguments and your style), exams, formal responses and in-class presentation and general participation. Always bring the appropriate text or texts to class. You are allowed no more than THREE absences, for whatever reason; SIX or more absences will result in failure. I take attendance at the beginning of the class period. Please switch off your cell phones. You will need both the RIVERSIDE MILTON and the CAMBRIDGE COMPANION. I accept Milton's belief that wide, discriminating reading makes people better.