Critics-PL

Question 1

What does Jean Graham argue about the forbidden fruit? (2)

Answer 1

-“in reality, the fruit is no more divine than any other creation of God…the real issue: human obedience”

Question 2

What does Caroline Moore suggest what happens to Paradise after the fall of Adam

Answer 2

-“roses are fading: the first sign of mutability in Paradise”

Question 3

What does William Blake state about Milton?

Answer 3

-“of the devil’s party without knowing it”

Question 4

What does Virginia Mollenkott state about the idea of felix culpa?

Answer 4

• States that Milton did not support Felix culpa and instead it is a “fait accompli” in and states an “alternative might have been even more glorious”

Question 5

Who does Stanley Fish suggest is the true hero of PL?

Answer 5

“true hero of the poem is in fact the reader: seeing God as malevolent or Satan as attractive is simply an indication of a fallen state, and part of the poem’s purpose” - we are all fallen so of course have an attraction towards Satan

Question 6

What did Shannon Miller believe Milton was aware of?

Answer 6

-That Milton would be aware of Joseph’s Swetnam’s pamphlet:
“Milton was fully a member of this world, both as a reader and as a participant”

Question 7

What does Lovejoy believe and say?

Answer 7

-Believes in the “felix culpa” and that Eve’s trangressions were needed for the “resurrection”