PL context Flashcards
Describe the grand style created by Milton for ‘Paradise Lost’.
Milton needed and created a grand style capable of sustained impressiveness, yet also flexible and subtle, to address the heroic struggle of good and bad in human souls.
Explain the dual themes present in ‘Paradise Lost’.
The poem addresses both seventeenth-century politics and biblical history, exploring how the world can be explained and how to live as an individual within it.
Describe the historical context in which Milton grew up.
Milton grew up during a time of increasing national disillusionment, with a widening gap between the court and Protestant elements, and a decline in the golden age of English literature and music.
Explain the cultural conflict described by P. W. Thomas regarding Milton’s time.
Thomas describes a breakdown of national culture in the 1630s, highlighting a civil war over the failure of the ruling caste to uphold traditional national aims and adapt to a rapidly changing world.
What educational background did Milton have that influenced his poetry?
Milton studied under a Scottish Presbyterian tutor and at St. Paul’s School in London, where he learned Latin and Greek, which significantly influenced his poetry and the epic form in ‘Paradise Lost’.
How did Milton’s time at Cambridge shape his early career?
Milton graduated from Christ’s College Cambridge in 1629 and stayed to prepare for becoming an Anglican priest, although he ultimately did not pursue this path.
When is it believed that Milton began serious work on ‘Paradise Lost’?
It is believed that Milton probably began serious work on ‘Paradise Lost’ in the early 1630s.
Describe the significance of blindness in Milton’s works.
Blindness is a central theme in Milton’s works, particularly in ‘Paradise Lost’, where it symbolizes deeper philosophical and spiritual insights, reflecting Milton’s own experiences and the broader human condition.
Explain Milton’s views on marriage as expressed in his pamphlets.
Milton advocated for divorce based on incompatibility, arguing that individuals should have the opportunity for a second chance at marriage, as outlined in ‘The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce’.
How did Milton’s Puritan beliefs influence his view of women’s roles in marriage?
Milton’s Puritan beliefs positioned women as ‘help-meets’ and junior partners in the household, which he viewed as a microcosm of society, reflecting a hierarchical structure.
Define the familial hierarchy in Milton’s context and its political implications.
The familial hierarchy in Milton’s context established husbands as rulers of the household, mirroring the political structure of the commonwealth, thus intertwining domestic and public spheres.
Explain the consequences of the Fall as presented in ‘Paradise Lost’.
In ‘Paradise Lost’, the consequences of the Fall establish clear gender roles, where husbands are to rule over their wives, men labor on the land, and women endure pain in childbirth.
Describe the allegorical significance of Eve’s creation in ‘Paradise Lost’.
Eve’s creation in ‘Paradise Lost’ draws from the tale of Narcissus, suggesting themes of pride and self-love, which some critics interpret as indicative of Eve’s inherent narcissism.
Discuss the implications of the line ‘He for God only, she for God in him’ from ‘Paradise Lost’.
This line reflects Milton’s controversial views on gender roles, suggesting a hierarchical relationship where women are seen primarily in relation to men, contributing to his misogynistic reputation.
How did Milton’s personal experiences influence his writings on divorce?
Milton’s personal experience with his first marriage and subsequent divorce influenced his writings, leading him to advocate for the moral and legal grounds for divorce in his pamphlets.
What role does gender hierarchy play in Milton’s representation of the household?
Gender hierarchy in Milton’s representation of the household reflects the broader societal norms of the seventeenth century, where the household was seen as a reflection of political authority and order.
Explain the cultural construction of gender as depicted in ‘Paradise Lost’.
‘Paradise Lost’ explores the cultural construction of gender through the dynamics between Adam and Eve, raising questions about primacy, sufficiency, and the implications of gender hierarchy.
Describe Adam’s portrayal of Eve in Book 10 of Paradise Lost.
Adam attacks Eve by reciting and creating cultural stereotypes that depict her as aligned with the serpent, inherently bad, prideful, vain, and sexually manipulative.
Explain the significance of Eve’s framing in Paradise Lost.
Eve’s framing highlights the cultural construction of gender roles, which is a significant contribution of Paradise Lost to both Milton’s time and contemporary discussions.
Define Milton’s view on marriage as expressed in The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce.
Milton argues that marriage is a union of minds that should be freely entered into and dissolved, likening it to a church covenant or a contract between king and people.
How does Milton use postlapsarian thinking to discuss marriage?
Milton suggests that true marriage should reflect divine harmony and that incompatible marriages, which arose after the Fall, should be dissoluble as they were never true unions.
What political beliefs did Milton support during the English Civil War?
Milton supported a republican form of government where power is held by elected representatives, as expressed in his writings during the English Civil War.
Describe the content and purpose of Milton’s Eikonoklastes.
Eikonoklastes is a pamphlet published by Milton in 1649 that defends the regicide, responding to royalist defenses of monarchy after the execution of Charles I.
What was Oliver Cromwell’s stance on the monarchy according to Milton’s context?
Oliver Cromwell opposed the institution of monarchy, as evidenced by his refusal of the crown when it was offered to him in 1657.
