Renaissance Poetry: Milton's Epic Poem "Paradise Lost" -- An Introduction and an Invitation 

English 46A: In this video-lecture, I supplement the material in our Norton Anthology with my own introduction to the poem, which I hope will work as an invitation to read further. I call attention to Milton's use of the epic tradition, to his use of Biblical and Classical sources, to his redefinition of the heroic for his Protestant English audience. I also look at the War in Heaven, the revolt of some of the angels, their fall from grace, Satan's mighty and charismatic character, Adam and Eve, the human aspect of "sufficient to have stood, though free to fall", and much more!