[Milton-L] Summary of PL, and some recent Milton sightings

[Nancy Charlton]

The best summary of PL that I have ever seen is actually an 
abridgment. This is an audiobook in which Michael York reads the 
great speeches--the "arias" if you will--and summarizes the action 
with prose commentary. It runs 90 minutes. It is done with great 
understanding and sensitivity, and with great feeling. Inevitably 
with York, the spacy passages get a lot of attention, but this 
establishes common ground with the space age hearer.  Listen with a 
box of Kleenex handy, it is very moving.

This tape was given me by a friend who understands but does not 
necessarily share my love for PL, and who suggested that I name my 
cat Milton. (Milton's five kittens were also named after epic poets 
Homer, Vergil, Dante, Spenser, and Tasso.)

The tape is apparently in my storage, but when I dig it out I'll give 
you the exact details.

Today, November 6, is the anniversary of Milton's passing in 1674. 
This was noted in a delightful newsletter that comes in by email 
every Saturday: Dr Mardy's Quotes of the Week. He collects examples 
of paradox, oxymoron and chiasmus and writes an entertaining little 
summary centered around anniversaries during the forthcoming week.
This week included Milton, and here's what he has to say:

>On November 8, 1674, John Milton died at age 65.  The son of a
>distinguished composer, he went to Christ's College, Cambridge (where
>students referred to him as "The Lady" because of his delicate features).
>He went on to become the most famous poet and essayist of his time, and
>one of the giants in literary history.  Suffering from poor vision from
>childhood, he became blind in middle age, writing his greatest works with
>the help of recording secretaries.  He was actively involved in the major
>political and religious controversies of his day, writing about them all.
>He is best remembered as the author of "Paradise Lost" (1667), one of the
>greatest epic poems ever written.  The work contains famous chiastic
>passages:
>
>      "The mind is its own place, and in itself
>       Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n."
>
>      "So farewell hope, and with hope, farewell fear."
>
>And some famous oxymoronic ones as well:
>
>      "For solitude sometimes is best society."
>
>      "No light, but rather darkness visible."

http://www.chiasmus.com/mailinglistarchives.shtml

Another notice came from Knowledge News last Wednesday, in an essay 
title "10 Top Literary Monsters." They nominate Satan, Iago, and 
George Orwell's "Big Brother" after three mythical and three movie 
monsters from 19th century books. Last, they ivite their readers to 
nominate #10.

They conclude anent Satan:

>The end of the epic struggle--the end of Milton's Paradise Lost--is 
>a foregone conclusion, known to God from the start. In hell, Satan 
>looks heroic. In the Garden of Eden, he seems dangerous and demonic. 
>But in relation to God, he appears as little more than a plot 
>device, a complex figure through which to spin an epic tale.

I've been impressed with the good writing on a variety of subjects 
that comes in on KnowledgeNews. They offer a month's free trial (my 
month is just up) or a lifetime subscription for $35. Their home 
page: http://knowledgenews.net/

Nancy Charlton 
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