[Milton-L] A question about The Argument in Paradise Lost

[jsavoie at siue.edu]

The argument within the poem is certainly a classical legacy (so, "the highth of
this great Argument" PL 1.24), but what about the external apparatus of the
arguments before each book, which still seems a different thing than the little
rhyming quatrains of the Faerie Queene?

John Savoie

Quoting Justin Kolb <jbkolb at wisc.edu>:

> Hi Justin,
>
> The argument is a traditional part of classical epic and rhetoric, so Milton
> is drawing on long-established models. Why he added it to the second edition
> specifically, I'm not sure off the top of my head.
>
> JBK
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: justin k <justin.w.keck at gmail.com>
> Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 10:48 am
> Subject: [Milton-L] A question about The Argument in Paradise Lost
> To: milton-l at lists.richmond.edu
>
>
> > Hello,
> >  I am a first time user and first time student of Milton. I was hoping
> > if any
> >  one might be able to answer a question for me.
> >  I know that Milton, with the intention of giving the reader direction
> > for
> >  his poem, added The Argument to the second edition of Paradise Lost,
> > .
> >  What I would like to know is this.
> >  Within the history of literature, is this the first time a device
> > like The
> >  Argument has been used?
> >  Is it a Miltonic device or has Milton borrow this approach form a
> > past poet
> >  or author.
> >
> >  Thank you,
> >  Justin
> >
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