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

[Tony Demarest]

Justin-

As a first time reader, remember that a good poet always provides reading instructions within the first stanza- a great poet, within the first lines. No writer wishes to be misread, or thought an enigma- thus the line "man's first disobedience" tells us volumes as readers- and the "Argument," like Eliot's notes for the Wasteland I believe is specious.

Tony
----------------------------------------
> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:48:42 -0500
> From: jbkolb at wisc.edu
> Subject: Re: [Milton-L] A question about The Argument in Paradise Lost
> To: milton-l at lists.richmond.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 
> 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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