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

[Peter C. Herman]

See also Spenser's Letter to Ralegh, although there's a major 
difference: whereas Milton adds the argument to the later editions of 
PL, Spenser dropped the Letter from the second edition of FQ.

Peter C. Herman

At 10:11 AM 4/22/2008, you wrote:
>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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