[Milton-L] visual imagery in Paradise Lost

[Hilda Downer]

I just discovered this site and am excited to find people discussing  
Milton and visual imagery.  Back in the 80's, I wrote a master's  
thesis on visual imagery and other sensory detail utilized in  
Paradise Lost.  I set out to refute T.S. Eliot's claim that the most  
important thing about Milton was his blindness.  I went through the  
text in different manuscripts, line by line and letter by letter, to  
find acrostics and visual imagery.  I researched the printing process  
of the first manuscript, and I am convinced that visual imagery  
produced by the print itself was due to Milton's design.  Either that  
or the work was divinely inspired.  I found acrostics that coincide  
with the meaning of the relevant text.  The thesis is titled, Light  
is a Blind Man Feeling Through Dark, at Appalachian State  
University.  Perhaps the work I've done could be of use to someone.   
I look forward to reading more of the discussions on this site.

Hilda Downer