19. Paradise Lost, Books XI-XII

Milton (ENGL 220)

Books Eleven and Twelve of Paradise Lost and their radical departure from the poem's previous style are discussed. The transformation of Milton's famously sonorous verse into a more didactic mode is closely documented, and the poem's increasing emphasis on visual instruction is underscored in a study of the Archangel Michael's lesson on the history of the post-fallen world. Considerable time is devoted to both a consideration of Milton's late politics and Book Eleven's depiction of the destruction of paradise.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction: The Last Two Books of "Paradise Lost"
09:00 - Chapter 2. Recap of the Treatise on Licensing
20:03 - Chapter 3. "Paradise Lost" Book XI: A Vision of Michael's History Lesson
38:16 - Chapter 4. "Paradise Lost" Book XII: A Narration of Michael's History Lesson

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses

This course was recorded in Fall 2007.