Milton's Wisdom: Nature and Scripture in Paradise LostUniversity of Michigan Press, 1992 - 296 pages Milton's Wisdom examines the poet's use of the traditional notion that the eternal wisdom of God expressed itself in the "books" of nature and Scripture. It is the first study to draw attention to Milton's extensive use of biblical wisdom literature in his dramatization of Adam and Eve's education, their fall, and their reconciliation with one another and with God. The author looks at the ways theological and hence epistemological questions converge on and are generated by Adam's, Eve's, and Satan's responses to the world they see around them and to the words God and his emissaries speak to them. Reichert argues that the nature/Scripture dichotomy informs the symmetrical structure of the twelve books of Milton's epic. Milton's Wisdom challenges previous readings that have tried to ally Milton with the Puritans' strict theology of the word. Reichert has shifted our attention away from literary and historical theory and back to the experience of the poem as a whole. |
From inside the book
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Page 208
... instruction and discipline . All three books portray the sincere desire for instruction and discipline as the beginning of wis- dom , 5 and it seems likely that Milton saw Raphael , the “ divine instruc- tor " ( 5.546 ) , and Michael ...
... instruction and discipline . All three books portray the sincere desire for instruction and discipline as the beginning of wis- dom , 5 and it seems likely that Milton saw Raphael , the “ divine instruc- tor " ( 5.546 ) , and Michael ...
Page 209
... instruction : instruction about their duties to themselves and to their Creator . Before Raphael's arrival in Paradise , however , and indeed before we meet Adam and Eve , Milton introduces us to the problematic nature of wisdom and of ...
... instruction : instruction about their duties to themselves and to their Creator . Before Raphael's arrival in Paradise , however , and indeed before we meet Adam and Eve , Milton introduces us to the problematic nature of wisdom and of ...
Page 214
... instruction Raphael gives to Adam comes , like the injunction to keep his great command , in response to Adam's account of the effect Eve has on him . That instruction , too , comes partly from the Wisdom literature , as we shall see ...
... instruction Raphael gives to Adam comes , like the injunction to keep his great command , in response to Adam's account of the effect Eve has on him . That instruction , too , comes partly from the Wisdom literature , as we shall see ...
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Paradise Lost | 51 |
Meditating on the Creatures Part | 69 |
Copyright | |
2 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Adam and Eve Adam's angels answer appears beauty become beginning Book bring calls chapter conversation course created creation creatures death describes desire divine earth effect emphasis Eve's evil expressed eyes face fact fair faith Fall fallen Father fear feel follow fruit given gives God's grace hand happy hath hear heard heart heaven heavenly human hymn John knowledge leave light lines live look Lord meaning Michael Milton mind morning move nature once opening Paradise Lost passage perhaps phrase poem poet praise prayer present providence question Raphael reader reason reference Satan says Scripture seems seen sense sight speak speech spirit story suggest sweet tells thee things thou thought tree turn understanding University Press unto voice wisdom wonder words
References to this book
All in All: Unity, Diversity, and the Miltonic Perspective Charles W. Durham,Kristin A. Pruitt Limited preview - 1999 |