John Milton

elective courses

The course is designed to provide a comprehensive account of the literary work of John Milton against the broad cultural, social and political context of seventeenth-century England. The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the most significant of Milton's works. The central part of the course is a detailed analysis of Paradise Lost as the most significant example of the genre of epic.

The course is designed to provide a comprehensive account of the literary work of John Milton against the broad cultural, social and political context of seventeenth-century England. The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the most significant of Milton's works, from the early lyric poetry (Nativity Ode, Lycidas), through the poet's political pamphlets (The Reason of Church Government, Of Education, Areopagitica), dramatic works like the masque Comus and the verse drama like Samson Agonistes, to the grand epic poetry of Milton's final years.

The overall design is to provide an accurate picture of Milton's ideological background and his professional literary skills, and also to trace the interrelations between his poetic output and social and political work.

Special attention will be devoted to the epic poem Paradise Lost, which will be analysed in detail with particular focus on issues such as:

- the poem's place in English and European tradition of epic poetry,

- the theological dimension of the work in the context of the intricacy of the seventeenth century English religious life,

- the political context of the poem and the way it reflects the ideological controversies of the day and the heritage of the Civil War and the years of the Puritan government.

A parallel aim of the course is to provide a twenty-first century perspective on John Milton by situating the poet and his work in the context of the later literary epochs ,as well as in the contemporary cultural environment.

Credit for the course will be awarded on the basis of an oral examination based on the actual content of the particular course.

Milton, John (2007) Paradise Lost, edited by Alastair Fowler, second revised edition, Harlow,

Cook, Patrick J. (1999) Milton, Spenser and the epic Tradition, Aldershot.

Demaray, John G. (1980). Milton's Theatrical Epic. The Invention and Design of Paradise Lost. London.

Henry, N. (1987). The True Wayfaring Christian. Studies in Milton's Puritanism. New York.

Hiller, Russell M. (2011) Milton's Messiah, Oxford.

Hunter, G.K. (1980). Paradise Lost. London.

Hunter, W.B. / Patrides, C. A. / Adamson, J.H. (1971). Bright Essence. Salt Lake City.

Kaufman, V. Milo (1978). Paradise in the Age of Milton. Victoria.

Kurth, B.O. (1959). Milton and Christian Heroism. Berkeley.

Lewis, Clive Staples. (1960), Preface to Paradise Lost. London.

Loewenstein, David. (1993). Milton: Paradise Lost. Cambridge.

Martin, John Rupert. (1977). Baroque. London.

Nicolson, Marjorie Hope. (1964). John Milton. A Reader's Guide to His Poetry. London.

Patrides, C. A.(1966). Milton and the Christian Tradition. Oxford.

Stewart, Stanley (1973). The Enclosed Garden. The Myth of the Fall of Man in English Literature. Pittsburgh.

Revard, S. P. (1980). The War in Heaven. Ithaca and London.

Steadman, J. M. (1939). Milton and the Paradoxes of Renaissance Heroism. London.

Steadman, J. M. (1968). Milton's Epic Characters. Image and Idol. Chapel Hill.

Knowledge

Students will be able to:

K_W01- Identify and characterize on an advanced level the place

and status of literary studies, especially Milton's work, within the humanities

K_W02- Describe on an advanced level the current trends in

literary studies research on the history of the here of epic within English studies

K_W04- Characterize on an advanced level the principles of

research design in literary studies with special focus on the

application of methods and tools in formulating research problems

K_W05- Identify the notions and principles pertinent to

intellectual property and copyright

Abilities

Students will be able to:

K_U01- Apply advanced terminology and notions pertinent to the

discipline ( literary studies)

K_U02-Apply advanced research methodology within literary

and English studies, respecting ethical norms and copyright law

K_U03-Apply knowledge obtained during the course of studies to

account for and solve a problem, thereby completing a research

task related to the discipline literary studies

K_U04- Analyze literary phenomena and draw generalizations

on their basis in the context of societal, historical and economic

factors on an advanced level

K_U05- Discern alternative methodological paradigms within a

discipline

K_U06- Find information in various sources and critically assess

its usefulness for research related to the topic of the MA project

Social competences

Students will be ready to:

K_K02- Apply knowledge and skills obtained during the course of

studies to undertake lifelong learning, as well as personal and

professional development

K_K03- Take responsibility for performing one’s professional

duties, with due respect for the work of others, obey and develop

the ethical norms in professional and academic settings related to

the disciplines included on the curriculum of English studies

K_K04- Assess critically one’s own knowledge and skills related

to the studies

K_K06- Value cultural heritage and cultural diversity as well as

individual opinions

Education at language level B2+.

0ral exam