李晓芳 John Milton.ppt

John Milton(1608-1674) Table of Contents 1. Biography 2. Paradise Lost 2.1 Plot 2.2 Theme 2.3 Characters 2.4 The Image of Satan 2.5 Style Milton is a great poet and important prose writer. His Paradise Lost is the only generally acknowledged English epic since Beowulf. * * 1. Biography He was the greatest English revolutionary poet of the 17th century. He wrote the greatest epic in English literature. He was a great stylist, and famous for his grand style. 2. Paradise Lost Milton’s masterpiece. A long epic in 12 books, written in blank verse. taken from the Old Testament. Major characters: Satan, God, Archangel, Adam, Eve. It is about Satan’s rebellion against God and the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. 2.1 Plot  the creation； the rebellion in Heaven of Satan and his fellow-angels； their defeat and expulsion from Heaven； the creation of the earth and of Adam and Eve; the fallen angels in hell plotting against God； Satan’s temptation of Eve, and the departure of Adam and Eve from Eden. Led by freedom-loving Satan, the rebellious angels rise against God, but in the battle with the hosts of angels that remain loyal to God they are finally defeated. Satan and his followers are banished from Heaven and driven into hell. But Satan and his adherents are not discouraged. The epic opens with the description of a meeting of the fallen angels in hell. Satans proud spirit is unyielding. He fearlessly withstands all agonies and passionately strives for revenge and victory. God learns of his intention, however, and sends the Arch-angle Raphael to warn Adam and Eve of Satans plan. The Archangel reminds them of their vow of obedience and gives a detailed account of Satans rebellion. Raphael goes on to relate God‘s creation of heaven and earth, and all living creatures. But on Adam’s request for an explanation of the rotation of the celestial bodies(天体循环) ( an echo of Galileo s sermons), Raphael advises him not to in