Lesson Seventeen: The Biblical Theme of Good and Evil in Milton’s Paradise Lost Lesson Eighteen: A Philosophical Characterization of God

a. Eve’s choice to eat from the Tree suggests that she places value upon having knowledge. b. The knowledge of good and evil embodies four concepts: Knowledge, Good, Evil, and Death (Genesis 2:15-17 15). c. Love is one of the most universal themes in literature. d. Adam’s love for his wife, Eve, propels him to eat the fruit and disobey God’s rule. e. All the above statements are correct.

For Reflection: Directions:

Write a three-five paragraph essay about one of the biblical themes below. Refer to the main points presented in this lesson’s assigned readings. Follow writing guidelines at: Learn to Write a First Class Essay (https://www.researchprospect.com/essay-writing-guidelines/). Check your writing to correct errors. Post the essay on the discussion board. Label the post: Literary Themes in the Book of Genesis.

 Good Vs Evil in the Universe  God’s Love for Humanity  Humankind’s Rebellion against God  God’s Judgment and Redemption  Covenants and Promises  Order in Creation  Human Character Flaws  The Paradox of Good and Evil in Humanity

Note: In completing the writing assignment, refer to the website “Tips for Writing an Effective Essay” at https://www.examples.com/education/tips-for-writing-effective-essay.html. Use your computer’s editing capability to correct writing errors. Post your essay on the discussion board. Label the essay: Common Biblical Themes.

A Closing Thought:

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

– Benjamin Franklin

LESSON SEVENTEEN

THE BIBLICAL THEME OF GOOD AND EVIL IN MILTON’S PARADISE LOST

Lesson Overview:

In Christian tradition, Genesis, Chapter 3 is the biblical account of the Fall of humanity from divine favor, resulting in the general sinful or “fallen” condition of humankind. English poet and intellectual John Milton began his epic poem, Paradise Lost, with the purpose of explaining the ways of God to man. He intended to justify God’s response to mankind’s disobedience and show how, in the fullness of time, God’s actions turn evil to good. Students will examine the biblical themes and other literary elements in Milton’s classic epic, Paradise Lost, as a poetic rewriting of the Book of Genesis.

Key Concepts:

themes, motifs, a universal idea, allusion, epic poem, preface, ethos, logos, justification, blank verse, elevated language, iambic pentameter, and iambic hexameter, muse, Holy Spirit

Learning Objectives:

Students will:  find a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text.  find biblical allusions in Western Literature.  apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to understand more fully when reading or listening.

Expected Outcomes:

After this lesson, students will be able to:  define literary terms related to the assigned readings (e.g., theme, motif, epic, allusion, preface, ethos, pathos)  decide the theme or main idea in biblical text.  recognize biblical allusions in Western literature.  find text evidence that supports theme.  defend a position taken in an argumentative essay.  correct errors in standard English usage.  share ideas with others via a discussion board.

Duration: 3-4 hours

Materials:

 Video: Paradise Lost Introduction (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbfiuss29s&list=TLPQMzAwMzIwMjK1xGHF9og3nQ&index=3)  Book 1 of Milton’s Paradise Lost in Modern English (https://www.paradiselostinmodernenglish.com/)  Lecture: “Analysis of John Milton’s Paradise Lost” B Y N A S R U L L A H M A M B R O L (h t t p s : / / l i t e r a r i n e s s . o r g / 2 0 2 0 / 0 7 / 1 2 / a n a l y s i s - o f - j o h n - m i l t o n s - p a r a d i s e - l o s t / )  Literary Criticism: ANALYSIS OF JOHN MILTON’S PARADISE LOST (https://literariness.org/2020/07/12/analysis-of-john-miltons-paradise-lost/)  A computer with internet access and editing capabilities  A dictionary  Paper, pen, and paper

Procedure:

 Read Book 1 of Milton’s Paradise Lost in Modern English (https://www.paradiselostinmodernenglish.com/2014/03/BOOK1.html)  Respond to the extended learning study questions.  Note key points in your notebook.

Extended Learning Study Questions:

Video: Paradise Lost Introduction (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbfiuss29s&list=TLPQMzAwMzIwMjK1xGHF9og3nQ&index=3)

Directions:

Based on the video, write down whether the following statements are (A) CORRECT or (B) INCORRECT.

1. The blind poet, John Milton was born in London in 1608. 2. He lived during the time of a civil war which involved political religious controversies. 3. He married Mary Powell who left him months later and did not return for three years. 4. Days after his third daughter was born, his wife died. 5. A month later, his son died, and he also lost his sight. 6. Two years later, he married Catherine Woodcock.

7. The loss of his first wife and the losing his sight heavily influenced his writing. 8. Milton took part in highly political controversies. 9. Once, he was under house arrest for six months. 10. After he married Elizabeth Mitchell, he retired from public life. 11. Parts of Milton’s Paradise Lost are missing. 12. Milton’s Paradise Lost is not meant to replace Hebrew Scriptures. 13. In Paradise Lost, the main concern of the poet was to justify the ways of God to man. 14. Milton aimed to achieve in his writing what Homer, Virgil, and Dante did for

Greek, Latin and Italian. 15. Homer wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey. 16. Virgil wrote The Aeneid, and Dante wrote The Inferno. 17. Mary Shelley, C.S. Lewis, and William Blake highly influenced Milton’s writings. 18. As a writer, Milton pondered question: “If the world was created by a good, just, and loving God, why is there little evidence of goodness and justice in the world?” 19. He also asked the questions:” What does it mean for humankind to be created in the image of God, and how does humanity endure in a fallen world?” 20. The title of Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost, alludes to the Garden of Eden. 21. Milton penned the epic poem Paradise Lost in blank verse. 22. A poem written in blank verse is unrhymed. 23. The people of Milton’s time were familiar with poems that rhymed. 24. Milton followed the epic writing style set up by Homer. 25. He employed the practice of saying his theme and invoking the muse or a higher power to help him throughout the story. 26. In Paradise Lost, the muse is the Holy Spirit. 27. Milton drew from the Book of Genesis and the war in heaven from the Book of Revelation in writing Paradise Lost. 28. Genesis is the first Book in the Christian and Jewish Bibles. 29. Revelation is the last Book in the Christian Bibles. 30. Milton incorporated iambic pentameter and iambic hexameter in his epic poem, Paradise Lost. 31. He patterned his verses for the poem after Shakespeare’s unrhymed iambic pentameter. 32. Milton’s Paradise Lost has a logical literary pattern to it. 33. In Milton’s writing, God is the omniscient or all-knowing Creator of heaven and earth. 34. In Paradise Lost, Jesus Christ is God’s Son who has not come to earth. 35. In the poem, Jesus volunteers to give His life as a ransom for man's sin. 36. Milton personifies Satan and the fallen angels in Paradise Lost. 37. In the poem, Satan’s capital is hell. 38. One of the fallen angels, Beelzebub, is second in command.

39. Beelzebub is the last to speak at the devilish council that takes place in Book 1. 40. Beelzebub convinces the fallen angels to accept Satan's scheme of revenge toward God that involves the destruction of humankind.

Study Questions

(From Literary Criticism: ANALYSIS OF JOHN MILTON’S PARADISE LOST) (https://literariness.org/2020/07/12/analysis-of-john-miltons-paradise-lost/)

Directions:

Based on the article, write down whether the following statements are (A) CORRECT or (B) INCORRECT? 1. The first twenty-six lines of Book in Milton’s Paradise Lost introduce the theme of the poem-man’s first disobedience. 2. The “fruit” is consequences of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. 3. The expression, “man’s disobedience” relates only to male humans. 4. The mention of “Tree” and “fruit” in Milton’s poem is an allusion to Genesis, Chapter 3. 5. This article proposes that “Death” is the consequence of disobedience. 6. Milton personifies “Death.” 7. In the poem’s preface, Milton calls upon “the heavenly muse” to help him narrate the story of man’s Fall in the Garden of Eden. 8. A muse is a term related to Greek and Roman mythology. 9. In Greek and Roman Literature, the nine goddesses, or muses, are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. 10. In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, the muses preside over the arts and sciences. 11. A myth is a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people. 12. Myths explain natural or social phenomenon (events; happenings). 13. Milton uses apostrophe in this line: Sing, heavenly Muse, that on the secret top of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd, who first taught the chosen seed…". 14. The reference, “that Shepherd,” is an allusion to the biblical Moses. 15. An allusion is an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly or directly. 16. In biblical text, the expression “the Chosen Seed” refers to the Hebrews. 17. Milton opens the poem by asserting that he will offer a new perspective upon the undeniable truths in the Bible. 18. One should expect a writer or speaker to argue effectively against indisputable truths.