Milton's Aeneid // Abigale Bell

 John Milton's Paradise Lost is a work created in an age that had awakened an interest in the works of their past. The Renaissance was a period when people gained a renewed appreciation for the classical style of art, literature, and philosophy. However, Milton's culture viewed everything through the lens of the church.

Keeping to the classical style of an epic, Milton opens his story with an appeal to the "Heav'nly Muse" (6). This trademark of classical epics written by Virgil and Homer refers to some higher power. In Milton's case, the muse refers to the ultimate higher power: the Holy Spirit (God Himself). 

Milton often uses language that makes reference to the ancient writers. One such line in book one says, "Fast by the oracle of God, I thence/ Invoke thy aid to my advent'rous song" (12-13). The parallel between the oracle of God and the oracle of Delphi cannot be coincidental. 

When Satan's rebel angels amass in book one, there is a scene reminiscent of the armies of Troy and Greece. The description of Hell's ranks as second to none, even to all the Trojans and Greeks, gods and giants, is yet another connection the the past epics. 

What was Milton's motivation for writing this epic? With its Christian theme, could this have been a way to share the Gospel? Was it simply a Christianization, so to speak, of secular material? In an age where people were looking back to great works of their past, did Milton create his work in an effort to be recognized with the greats like Homer and Virgil?


Commented on Haylee Lynd and Emmett Bryant's posts. 

Comments

  1. Emma DSeptember 6, 2021 at 9:10 PM

    I really appreciated this comparison to Greek epics, as Milton so heavily employs classical conventions throughout his work it feels impossible to catch everything! Considering his motivation is a great question; from what it seems, he'd always planned to write a great epic and establish his reputation. However, for all of his classical strategy, his main source is foremost the Bible. This makes me wonder if this is more of a classical interpretation - a secularization, in a way - of biblical material. I personally am having a difficult time ascertaining the theme from this reading alone, as it paints Satan in a strange central light in a way that the Bible definitely does not, but I look forward to seeing where Milton takes it, and if Satan will remain the "main character" of this epic as it moves forward.

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  2. Ian BlairSeptember 6, 2021 at 11:34 PM

    Great observations! It is certainly no secret that consulting the great examples of epic poetry would prove beneficial to Milton when he decided to write his own. As for Milton's motivations for writing Paradise Lost, I personally believe that he was aiming primarily to Christianize epics, or at least, have a christian epic out there. Second, I think Milton thought that through the storytelling elements of an epic, the seriousness of defying God's will would be a theme understood by generations to come.

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  3. UnknownSeptember 7, 2021 at 8:36 AM

    Milton's use of the classical tropes through a Christian lens is very interesting, as the idea of a Heaven'ly muse is not necessarily something that is out of the question. Our God is the God of Everything, including Creativity and Stories. The world in which Milton was writing this story was rife with political unrest (a coup being in recent memory and Milton being an active participant), so to have someone so politically wanting change and yet still using the older Greek and Roman style is interesting. Great post. --B.Poole

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