tailieunhanh - Lecture Literary criticism - Lecture 11: Samuel Johnson on paradise lost

In this case the probable is marvellous and Marvellous is probable. The subject matter absolute truth. The main fabric is supported. Its subject is universally and perpetually interesting. All mankind has the same relation to Adam and Eve and all are involved in this battle of Good v/s Evil. | SAMUEL JOHNSON ON PARADISE LOST PROBABLE AND MARVELLOUS In this case the probable is marvellous and Marvellous is probable. The subject matter absolute truth. The main fabric is supported. Its subject is universally and perpetually interesting. All mankind has the same relation to Adam and Eve and all are involved in this battle of Good v/s Evil. MACHINERY Here is no room to speak because everything is done under the immediate and visible direction of Heaven. However no part of action could have been accomplished by any other means. EPISODES There are two,one was used as a warning and the other as a consolation. INTEGRITY It cannot be objected. It has a proper beginning,middle and end. Nothing is superfluous. The short digression of 3,7,9 book are super flows but they are so well and beautifully written that no one would want to take them away. Purpose of poetry is pleasure. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS Unity of action. Who is the hero? Is it heroic? SENTIMENTS Are expressive of manners or . | SAMUEL JOHNSON ON PARADISE LOST PROBABLE AND MARVELLOUS In this case the probable is marvellous and Marvellous is probable. The subject matter absolute truth. The main fabric is supported. Its subject is universally and perpetually interesting. All mankind has the same relation to Adam and Eve and all are involved in this battle of Good v/s Evil. MACHINERY Here is no room to speak because everything is done under the immediate and visible direction of Heaven. However no part of action could have been accomplished by any other means. EPISODES There are two,one was used as a warning and the other as a consolation. INTEGRITY It cannot be objected. It has a proper beginning,middle and end. Nothing is superfluous. The short digression of 3,7,9 book are super flows but they are so well and beautifully written that no one would want to take them away. Purpose of poetry is pleasure. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS Unity of action. Who is the hero? Is it heroic? SENTIMENTS Are expressive of manners or appropriated to characters,are for the greater part unexceptionably just. MILTON’S IMAGINATION Milton’s imagination is of highest degree of fervid and is very active and the thoughts that are brought forward during the progress of the poem can be produced only by such an heat of Milton’s mind may be said to sublimate his material was supplied by his incessant study and unlimited curiosity, His imagination and sublimity of his learning threw in his work the spirit of science. MILTON’S POWER Sublimity Descriptions are learned. Imagination accustomed to unrestrained indulgence. Conceptions are extensive. Gigantic loftiness instead of grace. Can provide pleasure when pleasure is needed but his particular power is to astonish. The power of displaying the vast splendid,darkening the gloomy,aggravating the dreadful. Nature and life did not satiate his appetite of greatness. Reality was a scene too narrow for his mind. He sent his faculties to discover the worlds .