Department of English

Topic: Controversies and Contradictions

The poet John Milton loved controversy and wasn’t afraid of contradictions. He evokes the pleasures of love in Eden yet shades them with misogyny; he mirrors God’s authority in a king he wants executed; he creates an utterly charming Satan. By reading Milton’s poetry and prose, you’ll discover how his poetry shaped our sense of what great literature is. You’ll gain a sense of why Milton has become a lightning rod for critical debate. From his prose advocating free speech to his great biblical epic Paradise Lost to his drama about religious violence, Milton confronted issues that we’re still debating today. Coursework will include short writing assignments, a research paper, and a final exam.