Epic Characteristics of Miltons Paradise Lost :: Epics Milton Paradise Lost Essays

Paradise Lost is one of the finest examples of the large tradition in all of literature. In composing this extraordinary work, John Milton was, for the most part, following in the manner of epic poets of past centuries Barbara Lewalski notes that Paradise Lost is an epic whose closest structural affinities are to Virgils Aeneid . . . she continues, however, to state that we now recognize as well the tempt of epic traditions and the presence of epic features other than Virgilian. Among the poems Homeric elements are its Iliadic subject, the death and woe resulting from an act of disobedience the portrayal of Satan as an Archillean hero actuate by a sense of injured merit and also as an Odyssean hero of wiles and craft the description of Satans perilous Odyssey to find a new motherland and the battle scenes in heaven. . . . The poem also incorporates a Hesiodic gigantomachy numerous Ovidian metamorphoses an Ariostan Paradise of Fools and Spenserian allegorical figures (Sin and Death) . . . . (3)There were changes, however, as John M. Steadman makes clear The regularity with which Milton frequently conforms to principles of epic structure make his occasional (solely nevertheless fundamental) variations on the epic tradition all the more striking by contrast. The most important departures from epic decorum--the rejection of a martial theme, and the choice of an argument that emphasizes the heros transgression and defeat instead of celebrating his virtues and triumphs--are paradoxically conditioned by concern for the ethical and religious decorum of the epic genre. On the whole, Milton has retained the formal motifs and devices of the heroic poem but has invested them with Christian matter and meaning. In this sense his epic is . . . something of a pseudomorph--retaining the form of classical epic but replacing its values and contents with Judeo-Christian correlatives. (Epic and Tragic Structure . . . 20) Steadman goes on to defend Miltons changes i n the form of the epic, saying that such revaluations are not strange in the epic tradition they were in fact inevitable (20). It is important, before continuing with an examination of Paradise Lost and its epic characteristics and conventions (specifically, those in Book I), to revaluation for a moment exactly what an epic is. Again, according to Lewalski, Renaissance critics generally thought of epics as long poems treating heroic actions or other weighty matters in a high style, thereby evoking awe or wonder (12).

An Analysis of Wright’s Poem Saint Judas Essay -- Saint Judas

An Analysis of Wrights Poem Saint Judas Upon reading the poem Saint Judas by crowd Wright, the reader quickly realizes that the poem deals with Judas Iscariot, angiotensin-converting enzyme of Jesus twelve apostles. The author describes Judas as going out to kill himself,(line 1) when he sees a man being crush by a pack of hoodlums(2). Judas quickly runs to help the man, forgetting how his day began(4). He leaves his rope behind and, ignoring the soldiers around him, runs to help. Finally, he remembers the circumstances that surround his suicidal intentions and realizes that he is banished from heaven(9) and without hope(13) He runs to the man anyway and holds him for nothing in his arms(14) In order to understand James Wrights intentions in writing this poem, one must first have an understanding of the biblical story that it deals with. According to the Bible, Satan entered Judas, who was numbered among the twelve apostles. So he went his way and conferred with the chief pr iests and captains, how he major power betray Jesus to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. Then he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them(Luke 22. 3-6). The Bible goes on to document Jesus and the apostles during the Last Supper, and Jesus telling his knowledge of Judas plan to betray him. He tells his apostles But behold, the hand of my so-and-so is with me on the table(Luke 22. 21). Judas later leads the officials to Jesus and identifies him to them by kissing Jesus. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, Whomever I kiss, He is the One, seize Him...Then immediately he went up to Jesus and said, Greetings, Rabbi and kissed Him(Matt. 26. 48-49). After Jesus is ta... ...ough Wright does not say it directly, this may til now suggest that the victim Judas encounters could be Jesus on his way to be crucified. Judas temporarily forgets his intent to kill himself and runs to the victim, ignoring the soldiers. Then he remembers the Last Supp er and the meal he ate with Jesus and the other apostles (Bread my flesh had eaten(12)), and his betrayal of Jesus with a kiss (the kiss that ate my flesh(13)). He goes to the man and holds him for nothing is his arms(14). In this line Wright compares Judas payment for betraying Jesus to the fact that he now offers comfort for nothing. Works Cited 1. The Holy Bible, New King James Version. reference edition. Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1983. 2. Wright, James. Saint Judas. Approaching Poetry, Perspectives and Responses. Ed. Meg Spilleth. Boston Bedford/St. Martins, 1997. 70.