About ENGL 2332 A
Milton's major works in various intellectual, historical, and aesthetic contexts, with special attention to Paradise Lost. Prerequisites: Three hours in English numbered 1010 to 1990; minimum Sophomore standing.
Notes
Prereqs: 3 hrs ENGL between 1010- 1990 Minimum Sophomore standing PACE students by permission and override
Section Description
The Shakespeare scholar Emma Smith defines a classic as a text “that’s not told us everything it has to tell us yet.” That is certainly true about John Milton’s Paradise Lost: over three and half centuries after it was written, it is still sustaining all the questions it asked in 1667, questions that lead us to new considerations each time we encounter it. It is arguably the most thorough, urgent exploration of the human condition in English literature.
We will begin the course with a poem from early in Milton’s career, the 1637 pastoral elegy “Lycidas.” We’ll then spend a couple of weeks simply reading Paradise Lost from start to finish. There will be reading quizzes during these two weeks of the class; we will also read sections of the poem aloud in class, and there will be time to ask questions about what is happening in the poem. This is all in the service of becoming familiar with a poem that can at first feel quite daunting. Having, in a sense, “made friends” with Milton and the poem, we will then go back to its beginning to engage deeply in the conversation that this capacious text inspires, discovering our own questions and sharing in the inquiries of other literary critics both in discussion and in writing for the rest of the semester.
Section Expectation
Required Texts
John Milton, Paradise Lost. Norton Critical Edition, Second Edition. Edited by Gordon Teskey. WW Norton & Company, 2020. ISBN-13: 978-0393617085
Note: You MUST have this edition of Paradise Lost as a physical text (no e-books).
John Milton, Paradise Lost. Audio book. Narrated by Simon Vance. Available on Audible.
Several other required readings will be made available on Brightspace.
Learning Outcomes
In this course, you will learn to: read fluently in unrhymed iambic pentameter; annotate texts for understanding and critical thinking; paraphrase and summarize the arguments of others; write about literature in ways that matter; draw connections between historical periods; engage deeply in the “moral conversation” with your peers; come to appreciate the relevance of literary study to our own lived experience.
I have high expectations for my students, and Paradise Lost has much higher expectations for us all. It is precisely for those reasons that I expect we’ll have a great time together. Paradise Lost is a marvel, and it pays massive dividends (for life) when we engage deeply with it.
Evaluation
Reading quizzes – 10%; Response Journal (weekly writing) – 20%; four Term Paper Preparation assignments – 45%; Term Paper – 25%.
Important Dates
Note: These dates may change before registration begins.
Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.
| Last Day to Add | |
|---|---|
| Last Day to Drop | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 50% Refund | |
| Last Day to Withdraw with 25% Refund | |
| Last Day to Withdraw |
Resources
Remind Me Form
Remind yourself about ENGL 2332 A.
We'll send you a reminder before Fall 2026 registration begins.