Description and Goals:

“This course is a survey of the life and works of the great English poet and writer John Milton, a giant of the seventeenth century whose impact upon English literature has been profound.  To explore the depths of so complex and prolific a genius would require at least a lifetime, but the four months of the term should be sufficient to expose you to Milton’s major works of poetry and prose.  Using The Riverside Milton for our survey of Milton’s major English verse and prose and John Shawcross’s John Milton : The Self and the World for our introduction to Milton’s life and historical context, we will spend the semester among such glories as Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes, and enjoy such pleasures as we find on this side of Paradise: daily quizzes, two examinations, and a scholarly paper.” (English Department Courses, Spring 2001, http://www.obu.edu/english/spring2001.htm)

Course Objectives:                 Upon completion of the course, the student will have read the majority of John Milton’s English poetry and selections from his major prose works.  Throughout the course, the student will demonstrate the following abilities:

·        to recite from memory two hundred lines of Milton’s verse, representing a variety of forms,

·        to read Milton’s poetry and prose with a critical eye,

·        to read Milton’s poetry with an ear sensitive to the meter,

·        to recognize stylistic traits peculiar to Milton and those whom he has influenced,

·        to understand Milton’s ideas within the historical context of his life and time period,

·        and to implement what he or she has learned about Milton through the composition of a scholarly paper concerning one or more of Milton’s works.

Requirements:

1.                  Attendance: I shall be taking attendance daily; and, once you have accrued more than six absences, you will no longer be eligible for a passing grade in the course.  Any early departures, unless cleared with me before class, will be regarded as absences.  On the other hand, anyone so diligent as to have a perfect attendance record will receive a five-point bonus at the end of the session.

2.                  Preparation:  In addition to reading each assignment closely prior to class, you should never arrive without whatever text is indicated on the daily schedule.  Since sessions will often begin with a comprehension quiz, you should arrive at class each day with a basic understanding of what you have read and a retention of the major details of the material.

3.                  Participation: Your participation will be judged chiefly according to the seriousness, attentiveness, and thoroughness with which you approach the class discussions and lectures.  In the case of a borderline grade, the student who has been an active and conscientious participant will receive mercy--a participation bonus of up to ten points; the student who has not will receive justice--the exact score he has earned.

4.                  Memorization (200 @ 1 pt. each: 200 pts.): Since there is no quicker way to absorb Milton than to commit his poetry to memory, I shall ask you to memorize and recite to me from memory a minimum of two hundred lines from the poetry collected in our textbook.  Milton profoundly influenced the nature of blank verse in particular, the poetic form of Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, so I would like one hundred of the memorized lines to be from his blank verse, taken from poems that span his career and reflect the development of his art.  Of the remaining hundred, the lines you memorize will need to display at least one example of each of the following forms: heroic couplets, tetrameter couplets, rime royale, Italian (or Miltonic) sonnet.

5.                  Two examinations (2 @ 100 pts. each: 200 pts): A combination of approaches both objective (e.g., identification of terms, names, poetic forms, and quotations) and subjective (e.g., short discussions of quotations and essay responses), these examinations will be scheduled at two points in the term, the first occurring shortly before mid-term, the second serving as our final examination.

6.                  One research paper (10-12 pages typed, MLA format, 100 pts.): In the second half of the semester, you will submit a research paper on an approved topic covering one or more of the works assigned for the course.  While this paper will need chiefly to show your own mature understanding of the literature, you will need also to support your interpretation and analysis with secondary sources, properly cited.  This requirement, in short, will compel you to rely upon two standard tools of the modern student of letters: the library and the MLA handbook.  For the student of Milton, the two most common scholarly journals are Milton Studies and Milton Quarterly, while the surfer of the Net will also find two other excellent resources listed under “Helpful Supplements” below.

7.                  Quizzes (36 @ 10 pts. each, lowest six dropped: 300 pts.): I have provided below a schedule of the required readings, which you are to read closely by the date each is due on the schedule.  As a means of both encouragement and reward, I shall give scheduled quizzes that will test basic comprehension and retention of the assigned reading.  Each quiz will be given at the beginning of the class period and cannot be made up by those who miss it by being either absent or late for class, so you will need to be both regular and punctual in your attendance.  I shall drop, however, your lowest reading-quiz grades for those occasional times when you may not be, shall we say, at your best—or there at all!  Lastly, one question from each quiz will require you to define a word from the current week’s Daily Word schedule, which you will find described below under “Extra-Credit Opportunities.”

*         Extra-Credit Opportunities

Especially around midterm, my students have traditionally been fairly desperate to know what they might be able to do to improve their course average; so I thought I would let you know here at the beginning of the course exactly what you could do to add points to your course total.  You may use any combination of the opportunities described below to acquire up to a maximum of thirty extra-credit points.

1.        The Daily Word Game:  For the last ten years or so, several faculty members from across the university have attempted to improve both their own and their students’ vocabularies through what has come to be known as The Daily Word Game.  At the beginning of each semester, Dr. Johnny Wink prepares a list of words corresponding to each school day of the semester and distributes it to the faculty, inviting professors to “incorporate daily words into their classes in any way they see fit.”  To prevent repeating words, Dr. Wink has been moving alphabetically through the dictionary and has come, for the spring of 2001, to the letter O.  I shall be using this list directly in the course by including the daily words on your regular reading quizzes; but I thought I would also encourage you to retain the daily words, absorbing them into your own vocabularies, by offering an optional Daily Word Examination at the close of the semester for up to thirty points of extra credit.

2.        The Sonnets: A few years ago, Dr. Wink and I began the project of attempting to memorize all of William Shakespeare’s one hundred and fifty-four sonnets.  By the beginning of this semester, we have memorized the first fifty-eight of the sonnets.  Since memorizing poetry has had a tremendous effect on my own writing style, in both verse and prose, I would encourage you to join Dr. Wink and me in this project and shall offer five points of extra-credit for each sonnet you can recite to me of the sonnets that Dr. Wink and I have memorized.  I shall always post on my office door a copy of whatever sonnet we are currently memorizing, and you can locate sonnets earlier in the series either in the library or on the Internet.  You will find one convenient web site containing all of Shakespeare’s sonnets at http://the-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/Poetry/sonnets.html.  Whenever you would like to say a sonnet for me, drop by my office or flag me down on campus.  I shall begin by first reciting the sonnet to you from memory, and then I shall have you recite the poem to me.  Given the maximum number of extra-credit points specified above, I shall be able to give you credit for no more than six sonnets, but you are certainly welcome to continue with Dr. Wink and me in the project if only for the simple joy of having a head full of beautiful poetry.

3.       Miltonic Events: An activity currently popular across the nation is a marathon reading of Paradise Lost, something I would very much like to arrange if our schedules permit.  This would require a full day or night and would undoubtedly compel us to select a weekend.  In the coming weeks, look at your schedule to see what date might be best for such an event.  Not only would such an experience greatly aid your reading and understanding of the epic, but I would also be happy to give up to fifteen extra-credit points to any who can complete the entire marathon.  In addition, I shall be inviting you to my home twice this semester for an evening of dinner and Haydn oratorios based on two of Milton’s major poems.

4.      Extra-Curricular Events--To Be Announced: Throughout the semester, there may be cultural events of one sort or another for which I shall give five points for attendance.  I shall announce these occasions as they come to my attention.

¨      Ouachita Baptist University is committed to extending access and opportunity to those who have disabilities.  To request modifications and accommodations due to a disabling condition, or for a copy of the  University policy concerning modifications or accommodations, contact Heather Roberts, University Counselor and ADA/504 Coordinator, in the Counseling Services office.  The office is located in Lile 136, and  the telephone number is 245-5591.

Required Textbooks:

Milton, John.  The Riverside Milton.  Ed. Roy Flannagan.  New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.

Shawcross, John T.  John Milton : The Self and the World.  Lexington: U of Kentucky P, 1993.

Recommended Text:

Lewis, C. S.  A Preface to Paradise Lost.  1942.  New York: Oxford UP, 1961.

Helpful Supplements:

Milton Home Page: http://www.urich.edu/~creamer/milton/

Milton Reading Room: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/

Departmental Web Site: http://www.obu.edu/english

·                    Faculty Descriptions

·                    Requirements for the Major and Minor

·                    Catalogue of English Courses

·                    Spring 2001 Course Descriptions

·                    Internet Resources for Students of Literature

·                    Poets’ Corner

First Week: First things

Wednesday, 1/10: Introduction [Daily Word: ozone]

Thursday, 1/11: [Daily Word: oxtail]

Friday, 1/12: [Daily Word: ovoid] Some early lives of John Milton, Quiz 1
Last day to register

Second Week Juvenilia and College Years

Monday, 1/15: [Daily Word: overture] Paraphrase of Psalms CXIV and CXXXVI, “On the Death of a Fair Infant,” “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity,” Quiz 2

Tuesday, 1/16: [Daily Word: ouzo]

Wednesday, 1/17: [Daily Word: outré] “On Time,” “At a Solemn Musick,” “On Shakespear,” “On the University Carrier,” “Another on the Same,” Quiz 3
Last day to add a course

Thursday, 1/18: [Daily Word: oud]

Friday, 1/19: [Daily Word: ostracize] L’Allegro and Il Penseroso, Quiz 4

Third Week A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634

Monday, 1/22: [Daily Word: ostentatious] A Mask (109-52), Quiz 5

Tuesday, 1/23: [Daily Word: ossuary]

Wednesday, 1/24: [Daily Word: orthography] A Mask (153-71), Quiz 6

Thursday, 1/25: [Daily Word: oriflamme]

Friday, 1/26: [Daily Word: orifice] Curlin, “An Equal Poise of Hope and Fear”: A Fraternal Harmony of Extremes,” Arenas of Conflict: Milton and the Unfettered Mind, Quiz 7

Fourth Week Lycidas and Sonnets

Monday, 1/29: [Daily Word: oread] Lycidas, Quiz 8

Tuesday, 1/30: [Daily Word: orb]

Wednesday, 1/31: [Daily Word: opulent] Sonnets VIII, X, XI, XII, XIII, “On the New Forcers of Conscience,” XVI, XVII, Quiz 9

Thursday, 2/1: [Daily Word: opus]

Friday, 2/2: [Daily Word: optative] Curlin, “Chaos in the Convent’s Narrow Room: Milton and the Sonnet,” PAPA 19.2, Quiz 10

Fifth Week Selected Prose

Monday, 2/5: [Daily Word: otiose] “Of Education,” Quiz 11

Tuesday, 2/6: [Daily Word: optometry]

Wednesday, 2/7: [Daily Word: oracular] Areopagitica (987-1002), Quiz 12

Thursday, 2/8: [Daily Word: ophthalmology]

Friday, 2/9: [Daily Word: opera bouffe] Areopagitica (1002-24), Quiz 13

Christian Focus Week

Sixth Week Sonnets and Samson

Monday, 2/12: [Daily Word: opacity] Sonnets XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, Quiz 14

Tuesday, 2/13: [Daily Word: oneiromancy]

Wednesday, 2/14: [Daily Word: omer] Samson Agonistes (783-819), Quiz 15

Thursday, 2/15: [Daily Word: ombudsman]

Friday, 2/16: [Daily Word: olla] Samson Agonistes (819-44), Quiz 16
Last day to drop a course.

Seventh Week First Examination

Monday, 2/19: [Daily Word: Old Bailey] First discussion of Shawcross biography, Quiz 17 (covered pages to be announced)

Tuesday, 2/20: [Daily Word: old boy network]

Wednesday, 2/21: [Daily Word: old wives’ tale] Review for First Examination

Thursday, 2/22: [Daily Word: old-world]

Friday, 2/23: [Daily Word: old school tie] First Examination

Eighth Week: Paradise Lost I-II

Monday, 2/26: [Daily Word: oligarchy] Introduction (297-334), Quiz 18

Tuesday, 2/27: [Daily Word: okra]

Wednesday, 2/28: [Daily Word: ogle] Book I, Quiz 19

Thursday, 3/1: [Daily Word: ogive]

Friday, 3/2: [Daily Word: ohm] Book II, Quiz 20

Ninth Week: Paradise Lost III-V

Monday, 3/5: [Daily Word: offish] Book III, Quiz 21

Tuesday, 3/6: [Daily Word: officious]
Mid-semester grades due

Wednesday, 3/7: [Daily Word: ofay] Book IV, Quiz 22

Thursday, 3/8: [Daily Word: odoriferous]

Friday, 3/9: [Daily Word: odometer] Book V, Quiz 23

Tenth Week Paradise Lost VI-VIII

Monday, 3/12: [Daily Word: odious] Book VI, Quiz 24

Tuesday, 3/13: [Daily Word: ode]

Wednesday, 3/14: [Daily Word: ocotillo] Book VII, Quiz 25

Thursday, 3/15: [Daily Word: occult]

Friday, 3/16: [Daily Word: occlusion] Book VIII, Quiz 26

Spring Break

Eleventh Week Paradise Lost IX-XI

Monday, 3/26: [Daily Word: occipital] Book IX, Quiz 27

Tuesday, 3/27: [Daily Word: ocarina]

Wednesday, 3/28: [Daily Word: obviate] Book X, Quiz 28

Thursday, 3/29: [Daily Word: obverse]

Friday, 3/30: [Daily Word: obsidian] Book XI, Quiz 29

Twelfth Week Paradise Lost XII

Monday, 4/2: [Daily Word: obscurant] Book XII, Quiz 30

Tuesday, 4/3: [Daily Word: obscene]

Wednesday, 4/4: [Daily Word: obsequious] Paradise Lost--Closing Remarks

Thursday, 4/5: [Daily Word: obloquy]

Friday, 4/6: [Daily Word: oblivious] Research Paper Due.
Last day to withdraw from a course.

Thirteenth Week Paradise Regained I

Monday, 4/9: [Daily Word: obliterate] Second discussion of Shawcross biography, Quiz 31 (covered pages to be announced)

Tuesday, 4/10: [Daily Word: oblique]

Wednesday, 4/11: [Daily Word: obligatory] Book I, Quiz 32

Thursday, 4/12: [Daily Word: obbligato]

Friday, 4/13: [Daily Word: obeisance] Good Friday--No Classes.

Fourteenth Week Paradise Regained II-IV

Monday, 4/16: [Daily Word: obelia] Book II, Quiz 33

Tuesday, 4/17: [Daily Word: obese]

Wednesday, 4/18: [Daily Word: obfuscate] Book III, Quiz 34
Scholars’ Day, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Thursday, 4/19: [Daily Word: obituary]

Friday, 4/20: [Daily Word: oaten] Book IV, Quiz 35

Fifteenth Week

Monday, 4/23: [Daily Word: oakum] Third discussion of Shawcross biography (covered pages to be announced), Quiz 36

Tuesday, 4/24: [Daily Word: oak leaf cluster]

Wednesday, 4/25: [Daily Word: obelus] Review for Final Examination

Thursday, 4/26: [Daily Word: object complement]

Friday, 4/27: [Daily Word: oblation] Optional Daily Word Examination for Extra Credit

Grade Distribution

Grade Scale for Assignments and Course Grade