Milton Studies, Volume 33James D. Simmonds This extraordinary volume of Milton Studies assembles essays by eight major Miltonists on Samson Agonistes, the dramatic poem that present-day commentators perceive as the most vexed and vexing work in the author's canon. The contributors identify and engage the major controversial issues surrounding this work - whether the godhead is present in or absent from Samson Agonistes; the appropriation and adaptation of biblical analogues, prosody and versification; the secret of Samson's strength; the interrelation of Milton's dramatic poem and Restoration drama; the bearing of mid-17th-century radicalism on the ethos of Samson Agonistes; and ways and means of misreading Milton's dramatic poem. Undoubtedly, this volume should be profoundly influential, frequently cited and often debated. |
Contents
The God of Samson | 3 |
Miltons final decision | 27 |
JANEL MUELLER Just Measures? Versification in Samson | 47 |
Copyright | |
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accord action appears argues argument authority become beginning believe biblical body Book called cause Chorus Christian command concept concerning condition considered critical Dagon Dalila death deity destruction discussion divine Doctrine drama dread effect elision enemies English example faith fear final force freedom further God's hand hero heroic human iambic important Interpreting issue John Judges liberty living London Lord Lost Manoa marriage means metrical Milton mind moral motions nature noted obligations offers Organs Oroonoko Paradise performance Philistines phrase play poem political position present Providence Quaker question radical reader reading reason reference relation religious represents response Restoration rules saint Samson Agonistes secret sense slave slavery Spirit story strength stress Studies syllables temple theological thought tion true understanding verse verse design weakness