I have been reading through John Milton's Paradise Lost lately. I actually have to write a book review of it for my Literature class, so I figured that I might as well post a few excerpts here.
The first excerpt is the very beginning of the poem, announcing the subject. Immediately we see Milton's background of classical literature melded with Christian theology: he virtually identifies the poetic Muse with the Holy Spirit.
Of Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit
Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste
Brought Death into the World, and all our woe,
With loss of Eden, till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat,
Sing Heavenly Muse, that on the secret top
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire
That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen Seed,
In the Beginning how the Heavens and Earth
Rose out of Chaos...
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