Milton's Paradise Lost

Dear Class,

we will be looking at the following Books from Paradise Lost over the last weeks of tutorials:

Book 4 131-510

Book 9

Book 10 690-1104

Please read all three passages and as much of the rest of the poem as you can.

Best,

Rory

Questions of the Week! Chaucer's The Miller's Tale

Q1. How does the description of the Miller in the General Prologue, and the interaction between Miller and Host in the tale's Prologue, impact upon our reading of the tale?

Q2. Is there a moral to the Miller's Tale? Is it significant that this tale is included so early?

Q3. Discuss the use of biblical narratives in the tale. How do they affect the way we interpret the bawdy and immoral action of the tale?

Questions of the Week! Mystery Plays

Q1. Describe the staging and purpose of Mystery Plays in early modern England.

Q2. In a Mystery Play of your choice discuss the playwright[s]'s adaptation of scriptural material. How does the playwright draw in the audience to the play?

Q3. Discuss any of the following topics in two Mystery Plays: the sin of Pride; Punishment; Salvation.

Mystery Plays

Dear class,

following our shortened class today, we will be revisiting this material after Reading Week. It is your responsibility to prepare for class by reading the prescribed material. Please read:

The Fall of Lucifer
The First Shepherd's Play
The Crucifixion
The Harrowing of Hell

In addition to this, you are required to read Chaucer's The Miller's Tale. Please also read the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales to help you prepare for class.

See you after Reading Week.

Best,

Rory

Questions of the week: Faerie Queene

Q1. Discuss how the virtue of chastity is defined in Book III, Canto vi of the poem. Do we see different aspects of the banner virtue?

Q2. Discuss the Christian and non-Christian elements of the idyllic garden. Why is it significant that both elements are juxtaposed?

Q3. What is the significance of Adonis's unknown whereabouts in the garden and his purpose?

Questions of the Week! Sir Orfeo

1. Discuss the opposition between the court and natural world in the poem.

2. What do you think is the significance of the courtyard of death in this poem?

3. What is the significance of Orfeo's testing of the steward?

Bank Holiday Monday

Dear class,

due to the Bank Holiday on Oct 26th we will not be able to have class as scheduled. Instead prepare Faerie Queene, Book III, Canto vi for Nov 2nd, and we will re-schedule a class on the Mystery Plays for later in that week. Please prepare The Fall of Lucifer, The First Shepherd's play, The Crucifixion and The Harrowing of Hell. All plays are in Peter Happe's edition of English Mystery Plays, which is readily available in the library.

Get reading and post answers for the questions on the blog!

With best wishes,

Rory

Questions of the Week! Ovid's Metamorphoses

Q1. Discuss the gods and jealousy in the tale of Arachne.

Q2. Write on the significance of the doomed marital prophecy in the tale of Philomela.

Q3. Discuss the idea of chance and divine retribution in the tale of Acteon.

Welcome!

Welcome to 'The Gods in Literature' online forum. This blog has been created to complement classwork undertaken over the coming academic term in TCD in small group tutorials. It provides a forum for you to submit questions you have about any aspect of the course. I will be updating it regularly and uploading questions to help you prepare for tutorials. I will also provide links to aid you in further study.