Day Two Prose Works

English 513

Dr. Fike

Generate key points, identify passages, then report to the class.  Use the following questions as a guide.  Devote 10 minutes to this process of exploration.

Group One:  The Prefaces in Reason of Church-Government (903-04 and 920-25)

• What does Milton suggest in the first preface as regards the differences among Catholic, Anglican, and Puritan?

• What does Milton say in the second preface about his vocation as a poet?  About poetry more generally?

• What relation does page 923, left column, have to PL?  To “Lycidas”? 

• Other ways to ask the question:  What are Milton’s poetics?  What kind of epic is he considering?

Group Two:  “A Tale” in Of Reformation (891-901)

• What is Milton’s purpose in this text?

• What’s the allegory going on here?

• What are Milton’s arguments against the episcopacy?

• What kind of system does Milton favor?

• What theme or concept emerges from this “Tale”?

Group Three:  “Of True Religion” (1151-55)

• Why does Milton dislike the Roman Catholic Church?

• What principles does Milton affirm here?

• What different Protestant sects does Milton identify?  What does each one emphasize?