“Nativity Ode” Questions

English 513

Dr. Fike

Proem

• Why do we get two time periods here?
• What paradox do you find in line 3?
• What themes are established here?
• How is the incarnation presented?
• What would Plato think about stanza 2?
• What other motifs are established?

Stanzas 1-7

• How does nature react to Christ’s birth?
• Do you see a shift of any sort between stanzas 2 and 3?
• What kind of associations do we have in stanza 5 with “Birds of Calm”?
• What is up with the Sun/Son business in stanza 7?  Do we have Apollo here?

Stanzas 8-17

• What is going on here, and how do we interpret it?
• What happens in stanza 9?
• What is the false assumption in stanza 10?
• Are we transported back to the age of gold?  How do stanzas 17 and 18 correct the optimism of the previous stanzas?

Stanzas 19-25 and 26-27 (conclusion)

• Do we sense regret at the banishment of the classical gods?
• Can you make a connection to page 370, PL 1.506ff. where the classical gods are listed?
• How does Milton conclude the poem?

Final question:  In the “Nativity Ode,” does Milton take an orthodox Trinitarian position, or is he Arian here?