Guest:
Stanley Fish is the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Yeshiva University. Stanley established his reputation as a leading Miltonist with his 1967 book Surprised by Sin. Fish’s 2001 book, How Milton Works, reflects five decades’ worth of his scholarship on Milton.
Show Notes:
Below are the topics covered in this conversation (with time stamps).
How to accidentally becoming a world-class Milton expert. [2:00]
A bracing description of how the character of Satan works. [4:30]
Reading Satan after you realize you’ve been duped. [12:30]
Milton’s techniques for describing the indescribable [16:23]
Paradise Lost and political and cultural conflicts in Milton’s day. [20:28]
Introducing George Herbert: champion of stringency of thought. [27:00]
Diversity and the challenge of cultural literacy in the 21st century. [30:50]
Seeing Milton in our society today. [37:42]
Life’s ultimate challenge: achieving the paradise within. [41:50]
Don’t Forget:
Read the Mouse Book Club Paradise Lost Blog.