C.S. Lewis on Milton

[phillipgr]

I have read that C. S. Lewis held the belief that Milton's Paradise lost was in line with scripture, contrary to the belief that Satan is glorified in the form of an anti-hero. I'm really eager to read Lewis' writings on Paradise lost, does anyone know where I can find them?

Thanks

[stlukesguild]

The notion that Satan is something of a heroic figure undoubtedly owes much to the Romantics... Blake and Shelley especially. It is far more likely that Milton portrayed Satan with such characteristics that the reader might empathize with in order to reinforce the notion of just how seductive evil... and Satan can be. I imagine Lolita's Humbert Humbert in a similar manner.

[G L Wilson]

Satan is his master's voice.

[mortalterror]

You want C.S. Lewis' 1942 scholarly book A Preface to Paradise Lost. It is really good. This guy knew all about epic poetry.

[G L Wilson]

C. S. Lewis was just another British idiot among the many.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Anything to back that up, G L, or are you just trolling again?

I haven't read Lewis's writing on PL, but if he really is trying to say it follows scripture and that Satan wasn't an anti-hero, I wonder what his arguments could be. I suspect maybe he really enjoyed PL, and it is his attempt to justify his love of the poem.

[G L Wilson]

Anything to back that up, G L, or are you just trolling again?

I haven't read Lewis's writing on PL, but if he really is trying to say it follows scripture and that Satan wasn't an anti-hero, I wonder what his arguments could be. I suspect maybe he really enjoyed PL, and it is his attempt to justify his love of the poem.

Milton may have been blind but he wasn't so blind that he couldn't see.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Thanks for clearing that up, G L.

[phillipgr]

Thanks mortal terror, I'll look into it

[G L Wilson]

C. S. Lewis on Milton. It sounds like a cheese snack.

[Arrowni]

Is Lewis an incredible essayist or secretly amazing and I've never noticed or why should we care about what he says? :D

[togre]

Is Lewis an incredible essayist or secretly amazing and I've never noticed or why should we care about what he says? :D

CS Lewis was a professor at Cambridge, a well-known scholar of English literature and his introduction to Paradise Lost is very highly regarded as a critical work. That might be why people care.

[Arrowni]

Well, I admitted the possibility didn't I. Not that professorship and Cambridge and being famous are actual arguments, but if one of his works is highly regarded it's more than enough to me.

[G L Wilson]

Would C. S. Lewis's opinions on Milton be even considered if he wasn't a famous Christian?

[Arrowni]

hehe, good question. I'm going to believe in good faith that Lewis can produce some serious analysis without delving into a religious rant of any sort, and that his faith is more of an advantage than a handicap.

[kasie]

Would C. S. Lewis's opinions on Milton be even considered if he wasn't a famous Christian?

Yes, I believe it would - he was, as has been pointed out already, a critic of some standing, albeit some years ago, but the depth of his insight is such that it is still worth consideration by serious Literature students.