I did this too, Frank, when I was "teaching" Paradise Lost to a group of first-year students. (I say "teaching," because my field is Russian Lit and we were reading Paradise Lost because of Philip Pullman's juvenile series "His Dark Materials"--so the teaching was surface-level only.)
But, here's what I found interesting about listening to "Paradise Lost." Books 6-end are more beautiful and calming (when read aloud or listened to) than Books 1-5--an aesthetic effect that makes sense when you consider the compelling narration and subject matter of Books 1-5.
Listening to Paradise Lost changed the way I read it. I can't wait to read what you have to say. (BTW: Philip Pullman, in one edition of Paradise Lost, writes in the introduction that his 6th form teacher made the class read Paradise Lost aloud.)
I did this too, Frank, when I was "teaching" Paradise Lost to a group of first-year students. (I say "teaching," because my field is Russian Lit and we were reading Paradise Lost because of Philip Pullman's juvenile series "His Dark Materials"--so the teaching was surface-level only.)
ReplyDeleteBut, here's what I found interesting about listening to "Paradise Lost." Books 6-end are more beautiful and calming (when read aloud or listened to) than Books 1-5--an aesthetic effect that makes sense when you consider the compelling narration and subject matter of Books 1-5.
Listening to Paradise Lost changed the way I read it. I can't wait to read what you have to say. (BTW: Philip Pullman, in one edition of Paradise Lost, writes in the introduction that his 6th form teacher made the class read Paradise Lost aloud.)