Remembering and Repeating: On Milton's Theology and PoeticsUniversity of Chicago Press, 1993 - 144 pages In this graceful and compelling book, Regina Schwartz presents a powerful reading of Paradise Lost by tracing the structure of the poem to the pattern of "repeated beginnings" found in the Bible. In both works, the world order is constantly threatened by chaos. By drawing on both the Bible and the more contemporary works of, among others, Freud, Lacan, Ricoeur, Said, and Derrida, Schwartz argues that chaos does not simply threaten order, but rather, chaos inheres in order. "A brilliant study that quietly but powerfully recharacterizes many of the contexts of discussion in Milton criticism. Particularly noteworthy is Schwartz's ability to introduce advanced theoretical perspectives without ever taking the focus of attention away from the dynamics and problematics of Milton's poem."—Stanley Fish |
From inside the book
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Page 1
... Genesis . His appropriation of Biblical tradition was hardly inhibiting . Even as he invoked the Muse of Sinai , he made the most radical claim for innovation possible : to pursue " Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhyme . " And yet ...
... Genesis . His appropriation of Biblical tradition was hardly inhibiting . Even as he invoked the Muse of Sinai , he made the most radical claim for innovation possible : to pursue " Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhyme . " And yet ...
Page 2
... Genesis . While waters are first parted to create the cosmos , they are parted again at the Red Sea to create a people , and again at the Jordan to signal the creation of the nation . In many ways , the creation narrative is an ...
... Genesis . While waters are first parted to create the cosmos , they are parted again at the Red Sea to create a people , and again at the Jordan to signal the creation of the nation . In many ways , the creation narrative is an ...
Page 3
... Genesis 1 : 1-2 : 4a : the days of the creation comprise a ritual calendar , each marked by the repetitive , " and it was good , " a phrase whose ritual force is much like " amen . " The final day narrates , not just the creation of ...
... Genesis 1 : 1-2 : 4a : the days of the creation comprise a ritual calendar , each marked by the repetitive , " and it was good , " a phrase whose ritual force is much like " amen . " The final day narrates , not just the creation of ...
Page 4
... Genesis , rather than later , in the Law the commemorative function of the sabbath . " As for the Sabbath , it is clear that God sanctified it as his own , in memory of the completion of his task , and dedicated it to rest " ; Milton ...
... Genesis , rather than later , in the Law the commemorative function of the sabbath . " As for the Sabbath , it is clear that God sanctified it as his own , in memory of the completion of his task , and dedicated it to rest " ; Milton ...
Page 7
... Genesis 1 , the original waters of chaos , Tehom , are divided by the firmament to create the world . To understand the logic of an iterative creative act is ultimately to understand that creation and chaos are so " involved and ...
... Genesis 1 , the original waters of chaos , Tehom , are divided by the firmament to create the world . To understand the logic of an iterative creative act is ultimately to understand that creation and chaos are so " involved and ...
Other editions - View all
Remembering and Repeating: Biblical Creation in Paradise Lost Regina M. Schwartz Limited preview - 1988 |
Remembering and Repeating: Biblical Creation in Paradise Lost Regina M. Schwartz No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
abyss Adam and Eve Adam's angels astronomy atoms aubade Augustine battle becomes beginning Bible Biblical Book commemoration compulsive cosmic cosmos created creation narrative Creator curiosity dark death death instinct debt deep depicts Derrida distinction divine doctrine drama earth epic eternal event evil exodus expression fall Freud Genesis George Wither gratitude heaven hell holy human hymn of praise Ibid infernal inquiry instinct invocation John Milton knowledge Lewalski light liturgy Lord loss Lycidas memory Milton Milton's chaos Muse myth narcissism narrator Nativity Ode notion object offers origin Orpheus Paradise Lost Paradise Regained pleasure principle poem poet poetic poetry prayer Press Princeton Univ psalms Raphael redemption remember Renaissance repeat repetition revenge Ricoeur ritual sabbath sacred Samson Agonistes Satan scopophilia sense sing song speaks stars tells temptation thee theodicy things thir thou Tiamat tion tradition trans unclean universe utterance voice voyeur war in heaven words
Popular passages
Page 2 - OF Man's First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, Sing Heav'nly Muse...