Blake's Milton: a critical introduction and a commentary

Abstract

Ch. 1: Number of copies of Milton: description; where they are found. Ch. 2; Internal evidence for date of composition (1800-4), different from date on title-page. Length of poem discussed briefly, as external references indicate an epic longer than the present work. Ch. 3; Blake and Hayley; Biography of Blake at time of writing Milton, an intensely personal poem. Details of life and character of Hayley (Blake's patron); how he affected Blake's state of mind; Hayley's appearance as Satan in the Milton and other Pelpham references. Ch. 4; Different eighteenth-century attitudes to Milton; Romantic and view of age of sensibility; contrast between Blake's and Dr. Johnson's views of Milton; popularity of Milton's characters in painting. Ch. 5; Blake's chief mythological characters (the four zoas and their female counterparts). Some explanation of their natures, derivations and development throughout Blake's poetry. Their part in the Fall of Man; how they embody Blake's religious and philosophical Ideas; how eighteenth-century Ideas (moralism, extolling nature and rational mind) are symbolised in Blake's poetry.Ch. 6: Blake's four mythological worlds, particularly Beulah, which figures prominently in the Milton. Existence in several worlds or several planes of being at the same time. Golgonooza, city of art, and also image of the body of man.Ch. 7: Preface to the Milton. Blake's rejection of Plato and Greek classidal authors; ideas on the sublime; 'Jerusalem' lyric. Ch. 8: Book I: plate-by-plate commentary. Reasons, for Milton's journey of self-sacrifice; his spiritual battle to cast off self-righteousness and guilt (casting off his spectre); his example inspires Blake.Ch. 9: Book II; plate-by-plate commentary. Descent of Ololon, Milton's female counterpart (also image of his creative work on earth). Both Milton and Ololon freed from spectre. The vision Is highly intense personal experience of Blake's. Ch.10: Description of the half-plates and ten full-plate illustrations (including the frontispiece) to the Milton. Druid symbolism and influence of Blake's brother Robert,