Assignment: The heart of literary analysis is simply paying close attention to words. This
assignment asks you to do just that: notice resonant words in Paradise Lost that seem key to
understanding or interrogating the poem. The words you choose should be used as a springboard
to ask questions about Miltons intentions and to discuss his priorities as a poet. You will only
choose 2 – 3 words total, but they should be words that recur in different parts of the poem (the
words can be related or unrelated to each other). Examine each word separately, showing how it
is relevant and meaningful to different parts of the poem.
Resources: For this assignment you will need to use an online text or concordance to locate the
recurrence of various words. Basic searchable texts include the Dartmouth and Gutenberg
versions (use Ctrl-F). You should also reference the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) to look up
the etymology and historical meanings of the words, even if they feel familiar (if you are off
campus, the OED can be also accessed among the online Databases of the St. Eds Library). If
you find that a word has multiple relevant meanings that might not be familiar to a modern
reader, reference the OED for clarification, making sure to cite where you are looking: for
example, (def. A2). LINK TO BOOK: https://milton.host.dartmouth.edu/reading_room/pl/book_1/text.shtml
Procedure: No introduction or conclusion is needed for this assignment. Begin each of your word-
studies by placing the word in boldface above your writing, and then immediately begin discussing
how it is used in various parts of Paradise Lost. You do not need to be exhaustive; limit your
analysis to two or three references for each word, and stay within the parts of the text that you have
actually read for class. As you analyze each reference, contextualize how the word is used but do
not spend all your time on plot summary. Rather, focus on the bigger picture of why this word is
significant to understanding Paradise Lost. How does it connect to larger ideas that Milton is
trying to communicate? How does it tap into interpretive dilemmas? Does the meaning of a
particular word shift depending on the context or the speaker? Demonstrate that you have
familiarity with many different parts of the poem and understand how these parts work together.
Repeat this process for two or three different words (depending on how much you write about
each); the words do not have to be thematically connected to each other, although this is an option.
Technical Requirements: Use 12pt. Times New Roman font, double spaced, with 1-inch
margins. Place your name and title on the top of the first page, with no other header and no title
page. Number your pages. In your paper, always begin body paragraphs with topic sentences,
never with quotation or plot summary. Use frequent quotation to serve your analysis (not just to
summarize plot), making sure to explain the relevance of each quoted passage. Use my Guide to
Quotation for correct quoting and citing. Titles of major literary works are always italicized. No
Works Cited is needed. Upload to Canvas as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf file.
