Of Mice and Men: A Paradise Lost

One of the reasons that good reading can be hard, is that author's may use one of many literary devices. We are going to focus on several throughout the year, beginning with the hardest. We begin with those because you do not have to get them right now. They take time, growth, and experience. Steinbeck is a master of a few of these, namely: symbol/archetype, allegory, and allusion. He isn't trying to be difficult; he is trying to be expressive. We are going to spend a few weeks working our way into these techniques so that reading his book is more meaningful.

​The first and the hardest of these techniques is allusion: a reference to something else, to enrich the text. One of the primary texts that Steinbeck is referring to, also one of the most important English texts written, alluded to, and politic changing, is John Milton's Paradise Lost. It is also one of the most difficult pieces. We are going to listen to music and read an abridged version. It won't be simple, but whatever you take from it will enrich reading in general, and Steinbeck and Shelly's Frankenstein specifically. 

2) Read and annotate the article below: BBC- Why You Should Re-Read Paradise Lost
Either print out the article or digitally save and annotate. Post in Classroom.

BBC: Why You Should Re-Read Paradise Lost

Not perfect, but here are a few optional overviews of Paradise Lost. 

3) Read Book 1 in Google Classroom (or your packet) or on the Dartmouth site below. Language is original, spellings are different than modern spellings. Don't let that throw you. :)

Paradise Lost - Book 1

When have you ever felt betrayed? What was your reaction?
How did your emotions change the world around you?
Assignment: All of these songs were chosen by students as the soundtrack to PL. 
Start collecting songs of your own as we go through the story.
​Send them to me and I will add them!

Soundtrack sampler from Last Year- PL Book 1