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Medieval Dramatic Sources for Paradise Lost

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Date Issued:
2007
Abstract/Description:
Many scholars agree that portions of Paradise Lost show the influence of mystery and morality plays from the Middle Ages, yet it is difficult to establish the availability of these plays for John Milton. He wrote the poem during the Puritan Revolution in seventeenth-century England when medieval drama was suppressed and suspect because of its Catholic origins and content. As a Puritan propagandist, Milton might have been expected to share the Protestant distrust of medieval Catholic culture. However, he evinced his broadmindedness both by holding theological views that were nearer to Catholic than to Calvinist orthodoxy, and by making substantial literary use of medieval sources. Although the revolution of which he was a part made it difficult for him to access medieval biblical drama, there were avenues through which these plays were available, in texts or performances, to Milton as he composed Paradise Lost.
Title: Medieval Dramatic Sources for Paradise Lost.
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Name(s): Doubleday, Beth
Leeds, John, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2007
Date Issued: 2007
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 72 p.
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Many scholars agree that portions of Paradise Lost show the influence of mystery and morality plays from the Middle Ages, yet it is difficult to establish the availability of these plays for John Milton. He wrote the poem during the Puritan Revolution in seventeenth-century England when medieval drama was suppressed and suspect because of its Catholic origins and content. As a Puritan propagandist, Milton might have been expected to share the Protestant distrust of medieval Catholic culture. However, he evinced his broadmindedness both by holding theological views that were nearer to Catholic than to Calvinist orthodoxy, and by making substantial literary use of medieval sources. Although the revolution of which he was a part made it difficult for him to access medieval biblical drama, there were avenues through which these plays were available, in texts or performances, to Milton as he composed Paradise Lost.
Identifier: FA00000911 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Subject(s): Milton, John,--1608-1674.--Paradise lost.
Civilization, Medieval--Influence.
Civilization, Medieval, in literature.
English drama--17th century--History and criticism.
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000911
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.