After Reading

Comprehension: Recall and Interpret

1. Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, begins: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” What is meant by this statement?

2. In Psalm 23, what kind of relationship does the speaker have with the Lord?

3. Review the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Describe the responses of the father and the elder son to the return of the Prodigal Son.

Literary Analysis: Evaluate and Connect

4. Interpret Imagery The King James Bible is widely admired for the beauty of its imagery—words and phrases that create vivid sensory experiences. Explain how each of the following images from Psalm 23 appeals to your senses. Which example creates the most memorable mental picture?

• “leadeth me beside the still waters” (verse 2)

• “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (verse 4)

• “anointest my head with oil” (verse 5)

5. Analyze Parable Many characters in parables are allegorical— that is, they stand for abstract ideas and principles. Describe the following characters from the Parable of the Prodigal Son. What might each character symbolize?

• the younger son (verses 11–21)

• the father (verses 22–27)

• the elder brother (verses 28–31)

6. Make Inferences Review the chart you made as you read. What wisdom or spiritual advice does each selection convey? Cite evidence in your answer.

7. Synthesize Information Each biblical selection dates back thousands of years and derives from the traditions of the ancient Hebrews. Using evidence from all three texts, what general statements can you make about the values and way of life of these people?

8. Evaluate Scriptural Writing The three selections in the lesson are among the Bible’s most famous passages. In what ways does each selection fit the pattern of its literary form? Cite specific evidence to support your answer.

Literary Criticism

9. Different Perspectives How might readers of varying ages—for example, a young adult and an elderly person—differ in their reactions to the passage from Ecclesiastes, the psalm, or the parable? Use details from the text and your own knowledge to support your ideas.

Reading Focus VIII. from Paradise Lost

(Poem by John Milton)

KEY IDEA You’ve probably been encouraged to take pride in your accomplishments or your heritage.

Were John Milton alive today, he may not have approved. As a devout and learned Puritan, he knew that the Bible cautions that “pride goeth before destruction,” a warning he illustrates brilliantly in Paradise Lost.

Before Reading: Meet John Milton (1608-1674)

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John Milton decided early in life that he would become an important writer, a goal that he accomplished without question. Amid political upheavals and personal struggles, he produced work that places him in the company of England’s most revered poets. His crowning achievement, Paradise Lost, is widely accepted as the finest epic poem in the English language.

FYI Did you know that John Milton... • coined the word pandemonium? • loved the Arthurian legends and nearly based his great English epic on them? • deeply influenced the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings trilogy?

Youthful Dreams As a youth, Milton applied himself eagerly to his studies, often reading by candlelight until the early hours of morning. In 1625, at the age of 16, he entered Christ’s College at Cambridge University. Although he was critical of the school’s rigid curriculum, he remained there for seven years, eventually earning a master’s degree in 1632. After leaving Cambridge, he continued his education independently, reading history, literature, and philosophy and writing his first eight sonnets.

A Dedicated Puritan When civil war erupted in 1642, Milton, a critic of the monarchy, allied himself with the Puritan faction, the Roundheads, who supported Parliament over the king. During this time Milton produced very little poetry, instead writing various political tracts and pamphlets in support of a republican government. Following the execution of Charles I in 1649, a republic was established under the Puritan leadership of Oliver Cromwell. Milton was appointed to a post as one of Cromwell’s secretaries, with duties that included handling foreign correspondence and writing defenses of the actions of the Puritan leadership.

Blind Despair The year of 1652 was one of tragedy for Milton. His wife, Mary, died shortly after giving birth to their third daughter, Deborah. Weeks later, Milton suffered the death of his infant son, John. Compounding his misery, Milton’s eyesight, weak since childhood, failed completely. It was a shattering year for a man who had dedicated his life to family, faith, and literature.

Crowning Achievement Around 1658, shortly before the restoration of the monarchy, Milton began work on a poem he had been planning since he was 19, a great Christian epic that would “justify the ways of God to men.” Using the biblical account of the Fall of Man as his basic source, Milton dictated long sentences in rhythmic blank verse to his daughters and various assistants and friends. After five years, he completed his epic poem, Paradise Lost, achieving what many had considered utterly impossible.

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