ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHT POET AND OTHERS

PARADISE LOST JOHN MILTON

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Who does Milton name as his heavenly muse?
A
Titania
B
Urania
C
Virgil
D
Michael
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Abstract. In the grand invocation at the beginning of Book VII of his epic Paradise Lost, John Milton selects as his muse Urania, who is traditionally the Muse of Astronomy in classical texts.

Detailed explanation-2: -Summary and Analysis Book I. Book I of Paradise Lost begins with a prologue in which Milton performs the traditional epic task of invoking the Muse and stating his purpose. He invokes the classical Muse, Urania, but also refers to her as the “Heav’nly Muse, ” implying the Christian nature of this work.

Detailed explanation-3: -Urania is the name traditionally given to the eighth book of Herodotus’ Histories. Aphrodite Urania (heavenly Aphrodite) is often an epithet given to Aphrodite in contrast with her more earthy aspect Aphrodite Pandemos (Aphrodite for all people). Urania is the muse for books 7 and 9 of Paradise Lost.

Detailed explanation-4: -In the invocation to Book 7 of John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, the poet invokes Urania to aid his narration of the creation of the cosmos, though he cautions that it is “[t]he meaning, not the name I call” (7.5).

There is 1 question to complete.