1. Intertextuality and Theological Synthesis: How Does Milton Merge Classical and Biblical Frameworks in Lycidas to Explore the Paradox of Mortality and Immortality?
John Milton’s Lycidas is renowned for its intricate interplay of classical mythology and Christian theology, yet this synthesis raises profound questions about the poem’s existential and doctrinal implications. Drawing on specific textual examples—such as the invocation of Orpheus (a symbol of artistic transcendence) and the apostrophe to Saint Peter (a biblical figure of divine authority)—analyze how Milton negotiates the tension between pagan and Christian worldviews. How does the poem’s structure, alternating between pastoral lament and apocalyptic vision, mirror Milton’s struggle to reconcile human fragility with divine promise? Discuss how classical allusions (e.g., the Cyclops as a metaphor for corrupt clergy) and biblical typology (e.g., Lycidas as a Christ-like figure) collectively interrogate the nature of sacrifice, resurrection, and the afterlife. Does this duality reflect Milton’s Puritan belief in predestination, or does it critique the inadequacy of both classical philosophy and institutional religion in addressing human suffering?
Key analytical angles:
The juxtaposition of Orpheus’ failed rescue of Eurydice (representing mortal limitation) with Lycidas’ spiritual ascension (symbolizing divine grace).
The role of nature as both a mourner (e.g., weeping willows) and a witness to divine justice (e.g., the “two-handed engine” as God’s retribution).
How Milton’s fusion of genres destabilizes traditional pastoral consolatory functions, forcing readers to confront existential uncertainty amid theological certainty.
2. Pastoral Elegy as Political Critique: How Does Lycidas Subvert Generic Conventions to Condemn Ecclesiastical Corruption and Celebrate Poetic Immortality?
Lycidas is ostensibly a lament for Edward King, but its subversive critique of the Church of England and its radical reimagining of poetic legacy challenge the boundaries of the pastoral genre. Examine Milton’s use of pastoral imagery—shepherds, flowers, and rural landscapes—to critique the “corrupted clergy” (e.g., the “blind mouths” who exploit their flock). How does the poem’s formal structure (e.g., irregular meter, abrupt shifts in tone) mirror its thematic rebellion against societal and religious decay? Analyze the symbolic role of Lycidas’ transformation from a drowning shepherd to a “Genius of the shore,” and connect this to Milton’s broader argument for the poet’s sacred duty to immortalize virtue. Does the poem’s conclusion—where grief transforms into hope—endorse a secular humanist ideal of art’s power, or does it ultimately affirm a Calvinist belief in divine providence?
Key textual evidence:
The transition from personal grief (“He must not float upon his watery bier”) to cosmic justice (“Sunk though he be beneath the watery floor”).
The procession of mourners (e.g., nymphs, Triton) as a parody of institutional religion’s hollow rituals.
The final image of Lycidas as a “spirit of the shore,” mediating between life and death—a metaphor for Milton’s poetic vocation.