Here's a quiz question for anybody. What is most significant about the following passage from Book IX?
pleasing was his shape,
And lovely, never since of Serpent kind
Lovelier, not those that in Illyria chang'd [ 505 ]
Hermione and Cadmus, or the God
In Epidaurus; nor to which transformd
Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline was seen,
Hee with Olympias, this with her who bore
Scipio the highth of Rome . With tract oblique [ 510 ]
At first, as one who sought access, but feard
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought
Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind
Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile; [ 515 ]
So varied hee, and of his tortuous Traine
Curld many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve,
Hints: think visual, and the answer involves just 5 lines of the passage.[/i]
-
In total there are 19 users online :: 0 registered, 0 hidden and 19 guests (based on users active over the past 60 minutes)
Most users ever online was 871 on Fri Apr 19, 2024 12:00 am
Paradise Lost quiz question
- DWill
-
- BookTalk.org Hall of Fame
- Posts: 6966
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:05 am
- 16
- Location: Luray, Virginia
- Has thanked: 2262 times
- Been thanked: 2470 times
- Saffron
-
- I can has reading?
- Posts: 2954
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:37 pm
- 16
- Location: Randolph, VT
- Has thanked: 474 times
- Been thanked: 399 times
At first, as one who sought access, but feard
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought
Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind
Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile; [ 515 ]
A guess: these 5 lines describe how a serpent moves. Am I even close?
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought
Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind
Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile; [ 515 ]
A guess: these 5 lines describe how a serpent moves. Am I even close?
- DWill
-
- BookTalk.org Hall of Fame
- Posts: 6966
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:05 am
- 16
- Location: Luray, Virginia
- Has thanked: 2262 times
- Been thanked: 2470 times
You are........................................100%...........WRONG!!Saffron wrote:At first, as one who sought access, but feard
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought
Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind
Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile; [ 515 ]
A guess: these 5 lines describe how a serpent moves. Am I even close?
BUT NICE TRY AND YOU GET A LOVELY CONSOLATION PRIZE!!!
- DWill
-
- BookTalk.org Hall of Fame
- Posts: 6966
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:05 am
- 16
- Location: Luray, Virginia
- Has thanked: 2262 times
- Been thanked: 2470 times
- Saffron
-
- I can has reading?
- Posts: 2954
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:37 pm
- 16
- Location: Randolph, VT
- Has thanked: 474 times
- Been thanked: 399 times
So, what is my consolation prize? Not just the clap, I hope. I can't figure your quiz and it maybe because I do not know the references in lines 505-510 -- which must be the important ones, right? As I read the passage what I do know is that Satan has taken on the shape of a beautiful serpent, who moves as snakes do in a serpentine line toward Eve and the last two lines describe how he is coiled -- tortuous train Curld (curled?) many a wanton wreath -- waiting to be seen by Eve. What am I missing?DWill wrote:
You are........................................100%...........WRONG!!
BUT NICE TRY AND YOU GET A LOVELY CONSOLATION PRIZE!!!
- Saffron
-
- I can has reading?
- Posts: 2954
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:37 pm
- 16
- Location: Randolph, VT
- Has thanked: 474 times
- Been thanked: 399 times
Here is an interesting aside:
this with her who bore
Scipio the highth of Rome
This from Wikipedia:
Scipio Africanus was criticized by many in the Senate for his love of luxury and his Greek style of wearing the toga. Yet it was he and his friends who introduced the idea of formally educating women and children in Greek.
Interesting that Scipio is mentioned in the poem and in life Scipio Africanus was credited an interest in educating women.
this with her who bore
Scipio the highth of Rome
This from Wikipedia:
Scipio Africanus was criticized by many in the Senate for his love of luxury and his Greek style of wearing the toga. Yet it was he and his friends who introduced the idea of formally educating women and children in Greek.
Interesting that Scipio is mentioned in the poem and in life Scipio Africanus was credited an interest in educating women.
- seespotrun2008
-
- Graduate Student
- Posts: 416
- Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:54 am
- 15
- Location: Portland, OR
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 39 times
- Saffron
-
- I can has reading?
- Posts: 2954
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:37 pm
- 16
- Location: Randolph, VT
- Has thanked: 474 times
- Been thanked: 399 times
I got it! However, I must admit I did get a little help. While I was looking up all the references in the line 505-510 I hit it.
Scipio the highth of Rome . With tract oblique [ 510 ]
At first, as one who sought access, but feard
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought
Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind
Even more interesting to me is that each of these references (Illyria chang'd
Hermione and Cadmus, or the God In Epidaurus, Ammonian Jove, and Scipio) are positive -- not evil. All of comparisons Milton make to Satan are complimentary. Especially this one:
The God. Æsculapius, the god of healing, appeared in his temple in Epidaurus in the body of a serpent.
Milton is essential equating Satan with a god. I think Mr. Milton's poem is a celebration of the fact that Eve was brave enough to reach for that apple, bring knowledge to all of her descendants.
p.s. I hope you know you kept me up late -- didn't think I could go to bed without solving your riddle, did you?
Scipio the highth of Rome . With tract oblique [ 510 ]
At first, as one who sought access, but feard
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought
Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind
Even more interesting to me is that each of these references (Illyria chang'd
Hermione and Cadmus, or the God In Epidaurus, Ammonian Jove, and Scipio) are positive -- not evil. All of comparisons Milton make to Satan are complimentary. Especially this one:
The God. Æsculapius, the god of healing, appeared in his temple in Epidaurus in the body of a serpent.
Milton is essential equating Satan with a god. I think Mr. Milton's poem is a celebration of the fact that Eve was brave enough to reach for that apple, bring knowledge to all of her descendants.
p.s. I hope you know you kept me up late -- didn't think I could go to bed without solving your riddle, did you?
- DWill
-
- BookTalk.org Hall of Fame
- Posts: 6966
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:05 am
- 16
- Location: Luray, Virginia
- Has thanked: 2262 times
- Been thanked: 2470 times