Milton and the preaching arts
Book Description
This groundbreaking scholarly work reveals a hidden dimension of one of literature's most celebrated spiritual voices by exploring how the art of preaching profoundly shaped Milton's poetic vision. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, sermons drew larger audiences than theatrical performances, and many great poets of the era also served as preachers, yet this crucial connection has remained largely unexplored in Milton studies.
Jameela Lares demonstrates how Milton, despite his reputation as a purely literary figure, drew extensively from his ministerial education at Christ's College, Cambridge, one of England's premier centers for homiletic training. The author traces how Milton incorporated fundamental preaching structures into his poetry, particularly drawing from five distinct sermon types established by reformer Andreas Hyperius: doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, and consolation.
Most intriguingly, Lares discovers that Milton favored an unusual pairing of correction with consolation, a combination found in only one English preaching manual of the period. This manual was written by William Chappell, who happened to be Milton's first tutor at Cambridge, suggesting a direct influence on the poet's spiritual and artistic development.
Through careful analysis of sermons, preaching manuals, biblical commentaries, and religious controversies of the era, this study illuminates how the dominant spiritual discourse of Milton's time infused his greatest works. For readers interested in the intersection of faith, rhetoric, and creative expression, this exploration offers fresh insights into how spiritual training can profoundly shape artistic vision.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)
📄 Length: 352 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Christianity and literature
- ✓ Explore Histoire et critique
- ✓ Explore Art oratoire
- ✓ Explore Sermons anglais
- ✓ Explore Prédication dans la littérature
- ✓ Explore Early modern
- ✓ Explore Sermons, English
