This course is a study of Milton's poetry, with attention paid to his literary source, his contemporaries, his controversial prose, and his decisive influence on the course of English poetry. Throughout the course, Professor Roger explores the advantages and limitations of a diverse range of interpretive technique and theoretical concerns in Milton scholarship and criticism. Lectures include close reading of lyric and epic poetry, prose, and letters; biographical inquiries; examinations of historical and political contexts; and engagement with critical debates.