Paradise lost context Flashcards
Which religious sect did Milton belong to?
A subset of Protestantism: Presbyterianism
What are the distinguishing beliefs of Presbyterianism in Milton’s time?
The Presbyterians wanted to keep a national church, but to have it led by a council of ministers (presbyters) who had equal status to each other, instead of by bishops.
What are the Christian orthodox beliefs about Jesus, what happened to him and why?
God’s son, sent to Earth to take the punishment for mankind’s sins by being crucified and sent to hell on their behalf.
What are the Christian orthodox beliefs about the Trinity?
God is made up of 3 parts: the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. These parts are all equal and God is still considered as a single entity.
What is the Christian concept of Free Will?
Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded. Therefore, God knows what will happen but he does not interfere to stop it. Evil comes from humans exercising Free will badly.
What are the 3 attributes of the Christian God?
Omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence. God is all-powerful, all-seeing and all-present.
What is the difference between the New Testament and the Old Testament of the Bible?
The Old Testament is the history of the world, as believed by Christians, including the history of the Jewish people, up until the coming of the Messiah (Jesus). The New Testament is made up of the 4 Gospels (accounts of Jesus’ life on Earth), a series of Letters between early Christians and the final book of Revelations.
What is the name of the first book of the Old Testament and what is it about?
Genesis – about the creation of the Earth and its earliest events.
What is the name of the last book of the New Testament and what is it about?
Revelations – the ‘revealing’ of God’s word written by an early Christian just known as ‘John’, often thought to be a prophecy about the end of the world.
What are Christian beliefs about Satan and hell?
Satan was an angel in heaven but rebelled against God and, after a battle, was cast down to Hell. Hell is considered a place of punishment after death for those who do not accept Jesus’ sacrifice.
What do pre and post-lapsarian mean?
Before and after the Fall (the disobeying of God by eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge).
What was Milton’s aim in writing ‘Paradise Lost’?
To justify God’s ways to man.
What are Milton’s beliefs about hierarchy and how do they relate to his religious beliefs?
As a Presbyterian, Milton believed in the supremacy of God but that men were equal. So the leaders of the Presbyterian church were elected.
What is the Divine Right of Kings?
The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God not their subjects, from which it follows that rebellion is the worst of political crimes.
When was the English Civil War and what were the main causes?
The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians (“Roundheads”) and Royalists (“Cavaliers”) principally over the manner of how England was governed and the balance of power between the King and Parliament.
