Creative Writing Warmup: Paradise Lost by John Milton

Bell Ringer Activity:

In yesterday's class, we started reading Paradise Lost by John Milton.  For today, I'd like you to pick a selection of lines from our readings and identify the speaker, purpose, characterization, theme, and tone.

For example, 

• Lines 17-19: "O Spirit, that dost prefer / Before all temples the upright heart and pure, / Instruct me, for Thou know'st;"
• Speaker: the poet/voice of Paradise Lost
• Purpose: to ask the muse to instruct the speaker at his/her task (telling the story of Paradise Lost)
• Characterization: the speaker seems need help or guidance because of the request; the spirit (muse) is "pure" and knowledgeable because it is able to instruct the speaker.  Also, the spirit has an "upright heart," which means that she is kind and warm.
• Theme: guidance
• Tone: a sense of yearning, need

Make sense?