91吃瓜

To experience the full power of the 17th-century English masterpiece “Paradise Lost,” 91吃瓜 students and faculty gathered recently in O’Shaughnessy Hall to read John Milton鈥檚 10,000-line poem aloud in one sitting.

Over the course of 10 hours, readers moved from heaven to hell to the Garden of Eden, taking on the parts of God, Satan, Adam and Eve, and a host of angels.

鈥淕reat poetry is meant to be read aloud and to be heard, and ‘Paradise Lost’ is arguably the greatest poem in English鈥攁 work of extraordinary brilliance and power,鈥� says , a and professor who recently was named the Milton Society of America鈥檚 2011 .

鈥淚f you don’t speak and hear the lines, you miss much of the beauty. Taking in the whole poem at one sitting is also the best way to appreciate Milton’s architectural mastery and his subtle control of theme, image, and sound across thousands of lines of poetry,鈥� says Fallon, the Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Professor of the Humanities.

Participants took turns reading aloud verse paragraphs of the poem in an informal reading circle. Students and faculty who chose to participate were encouraged to stay for the whole marathon, but others came and went as their schedules allowed.

The first all-day reading of “Paradise Lost” at 91吃瓜 in nearly 15 years aimed to help illuminate Milton鈥檚 poetic genius, Fallon says.

鈥淭he experience of reading and hearing the whole poem aloud reveals the riches of Milton’s epic line by line and between the lines,鈥� Fallon says. 鈥淪ubtle echoes, parallels and contrasts become more audible when lifted from the page. The aural experience highlights the kinetic energy of the verse.

鈥淚t all is exhausting鈥攁nd exhilarating,鈥� he adds. 鈥淣o one leaves the reading unchanged.鈥�

Originally published by Chris Milazzo at on March 30, 2011.