Milton and the Spiritual Reader

Reading and Religion in Seventeenth-Century England

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Milton and the Spiritual Reader by David Ainsworth, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: David Ainsworth ISBN: 9781135896089
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: May 15, 2008
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: David Ainsworth
ISBN: 9781135896089
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: May 15, 2008
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Milton and the Spiritual Reader considers how John Milton’s later works demonstrate the intensive struggle of spiritual reading. Milton presents his own rigorous process of reading in order to instruct his readers how to advance their spiritual knowledge. Recent studies of Milton’s readers neglect this spiritual dimension and focus on politics. Since Milton considers the individual soul at least as important as the body politic, Ainsworth focuses on uncovering the spiritual characteristics of the reader Milton tries to shape through his texts. He also examines Milton’s reading practices without postulating the existence of some ideal or universal reader, and without assuming a gullible or easily manipulated reader. Milton does not simply hope for a fit audience, but writes to nurture fit readers. His works offer models of strenuous and suspicious close reading, subjecting all authors except God to the utmost of scrutiny. Milton presents Biblical interpretation as an interior struggle, a contention not between reader and text, but within that reader’s individual understanding of scripture. Ainsworth’s study rethinks the basic relationship between reading and religion in seventeenth-century England, and concludes that for Milton and his contemporaries, distinguishing divine truths in worldly texts required a spiritually guided form of close reading.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Milton and the Spiritual Reader considers how John Milton’s later works demonstrate the intensive struggle of spiritual reading. Milton presents his own rigorous process of reading in order to instruct his readers how to advance their spiritual knowledge. Recent studies of Milton’s readers neglect this spiritual dimension and focus on politics. Since Milton considers the individual soul at least as important as the body politic, Ainsworth focuses on uncovering the spiritual characteristics of the reader Milton tries to shape through his texts. He also examines Milton’s reading practices without postulating the existence of some ideal or universal reader, and without assuming a gullible or easily manipulated reader. Milton does not simply hope for a fit audience, but writes to nurture fit readers. His works offer models of strenuous and suspicious close reading, subjecting all authors except God to the utmost of scrutiny. Milton presents Biblical interpretation as an interior struggle, a contention not between reader and text, but within that reader’s individual understanding of scripture. Ainsworth’s study rethinks the basic relationship between reading and religion in seventeenth-century England, and concludes that for Milton and his contemporaries, distinguishing divine truths in worldly texts required a spiritually guided form of close reading.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Grassroots Pacifism in Post-War Japan by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Development, Power, and the Environment by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Quantitative Data Analysis with IBM SPSS 17, 18 & 19 by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book The New Reflectionism in Cognitive Psychology by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Interactions between Markedness and Faithfulness Constraints in Vowel Systems by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Art, Enterprise and Ethics: Essays on the Life and Work of William Morris by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Energy in Brazil by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Transport Matters by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Year Amongst The Persians by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Criminal Psychology by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Revelation and Reason in Islam by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book The New Israel by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book Combatting the Causes of Inequality Affecting Young People Across Europe by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book The Little Trials Of Childhood by David Ainsworth
Cover of the book First Americans: A History of Native Peoples, Combined Volume by David Ainsworth
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy