January 18-21 Sharing The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth of England:

The Revolution of the Saints

To the Lord General Cromwell

by John Milton

Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud,

      Not of war only, but detractions rude,

      Guided by faith and matchless fortitude,

      To peace and truth thy glorious way hast ploughed,

And on the neck of crownèd Fortune proud

      Hast reared God’s trophies, and His work pursued,

      While Darwen stream, with blood of Scots imbrued,

      And Dunbar field, resounds thy praises loud,

And Worchester’s laureate wreath: yet much remains

      To conquer still; peace hath her victories

      No less renowned than war: new foes arise,

Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains.

      Help us to save free conscience from the paw

      Of hireling wolves, whose gospel is their maw.



Tuesday:  1. Paradise Lost, Book III:  The Decrees of God for Man's Redemption

          2.  Finish "Revolutions" by Simon Schama

Wednesday:  1.  Begin Paradise Lost, Book IV

                     2.  Begin the 1970 film classic, Cromwell.

Thursday:  1.  Test over Books 1--3 of Paradise Lost

                  2.  Continue discussion of Book IV

                    3.  Continue film Cromwell

Friday:  1.  Paradise Lost, Book V

                2.  Test over Tudor and Stuart Kings--names, dates, key events

                   3. Continue film Cromwell

Readings for the Week:

1.  Paradise Lost, Books 3--5  (Book 6 due by Monday, January 24)

2.  Western Civilizations:  Chapter 14 Europe and the World: New Encounters, 1500-1800.  We are trying to examine Britain in class and explore the larger world events on our own. 

Be mentally preparing to write about Cromwell. We will not be writing factual biographies, but trying to answer the question of his ideas and practices.