Enhancing Suggestions, Christopher Ricks

Found in the back of the edition of Paradise Lost that we are using for class can be found a variety of additional essays about Milton and his thoughts and works. A small article that I recently read was by Christopher B. Ricks within the Enhancing Suggestions section.

Ricks's main discussion or topic is Milton's use of words and his language used within Paradise Lost. This is a shorter article, but it goes through some of the recurring words and what they really meant. The word 'error' goes along with the Fall or fallen.

Ricks also explains and discusses Milton's Latinisms. If my understanding is correct, Ricks is trying to say that how a person understands that Latinism's depends on how they understand Milton. This makes sense. To understand what an author is saying sometimes, especially from centries ago, sometimes an understanding of them is required.

One of Ricks's statements that I thought helps to clarify Milton is "So one of the reasons why Milton often uses 'words in a proper and primary signification'( Newton) is because he thereby re-create something of the pre-lapsarian state language." I don't know what the pre-lapsarian state language is, but at least it gives me an idea of why Milton chooses the words he does.

Ricks made note of how the OED, Oxford English Dictionary, can help to understand Milton's words. Definitions have changed since Milton was alive. We may think he means the 21st century definition, but he could mean something completely different. How was he to know words would change and at the same time, how were we to know they were ever different? Bottom line is when in doubt, check the OED.

Ricks includes this line in his final paragraph and I've chosen to use it in mine, "It does not seem true that 'the mind that invented Milton's Grand Style had renounced the English language". To me, Ricks is telling us that Milton intended to take the English language to another level. I think he succeeded as Milton's work is on another level from anything I've ever read.