ENGL 423

Fall 2026

Part of Term 1
Aug 24-Dec 9
Milton
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Credit: 3 OR 4 hours.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One year of college literature or consent of instructor.

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Status CRN Type Section Time Day Location Instructor Section Details
4
40365
Lecture-Discussion
1G
11:00AM -12:15PM
TR
Gregory Hall
Gray, C
Availability:
CrossListOpen (Restricted)
Part of Term:
1
Date Range:
08/24/26-12/09/26
Credit:
4 hours
Section Info:
FA26 ENGL 423 - Milton - Catharine Gray - This course introduces you to one of the best-known British writers, John Milton, who styled himself a blind seer, anti-tyrannical prose-writer, and public, polemical poet. Always ambitious, he wrote one of the most influential English epics, a work that aimed to explain the origins of life itself. He also explored issues that are still with us: the fixity or fluidity of gender and sexuality; the relations between choice, consent, coercion, and force; definitions of freedom and servitude; freedom of the press and censorship; and justifications for radical political activism and violent insurrection. Because he is a writer who plunged into the turbulent issues of his time, we will discuss some of the historical questions of religion, gender, culture, and politics he addresses. Because he is still cited as a poet of free speech and anti-tyrannical polemic, though, we will also think about what, if anything, we can take from his work for today. Throughout, we will trace Milton’s carefully crafted public image, thinking about his view of the poet’s obligations to, and authority within, public arenas of vehement debate and violent change.
Restriction(s):
Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
4
39495
Lecture-Discussion
1U
11:00AM -12:15PM
TR
Gregory Hall
Gray, C
Availability:
CrossListOpen (Restricted)
Part of Term:
1
Date Range:
08/24/26-12/09/26
Credit:
3 hours
Section Info:
FA26 ENGL 423 - Milton - Catharine Gray - This course introduces you to one of the best-known British writers, John Milton, who styled himself a blind seer, anti-tyrannical prose-writer, and public, polemical poet. Always ambitious, he wrote one of the most influential English epics, a work that aimed to explain the origins of life itself. He also explored issues that are still with us: the fixity or fluidity of gender and sexuality; the relations between choice, consent, coercion, and force; definitions of freedom and servitude; freedom of the press and censorship; and justifications for radical political activism and violent insurrection. Because he is a writer who plunged into the turbulent issues of his time, we will discuss some of the historical questions of religion, gender, culture, and politics he addresses. Because he is still cited as a poet of free speech and anti-tyrannical polemic, though, we will also think about what, if anything, we can take from his work for today. Throughout, we will trace Milton’s carefully crafted public image, thinking about his view of the poet’s obligations to, and authority within, public arenas of vehement debate and violent change.
Restriction(s):
Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
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