Saint Joseph College
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Maasin City, Southern Leyte
Module II
GE EL- 3 GREAT BOOKS
1st Semester, AY 2021-2022
Prepared by
Beverly N. Briones
Chester Fernandez
Edgarino Tabinas
Kim Dedicatoria
Noeme Garces
Instructors
Saint Joseph College
Course Description
Great Books is a three-unit course that develops students’ ability to appreciate,
analyze, and critique literary works. It is a survey of the selected greatest
masterpieces of literature from all over the world, embracing more than 5000 years
of development of world literature, in different literary forms or genres, with
representative pieces from various places, cultures, and periods that produced
them.
Grading System
Each student shall be assessed on the following:
MIDTERM:
Assignments/Activities – 10%
Quizzes/Attendance - 30%
Pre-Midterm Exam - 30%
Midterm Exam - 30%
FINAL EXAMINATION:
Attendance - 10%
Assignments - 10%
Quizzes - 20%
Pre-Final Exam - 30%
Final Exam - 30%
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the semester, the students must be able to:
1. Appreciate the historical context of literature, how it affects and reflects the age in
which it was written;
2. Enjoy literature in its broader social context by garnering insights into the human
condition;
3. Gain intellectual growth by strengthening students’ abilities to read analytically
and creatively;
4. Transform and extend creatively literary materials to other artistic and digital
expressions; and
5. Analyze a piece of literature from the assigned period and effectively write about
it using appropriate critical strategies.
Course Code – Descriptive Title
Prayer before Study
by St. Thomas Aquinas
Creator of all things, true Source of light and wisdom, lofty origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of Your brilliance penetrate into the darkness of my
understanding and take from me the double darkness in which I have been born, an
obscurity of both sin and ignorance.
Give me a sharp sense of understanding, a retentive memory, and the ability to
grasp things correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations, and the ability to express
myself with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in completion; through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
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Module 2B
Topic:
John Milton’s Paradise Lost
Lesson 2
I. Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
Read John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
Explain and justify Milton's use of God as a character
Discuss significant themes present in the poem
II. Introduction
Engage
Group students into five (5) and ask each group to explain the quotes assigned to
them.
Quotes from the poem Paradise Lost Groups
1. “A mind not to be changed by place or 1
time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of
heav'n.”
2. “Better to reign in Hell, than to serve 2
in Heaven.”
3. “Solitude sometimes is best society.” 3
4. “Never can true reconcilement grow 4
where wounds of deadly hate have
Course Code – Descriptive Title
pierced so deep...”
5. “Ah, why should all mankind 5
For one man's fault, be condemned,
If guiltless?”
Explore
1. What can you say about the photo above?
2. Search and read the poem Paradise Lost by John Milton to be able to answer the
discussion questions.
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Explain
Title: Paradise Lost
Author: John Milton
Year Published:1667
Type: Epic poem
Genre: Allegory
Perspective and Narrator: Paradise Lost is told by a third-person omniscient
narrator. Readers learn that the narrator is the author, John Milton, when he inserts
references to himself, as he does in discussing his blindness in Book 3: "these eyes
that roll in vain/To find thy piercing ray."
About the Title: Paradise Lost refers to the expulsion of the first humans, Adam and
Eve, from the Garden of Eden after they commit sin by eating from the forbidden
Tree of Knowledge.
Biography
John Milton was born on December 9, 1608, to a middle-class, religiously
Protestant family in London. He attended St. Paul's School and Christ's
College, Cambridge.
He began writing poetry and started training to become an Anglican priest.
Even though his interest in religion prevailed throughout his life, he gave up
his pursuit of the priesthood and instead devoted his time to writing poetry
and to studying ancient and modern languages, literature, science, politics,
and philosophy.
His works have influenced storytelling ever since they were published.
Paradise Lost offers something unusual in literature: an imaginative vision of
what everyday life in Paradise might have been like. Furthermore, Milton
used a variety of literary devices, including epic similes—long, elaborate
figurative comparisons—that have influenced authors to the present day.
After reading the poem, answer the following questions:
1. Who are the characters in the poem? Describe each.
2. How does Paradise Lost express the idea that too much knowledge is a bad thing?
Course Code – Descriptive Title
3. What are the themes present in the poem?
4. Who is most responsible for the fall in Paradise Lost: Man or Satan?
Elaborate
Diagram Plot
Introduction
The author begins to tell the story of the fall of humanity.
Rising Action
• Satan and rebel angels fight against God and loyal angels.
• After the battle Satan and rebel angels are in Hell.
• In revenge, devils plot to corrupt humankind.
• Satan flies to Earth to carry out plan.
• God calls council of angels to tell about Satan's plan.
• The Son offers to sacrifice himself for human redemption.
• Satan tricks his way into Garden of Eden.
• Satan sees Adam and Eve in Garden of Eden.
• Archangel Raphael warns Adam and Eve about Satan's plan.
Climax
• Satan tempts Adam and Eve to eat forbidden fruit.
Falling Action
• God is angry because of Adam and Eve's disobedience.
• God orders punishment of pain and death for all humans.
• Archangel Michael shows a vision of redemption with Christ.
Resolution
• Adam and Eve are forced from the Garden of Eden.
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Themes
Obedience and Disobedience
Sin and Innocence
Fate and Free Will
Evaluate
Instructions: Discuss one significant theme present in the poem. Provide an original
photo that best describes your explanation and post it on your Facebook wall.
Criteria:
Content- 15
Originality- 8
Grammar- 7
Overall impact- 10
Total- 40 points
Prayer after Study
T hank You, Lord God, for opening my eyes to the light of Your wisdom. You
have delighted my heart with the knowledge of truth. I ask You, Lord, help me
always to do Your will.
Bless my soul and body, my words and actions.
Grant that I may grow in grace, wisdom and virtue, that Your name may always be
glorified, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
