Samson Agonistes (Paperback)

by John Milton (Author), F. T. Prince (Editor) "TRAGEDY, as it was anciently composed, hath been ever held the gravest, moralest, and most profitable of all other Poems: therefore said by Aristotle to..." (more)
Key Phrases: thy country

Editorial Reviews

Review
("Samson the Athlete" or "Samson the Wrestler") Tragedy by John Milton, published in the same volume as his epic Paradise Regained in 1671. It is considered the greatest English drama based on the Greek model and is known as a closet tragedy (one more suited for reading than performance). The work deals with the final phase of Samson's life and recounts the story as told in the Old Testament Book of Judges. Himself blind when he wrote Samson Agonistes, Milton depicts Samson, the once mighty warrior, as blinded and a prisoner of the Philistines ("eyeless in Gaza at the mill with slaves"). Samson conquers self-pity and despair, however, and is granted a return of his old strength. He pulls down the pillars that support the temple of the Philistine god Dagon, crushing himself along with his captors. -- The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

Review

The work allows for teaching feminist teaching as well as Puritan background to English literature. The notes are excellent, very helpful to me as well as to the students."--Pau Sheneman, Miami University


See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 15, 1970)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019831910X
• ISBN-13: 978-0198319108
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,388,479 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #73 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > British > Classics > Milton, John
  #79 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > Milton, John
  #88 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > Milton, John

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Besides being well written, S.A. is thought-provoking, August 12, 1999

By A Customer

Samson Agonistes is, in my opinion, one of John Milton's most outstanding works. The way in which the hero, Samson, wrestles with his thoughts gives insight into the mind of Milton, especially regarding his blindness. Milton's character Delilah is a wonderful picture of what NOT to act like. This book is thought-provoking, to say the least, as well as a picture of God's greatness and design. Wonderful writing as well!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unjustly Neglected, July 21, 2002

By	ben dueholm (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

It's unfortunate that this book can be so hard to find in bookstores, because in some ways it's more worthwhile than 'Paradise Lost.'

The play is bitter and misogynistic, and lacking in dramatic qualities. But the poetry is first-rate. Samson's first speech ("Ask for this great Deliverer now, and find him / Eyeless in Caza at the Mill with slaves"; "O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon...") has been nicked by a number of great writers. It's denser and more vigorous than much of 'Paradise Lost.' And it's less than 1800 lines.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars no title, November 16, 2005

By	C. L Wilson (Elmhurst, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a long poem, some 45 pages, and the first thing I ever read by Milton. And it was actually pretty good! No wonder Milton is considered great. I felt as if I were reading one of the great Greek tragedies upon which this was surely modeled. It recreates in blank verse the story of Samson and Delilah and how Samson brought down the pillars of the public arena and destroyed all the Philistines. I had not thought of that Biblical story in a long time. Milton makes it seem very real, makes the people seem alive. Even Delilah comes across as a sympathic character who had rational reasons for betraying Samson. What the real story was about his strength being in his hair I've love to know. I'm sure these were real people and there is some basis in fact. I enjoyed it.