John Milton's Grand Style

In his Oxford lecture 'On Translating Homer: Last Words', Mathew Arnold used
this now famous phrase. 'Such a style, he maintained, arises when a noble nature, poetically
gifted, treats with simplicity or with severity a serious subject'. Arnold refers to Homer, Pindar,
Virgil, Dante, and Milton as exponents of grand style. It was a lofty or elevated style
suitable for epic, a style Arnold himself attempted in, for instance in'Sohrab and
Rustum'.
Now, we discuss the devices used in 'Paradise Lost' by Milton which have caused
his style to be characterized as the Grand Style.

Erudite Style, Full Of Allusion

The language of 'Paradise Lost' is that of a scholar writing for scholars. A beautiful
illustration of the poet's fondness for allusions is provided by his description of Satan's
forces, which dwarfed the mightiest armies known to history or legend:

the giant brood mentioned by Hesiod

the heroic race that fought at Thebes and Troy mentioned by Homer

the knights of king Arthur mentioned by Geoffrey of Monmouth

the Crusaders who fought the Saracens mentioned in history, and

the warriors of Charlemagne mentioned in the Italian epics.

The whole treasury of poetry and the whole storehouse of learning are at his
command.

Suggestive Quality In Style

In Milton's poetry more is meant than meets the ear. He means more than what
he says. As the poet's difficulty throughout the poem is to describe what cannot be
exactly describedHeaven, Chaos, Hell, God, Angels, Devils-he throws out a broad hint
or two of their intended shapes and appearance and asks the reader to imagine the rest.
Thus Satan's huge figure, which nobody can have an idea of, is described with a few
suggestive strokes: 'head uplift above the wave', 'eyes that sparkling blazed', and other parts in
bulk as large 'as whom the fables name of monstrous size'. Hell is described
As one great furnace flam'd: yet from those flames
No light, but rather darkness visible........
Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell.

We have to suggest a lot to form a whole picture of the Hell.

Unusual Structure Of Sentences

Milton's common practice is to place a noun between its two qualifying adjectives,
though the English grammar requires both to be placed before the noun: the upright heart
and pure', 'the dismal situation waste and wild', 'ever burning sulpher unconsumed'. Sometimes
he uses one part of speech for another, such as verb as noun in 'the great consult
began'; adjective as noun 'the palpable obscure' etc. In spite of the violation of the accepted
rules of grammar, one cannot deny that 'Paradise Lost' is a poem for scholarly readers.
The violation of grammar is not so much criticized as the beauty of his style is
appreciated.

Use Of Similes
A striking feature in 'Paradise Lost' is Milton's use of similes. These are expanded
to draw complete pictures. They had dignity of the narrative, and do not merely
illustrate but also decorate the epic theme and character.

Elevated Speeches
The lofty tone is maintained in the speeches of Satan, as for instance in the
speech to Beelzebub. One cannot help noting the rhetorical eloquence with which Satan
encourages the fallen angels.
So Milton maintains a constant elevation and dignity of style corresponding to
the greatness of theme, and Mathew Arnold is absolutely right when he refers to Milton
as a poet of grand style.