Hi there, I’m Sophia Donati, currently a sophomore here at Bucknell. I’m majoring in English Literary Studies and Political Science as well as being on the swim team. Actually one of the books that made me really want to pursue English as a major was Paradise Lost by John Milton. I read it in 10th grade at my high school and I remember it being difficult to read and more difficult to understand, but I found the ideas captivating. It was also interesting to hear my classmates talk about these unspoken topics like believing in God, religion, and the role of Satan. After reading that book, I really saw the Creation story and a lot of other religious tales nodded to and symbolized in other works of literature. I think Paradise Lost was also a turning point for me because it took these larger-than-life personas of the angels and Satan and humanized them to a certain degree. It was also extraordinary how I was compelled to feel some sympathy for the devil. To that point, I grew up Roman Catholic and attended Church regularly up to high school. I went to a Sunday school program and considered myself somewhat religious. Eventually, I pivoted away from the Church’s methods while holding some of my religious beliefs. I can’t remember specific Biblical excerpts from memory, but I do have a recollection of some of the Old Testament’s books. Obviously the Old Testament is hinted at in a lot of the Western literary Canon so it’s helpful having some background on the stories and themes in the Bible. I’m really excited to see more of a direct connection between the Bible and these great works of literature throughout the semester. One of my past teachers argued that you can’t fully understand literature without understanding the reference of the Bible, so I am interested to test if that’s true. I am also happy to return to Paradise Lost with more understanding and knowledge to analyze it more. I’m excited to dive into the course!