South Middlesex Times

English Professor Ann Baynes Coiro, a Milton scholar in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, has organized an eclipse read-a-thon of "Paradise Lost" on the New Brunswick campus on April 8. The event aims to mark this year’s solar eclipse in a unique way by reciting lines from John Milton’s epic poem which explores the battle between goodness and evil.

Coiro highlighted the relevance of the poem to college-age students, stating, “It’s a perfect poem for somebody who’s 20 or 21 or 22.” She emphasized the depth of discussions her students have had around the masterpiece, focusing on themes of choices, good versus evil, and the complexities of knowledge acquisition.

Participants at the event will read aloud every word of the 17th-century poem, totaling more than 10,000 lines, from 9:30 a.m. to about 6 p.m. Coiro and department colleague Brad Evans have selected "Paradise Lost" for its celestial imagery, particularly the eclipse symbolism woven throughout the work.

The organizers plan to distribute free copies of the epic to volunteer readers who will recite under a tent in front of Murray Hall, while onlookers can listen from provided chairs. Apples, symbolizing the forbidden fruit in the Bible, will also be handed out at the event.

Evans, the director of undergraduate education for the Department of English, emphasized the connection between nature and culture at the eclipse read-a-thon. “We planned the event to showcase the entanglement of nature and culture—how our ideas about the world have been shaped by the stories we share together,” he said.

As the eclipse reaches its peak darkness around 3:24 p.m., coinciding with the dramatic climax in Book Nine of the poem, attendees will experience the final moments of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The organizers aim to demonstrate the fusion of art and nature as the eclipse shadows and light interplay during the reading.

Despite the age of the poem, Coiro described it as surprisingly modern, highlighting its portrayal of Adam and Eve as a relatable couple with love and conflicts. The event, co-sponsored by various academic programs at Rutgers, is set to proceed regardless of the weather conditions.

Evans invited the public to join the event, stating, “You can drop by to listen. And anyone can get in the queue to read a verse paragraph.” The eclipse read-a-thon promises to be a unique and immersive experience where art and nature intertwine, encapsulating Milton’s timeless exploration of human nature and morality.