Students endure Milton marathon

Students will have to read at least 1,000 lines each

Students and lecturers at Bangor University have attempted what they believe to be a British first - a non-stop reading of John Milton's epic masterpiece Paradise Lost.

The marathon read started on Sunday and was due to take about 11 hours.

As well as helping understand the poem the students hoped to raise money for Mozambique flood relief.

The poem, published in 1667, comprises of 12 books and more than 10,000 words.

The reading was the brainchild of Dr Tom Corns, Head of the English Department - who read the part of Satan.

Most of the students involved read from only one of the books.

John Milton wrote his masterpiece in 1667

But others taking the main parts such as Satan, Adam, Eve and Raphael were required throughout the marathon session.

"We wanted to do it because it gives the students and ourselves better sense of what the poem is like - a better sense of experiencing the poem," said Dr Corns.

"Hearing it aloud made a difference to our understanding of the rhythms."

Physically demanding

Dr Corns said most students read about 1,000 lines each.

Supplies were brought in to keep them going.

"It is a poem that is meant to leave you exhausted, but curiously pleased."

Third year student Dawn Harris, who is taking the part of Eve said the ordeal could have been worse.

"I'm sure it would be very tedious having to read it all by yourself," she said.