1. The Fall of Satan by John Milton
Feature Menu
Introducing the Poem
Literary Focus: Style
Reading Skills: Milton’s Style

2. The Fall of Satan by John Milton
The Angel Michael Binding Satan (c.1850) by William Blake.

3. The Fall of Satan by John Milton
Evil is neither suffering nor sin; it is both at the same time, it is something common to them both.
—Simone Weil
(1909–1943)

4. The Fall of Satan by John Milton
The Reason for Evil
Think about these two age-old questions and how they are related:
Why does evil exist?
If there is a merciful God, why does he allow so much human suffering?
The Angel of Divine Presence (detail) by William Blake. Watercolor.

5. The Fall of Satan by John Milton
The Reason for Evil
Paradise Lost presents the struggle between good and evil on an epic scale.
In Book I Satan rebels against God.
Later, in Book IX Satan influences Adam and Eve to partake of evil.
In Milton’s epic, as in the Bible, the original choice of evil over good leads to the suffering and burdens of humanity.

6. The Fall of Satan by John Milton
The excerpt in your textbook comes from the beginning of Paradise Lost.
The archangel Lucifer has led a band of rebellious angels to defy God.
The rebels, defeated, were cast out of Heaven into Hell.
Milton stresses the pride and willfulness that led Satan to revolt.
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7. The Fall of Satan Literary Focus: Style
Style—the unique manner in which writers use language to express their ideas
A writer’s style is closely connected to
diction—the author’s choice of words (long, fancy words versus simpler, more everyday words, for example)
syntax—the way the sentences are constructed (elaborate and complicated structures, short sentences, fragments, or a combination)

8. The Fall of Satan Literary Focus: Style
A writer’s style can be categorized by any of a number of descriptive words. What word or words below describe the style of the following passage?
Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool His mighty stature; on each hand the flames Driven backward slope their pointing spires, and rolled In billows, leave in the midst a horrid vale.
Paradise Lost, lines
formal? comic? ornate? plain? forceful? √ √ √
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9. The Fall of Satan Reading Skills: Milton’s Style
Reading Milton can be challenging. As you read, identify areas of difficulty and apply these strategies to deal with them:
Use context clues to figure out the meanings of new words.
Consult the side glosses for help with unfamiliar names and terms.
Read and answer the reading questions for help understanding key ideas.
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10. The Fall of Satan Reading Skills: Milton’s Style
Use context clues to figure out the meanings of new words.
That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, His utmost power with adverse power opposed
—lines 102–103
Let’s say you’re not sure what adverse means. What nearby word might give you a clue?
What nearby word might give you a clue? The word opposed offers a good context clue. Since opposed implies something going against or being opposite of something else, the reader might guess that adverse means “contrary to or working against.”
opposed

11. The Fall of Satan Reading Skills: Milton’s Style
Consult the side glosses for help with unfamiliar names and terms.
“O Prince, O Chief of many thronèd Powers, That led the embattled Seraphim° to war Under thy conduct, . . .
—lines 128–130
129. Seraphim: highest order of angels.

12. The Fall of Satan Reading Skills: Milton’s Style
Read and answer the reading questions for help understanding key ideas.
That to the height of this great argument I may assert Eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men.
—lines 24–26
26. According to line 26, what is Milton’s purpose? State this purpose in your own words. ?
to prove to humans that God’s treatment of them is consistent with his goodness

13. Vocabulary

14. The Fall of Satan Vocabulary
Previewing the Vocabulary
transgress v.: sin against; violate a limit.
infernal adj.: hellish; fiendish.
guile n.: cunning.
affliction n.: suffering.
contention n.: struggle.
ignominy n.: dishonor; disgrace.
impetuous adj.: forceful; violent.

15. The Fall of Satan Vocabulary
Previewing the Vocabulary
desolation n.: utter misery; extreme loneliness.
reiterated v. used as adj.: repeated.
malice n.: ill will; evil intentions.

16. The Fall of Satan Vocabulary
Vocabulary Activity: Replacing Synonyms
Select a Vocabulary word from the list to replace the underlined word.
Any student who violates school rules will be punished.
She could not shake the feeling of extreme loneliness.
The cunning of the criminals was no match for that of the detectives.
He has borne his suffering with dignity.
The judge had to resign in disgrace.
desolation
desolation
ignominy
ignominy
affliction
affliction
transgresses
transgresses
guile
guile
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17. Meet the Writer

18. The Fall of Satan Meet the Writer
John Milton (1608–1674) shared some of the Puritans’ beliefs and attitudes, such as their extreme dislike of kings and bishops. However, he also advocated divorce for incompatible married couples and argued for a free press. Most Puritans at the time considered such ideas dangerously radical.
More About the Writer
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