Paradise Lost by John Milton

John Milton The "blind poet" Republican views; against monarchy Puritan Bible as law Set out to create "the epic to end all epics" (p. 724)

Overview Paradise Lost is an epic poem concerning the clash of angels in Heaven as well as the Fall of Man, initiated by Adam and Eve. It highlights consequences of disobedience, despair without repentance, and several other sins. Satan and his followers have just been cast into Hell as punishment for seeking equal status to God. The "Adversary" resolves to get revenge on God by tainting his newest and greatest creation: Mankind. He ultimately succeeds, tempting Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.

Begins in media res Qualities of an Epic Paradise Lost opens after Satan and his followers have been cast from Heaven. A colossal war has just ensued between God's army and the rebel angels that chose to follow Satan.

Vast setting Qualities of an Epic The epic covers the settings of Hell, Earth, Chaos, and Heaven.

Vast setting Milton's Earth began with Heaven and Paradise above, Chaos in the middle, and Hell below.

Vast setting Pandemonium (all demons) - the hall of Hell, built by the fallen angels. Here, the devils gathered for debate.

Invocation to Muse Qualities of an Epic "Sing Heav'nly Muse...I thence invoke thy aid to my advent'rous song." (p. 211, ll. 6-13) "Thou O Spirit" (p. 212, l.17) "...still govern thou my Song, Urania" (p. 346, ll. 30-31) "'For thou art Heav'nly" (p. 347, l. 39) *takes Greek muses and ties them to Christianity (as in the Holy Spirit)

*the epic will deal with disobedience and sin. Qualities of an Epic Begins with statement of theme "Of Man's First Disobedience, and the Fruit / Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste / Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden" (p. 211, ll. 1-5) *the epic will deal with disobedience and sin.

Use of epithets Qualities of an Epic Satan: the Adversary, the Fiend, the Arch- Enemy, Chief of Hell, Prince of Darkness, Serpent Jesus: begat Son, Godhead, Son of God

Use of epithets Qualities of an Epic Adam: our Sire, Patriarch God: Almighty, the Creator, Father, our Conqueror

Long lists (epic catalogue) Qualities of an Epic Long lists (epic catalogue) List of devils in Book 1 p. 221-225, ll. 392-534 Catalogue of sea and air animals p. 356-357, ll. 388-448

Long, formal speeches Qualities of an Epic Satan's speech to Beelzebub in Book 1 "If thou beest hee; But O how fall'n!... how chang'd / From him, who in the happy Realms of Light..." (p. 213, l. 84) Satan lamenting how the rebel angels have fallen Adam's soliloquy and speech to Eve in Book 9 "Holy, divine, good, amiable, and sweet! How art thou lost..." (p. 399, ll. 899-900) Adam lamenting Eve's submission to temptation

Disobedience vs. Obedience Thematic Concepts Disobedience vs. Obedience Satan is the embodiment of disobedience; he is the first angel to disobey "And some are...to disobedience fall'n, And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell..." (p. 315, ll. 541-542) "...is that thir happy state? The proof of thir obedience and thir faith?" (p. 290, ll. 519-520)

Disobedience vs. Obedience Thematic Concepts Disobedience vs. Obedience Adam and Eve have been given free will, thus the ability to disobey--their ultimate shortcoming. "Happiness in his power left to free will, Left to his own free Will, his Will though free, Yet mutable..." (p. 308, ll. 235-237)

Disobedience vs. Obedience Thematic Concepts Disobedience vs. Obedience The irony of this is that true obedience can only come from free will. "...freely we serve / Because freely we love..." (p. 314, ll. 538-539)

Justification of God's Ways Thematic Concepts Justification of God's Ways God gives free will, as true obedience and servitude can only grow from a willingness to follow ...I made him just and right, Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall." (p. 260, ll. 98-99).

Justification of God's Ways Thematic Concepts Justification of God's Ways God allows the fall to happen; he has a plan to redeem Man "be not dismay'd" I told ye then he should prevail and speed / On his bad Errand" (p. 407, ll. 34, 40- 41). "Mine ear shall not be slow, my eye not shut. And I will place within them as a guide/ My Umpire Conscience..." (p. 262-263, ll. 193-195).

Justification of God's Ways Thematic Concepts Justification of God's Ways Allowing the fall allows man a chance at mercy and salvation. Noah's Ark - when the "whole Earth" is "fill'd with violence," God shall "one just Man find in his sight" (p. 453, ll.888, 890).

Thematic Concepts Effects of Sin Pride & Envy - Satan's pride and envy of Jesus cause his ultimate downfall. "...yet fraught with / With envy against the Son of God..." (p. 318, ll. 661-662). "[Satan] could not bear / Through pride that sight, and thought himself impair'd" (lowered in rank) (p. 318, ll. 664-665). "...and the more I see / Pleasures about me, so much more I feel / Torment within me..." (p. 381, ll. 119-121)

Thematic Concepts Effects of Sin Deceit - Satan lies in order to gain the attention of the rebel angels as well as catalyze the fall. He gathers the angels in Heaven under the pretense that they will celebrate Jesus. He disguises himself as a Cherub, a bird, a toad, and a serpent to deceive others.

Thematic Concepts Effects of Sin Lust - Adam is afraid of his physical attraction to Eve because it alters his ability to reason. "Her loveliness, so absolute...that what she wills to do or say / Seems wisest...All higher knowledge in her presence falls / Degraded..." (p. 375, ll. 547- 551). "Take heed lest passion sway / Thy judgement..." (p. 377, ll. 635-636).

Thematic Concepts Dangers of Knowledge Adam's need for knowledge foreshadows the fall. It is compared to hunger: "...govern well thy appetite, lest sin / Surprise thee" (p. 360, ll. 546-547). "And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear / Than fruits of palm tree pleasantest to thirst / And hunger both..." (p. 367, ll. 211-213).

Thematic Concepts Dangers of Knowledge However, Adam is warned about knowledge when he inquires about God's secrets: "Think only what concerns thee and thy being" (p. 376, l. 174).

The rebel angels are cast down to Hell by Jesus.

Satan sneaks into Paradise for the first time. -overcome with envy and despair

Raphael visits Adam and Eve Here they are warned of Satan's wickedness and the fall.

Satan goes to Eden again, possessing a serpent Satan goes to Eden again, possessing a serpent. Here he tempts Eve to eat the fruit, causing the fall.

Sin, Satan's daughter (sprung from his head), and Death, Satan's incestuous son. Through Satan's actions, Sin and Death are released into the world from the Gates of Hell.

Devils' punishment for tainting humankind - all turned to serpents and tempted by fruits of ash

Paradise Lost ends with Michael showing Adam humankind's future sins and God's future actions, such as the Tower of Babel and Noah's Ark.