1. “Paradise Lost”

2. Retold the story of the Bible: Creation Fall Redemption Milton told this in two epics “Paradise Lost” “Paradise Regained” This symbolizes the plight of England and its monarchy

3. Milton went blind in 1652 Because he was unable to write, he dictated or told his daughters what to write He opposed the monarchy and went to jail He was “blind, disgraced, and disillusioned” It took him 10 years to complete “Paradise Lost” is known as the greatest English epic

4. The epic begins in the middle Satan with his allies (angels/demons) have rebelled against God God has sent him to Hell A place devoid of light, life, and form “One great furnace flamed, yet from those flames / No light, but rather darkness visible / Served only to discern sights of woe.”

5. The epic follows the story of the Bible God forbids Adam and Eve to eat of the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Because Satan wants revenge, he manipulates Eve and has her eat of the fruit and convince Adam to do the same Because of this they and humanity are thrown out of the Garden of Eden For Milton, the old England. Satan destroying Christianity

6. Reason and Free Will: Humanity can see the difference between right and wrong. Free Will and Predestination: God knows everything that is, was, and will be. Unlike the Puritans who believed they were predestined for Heaven, Milton brought out the point that humanity makes that decision because of the free will granted by God.

7. Milton was challenging the official Church of England He motivated people to return to the origins of Christian Religion It was at this time that the Civil War in England occurred Charles I was put to death.

8. Satan – the destructive forces that had torn through the nation Fall of Satan – return of the power of Christianity in England

9. Avatar The Hunger Games Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Schindler’s List What examples can you explain where literature, including drama, deals with a real historical crisis?