1. Paradise Lost
John Milton

2. Epic Poetry as a Classic Literary Form
Examples:
Homer recorded the first major epic poems: The Iliad and The Odyssey
Virgil tells the story of Rome’s founding in The Aeneid
The Anglo-Saxon’s recount the struggle of good vs. evil in Beowulf
John Milton gives account of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden in Paradise Lost
Milton thought the best way to write poetry was to imitate ancient writers. He was especially drawn to the ancient poetry of the Bible, and it was from the Bible that he takes his subject for Paradise Lost. Milton took just a few verses from the Bible, mainly from Genesis, and developed them into a 10,565 line-poem.

3. Epic Poem
Long, narrative poem written in an elevated style that tells the story of a cultural hero and reflects the values of its society.

4. Paradise Lost as an Epic
Begins with an invocation to the muse and statement of theme
Hero is of great historical significance
setting is vast
Conflict in the celestial realm
There are supernatural elements
The writing is of an elevated style
Ornate language, epic similes…
In medias res

5. Milton’s Argument
THE QUESTION: If God is good and He is in control, then why do bad things happen?
MILTON’S ANSWER: Attempts to address the reason for sin and suffering in the world: God is not responsible; Adam and Eve “brought death into the world, and all our woe.”
Asserts that God gave us free will, and we are responsible for our choosing of evil
God gave Adam and Eve the freedom to choose between good and evil, and the strength to resist evil; yet they chose evil, and their offspring- all of us- have suffered the effects of their choice ever since.

6. Milton on Satan
Asserts that God purposely let Satan escape from Hell and establish himself on Earth so that human beings would have something to fight against, and with God’s help, triumph over.
Does this sound cruel to you? Milton said this plan is for man’s own good. How?

7. Themes
Justify the ways of God to man
Pride
Envy
Revenge
Vanity

8. Define the following
Blank Verse
Enjambment