PARADISE LOST
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PARADISE LOST—John Milton
EPIC
Definition
:
an epic is a long narrative poem written in an
elevated style on a great and serious subject centered on a
heroic figure whose actions are important to the fate of a nation
or race of people.
Characteristics and Conventions
1.
the hero is of great national or cosmic importance and is of
historical or legendary significance
2.
the setting is vast in scope
3.
the style is elevated, ceremonial, and simple
4.
invocation to the muse (a prayer for poetic inspiration)
5.
cataloguing (a listing)
6.
epic similes (a long comparison between things basically
unlike but having at least one point in common—uses like
or as )
7.
statement of theme
8.
begins
en medias res
(in the middle of things)
9.
descent into hell
Type:
literary epic, one of
known
authorship
Connection to the Chain of Being
Satan first breaks the Chain of Being in thinking that he is equal
and perhaps superior to God; he is jealous of Christ and resents
Christ's elevation over the angels. His resentment and
arrogance result in the first sin, his ejection from heaven and
the presence of God, and his condemnation to hell for all
eternity. Satan then tempts Adam and Eve to break the Chain of
Being; when they decide to seek God-like knowledge from the
Tree of Knowledge then they too experience the chaos that
results when one violates and disrupts the universe as designed
and ordered by God.
Purpose
Milton states that his purpose is to
justify the ways of God to
men.
As an English Puritan (one who wished to purify the
Anglican Church of England), Milton believed that the central
purpose of man was to glorify and worship God and to know His
will. He also believed that the Bible was a literal document, the
source of all truth, and a code to all human behavior.
Consequently, his greatest work,
Paradise Lost
, is biblical in
focus and topic; it covers the entire range of human existence
from the Creation of man in the Garden of Eden to the Second
Coming of Christ, in order that man might more fully
understand God and, with that understanding, be better able to
serve and glorify Him. In order to explain the ways of God,
Milton focuses on four concepts:
permissive evil, prime
wisdom, paradox of the fortunate fall, and
predestination vs. foreknowledge.
Question:
If there is a God, and if He is good, then why
does He allow evil to exist?
Answer: Permissive Evil
—
evil exists because God allows it to
exist, not because He is powerless to stop it. And He allows evil
to exist for two reasons: (1) because all evil done by Satan will
rebound back onto him; he will heap further damnation on
himself while seeking to do evil to others and (2) because God
will bring good out of each evil done by Satan. See Book 1, ll.
209-220.
Question: What is right knowledge for mankind?
Answer: Prime Wisdom
—man s knowledge should not be the
equal of God s. Right knowledge does not include a complete
understanding of the heavens (God s realm); rather, man
should focus on matters closer to home. In other words, man
should labor to know only that which he needs to know in
relationship to God. Man should seek knowledge that helps him
to obey, to love with fear, to walk in His presence, to solely
depend on Him, to observe His will, to be meek, suffer for sake
of truth. In short man should learn to overcome evil and to
properly worship and serve God. See Book 8 and Book 12., ll.
557-574.
Question: Was man predestined by God to fall?
Answer: Foreknowledge not Predestination
—in His
omniscience, God knew beforehand that Adam and Eve would
be deceived by Satan, listen to his lies, and break the one
commandment that they were given. But this
foreknowledge
did not cause
their fall. God says that Adam and
Eve cannot justly accuse their Maker of making their fate; they
cannot assert that predestination overruled their will (1)
because He made them just and right/
Sufficient to have
stood.
In other words he gave man the intelligence, the virtue,
the goodness, the ability to reason—all the things he needed to
withstand the temptation of Satan—and (2) because He made
them
free to fall.
In other words, He gave them freedom of
will, free choice. Finally, in order to give Adam and Eve every
opportunity to resist Satan, He sends the archangel Raphael to
warn them of the danger of Satan and of his intent to do them
harm. See Book 3, ll. 80-125 and Book 5.
Question: Was the Fall of man the worst moment in
human history?
Answer: Paradox of the Fortunate Fall
—in many ways the
Fall of man seems to be a horrible event; the consequences
were dire: loss of immortality, ejection from the Garden of
Eden, sin, pain in childbirth, condemnation to work by the
sweat of the brow, separation from God. Yet the Fall was
fortunate in that it created a need for Christ. In giving up His
only Son for the redemption of man, God showed a supreme,
almost incomprehensible love for man. In sacrificing His Son,
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God shows an even greater love for man than He did by
creating man. In short, the Fall was fortunate because it
enabled God to show man the magnitude of His love for him. In
fact, the Fortunate Fall is a great example of permissive evil, of
how God takes something terribly evil and makes good spring
from it. See Book 12, ll. 469-477.
Other Critical Thinking Points
Provide
definitions of heaven and hell
that appear
in
PL
, including which characters defined heaven and hell
and in what context (e.g., plot manifestation).
Analyze the
purpose of each of the arch angels.
Analyze the
frequency
of the
muse invocations
,
including the
rationale
for each invocation and what is
occurring in the
plotline
at the time.
Examine the
parallels between heaven and hell.
Think about the
difference between the fall of man
and the fall of the angels
, including
the resulting
penalties
.
Analyze why some literary critics see
Satan as the hero
of
PL.
Do you agree or disagree?
Explore the
function of free will
in
PL
.
Apply
the
characteristics and conventions of an
epic
to
PL
.
Have an intimate knowledge of the
four concepts
that
Milton uses to justify the ways of God to men.
Book I.
1.
Who are the two muses who are invoked (see ll. 6-7, 12-13, 17). Why are these two
muses chosen?
The holy spirit
Urania, the Muse of Astronomy
2.
What is the statement of theme (ll. 24-26)?
Gods providence is used justified God’s action to men
He shows life, fall, and death are all Gods doing
3.
Read the lines that give the background of Satan s fall (ll. 40-45); note then that
Book I actually begins with Satan, waking up and finding himself chained on the
Lake of Fire in hell (ll. 59-62). Now explain how the epic begins
en medias res.
The story starts after the Devil is defeated by God the first time and the Devil is locked
away in Hell. Beginning after the fight and the fall with Satan, the story begins in meida
res.
4.
Although Satan has changed somewhat physically, how has he NOT changed (ll. 94-
97, 105-108, 111-116).
His rage has not changed nor his desire for power
5.
How does Satan deal with his punishment? What is he thinking about (ll. 120-122)?
By considering ways to escape from hell and how to attack God again.
He is thinking about the viability of launching a second attack against God.
6.
What does he define as the fallen angels new task (ll. 158-161)?
To never do good and to do bad out of their own delight
7.
In l. 209 Satan is described as chained on the Lake of Fire. What is the only reason
that he is able to get up and shake off his chains (ll. 211-212)?
Because God allowed him to “high permission of all-ruling Heaven”
8.
What idea does Satan express in ll. 253-255?
He expresses that the mind is separated from outside circumstances.
The mind isn’t affected by time or place and can therefore make Hell seem like Heaven
9.
What does Satan reveal about himself in ll. 261-263?
He would rather be a leader than a servant, even if it means being the leader of the worst
place (Hell)
10. What are the epic similes in ll. 284-286 and 292-294?
When Satan is described. His shield is like the moon, and his spear was equal to the
tallest Norwegian pine, moon enormously tall tree like a cloud of locusts is another epic
simile when describing how fast Satan's minions got up.
11. After Satan calls the fallen angels to a conference, they fly up from the lake of fire
like a cloud of locusts (what is that, by the way?), then on pages 1954-58 follows
another of the conventions of the epic. What convention is it? Give a few examples
(names only). These pages can be skimmed.
A cloud of locusts refers to a large group of something (the devils were flying out of the
lake of fire in a group)
12. What kind of plan does Satan suggest in ll. 645-647?
deceit
13. What does Satan think has potential as their first eruption (ll. 651-655)
The corruption of the human race
Ruining gods image
14. Pages 1961-63 describe the creation of the capital of hell. What is the name of it,
and what does the name mean?
They have to have a nice conference center so a building comes out of the ground
pandemonium
City of demons
Book I.
1.
Who are the two muses who are invoked (see ll. 6-7, 12-13, 17). Why are these two muses
chosen?
Urania “Heav’nly Muse”, & the Holy Spirit. Classic Invocation to the Gods but also
Christian Because astronomy (in stars) God and heavens are up there, (pray to inspiration to the
one in charge of the Heavens)
2.
What is the statement of theme (ll. 24-26)?
Statement of topic: explain the ways of God to
men
3
.Read the lines that give the background of Satan s fall (ll. 40-45);
note then that Book I
actually begins with Satan, waking up and finding himself chained on the Lake of Fire in hell (ll.
59-62). Now explain how the epic beginsen medias res. (What the beginning is) told in flashback
4.
Although Satan has changed somewhat physically, how has he NOT changed (ll. 94-97,
105-108, 111-116).
He is not repentant, a defiant attitude. Even in hell is still incredibly beautiful,
he becomes more physically and less admirable.
5.
How does Satan deal with his punishment? What is he thinking about (ll. 120-122)?
He
said he may have lost the battle but not the war. He still has his incomparable will, he will never
bow, never deify God.
6.
What does he define as the fallen angel’s new task (ll. 158-161)?
“We must now in order to
be successful continue to wage eternal war on our grand foe that we have to decide between force
and guile (deception, trickery, deceit)” “To do evil will be the only thing that will bring us delight
because anything evil is contrary to God’s will who we resist” “If he uses his powers to bring
good out of evil, we must try to stop that no matter what” “Reassemble the fallen angels and see
what we can do”
7.
In l. 209 Satan is described as chained on the Lake of Fire. What is the only reason that
he is able to get up and shake off his chains (ll. 211-212)?
The will and permission of heaven (God allowed him to get up), God has to allow it, because if
Satan God up then God wouldn’t be all-powerful. God allows him to get up because of free will
(because God isn’t a dictator).Everything that he does that’s evil God will turn it into good.
8
.What idea does Satan express in ll. 253-255?
If we have to stay here so, be it, we are above
his equals, let’s take procession of this new location, I am one who brings a mind not to be
changes but time and place It doesn’t matter if we’re in heaven or hell, the mind is its own place
(state of mind)
9.
What does Satan reveal about himself in ll. 261-263?
“Better to reign in hell than to serve in
heaven” he wants to be number 1 (in charge)
10.
What are the epic similes in ll. 284-286 and 292-294?
“Shield is bright like the moon”,
“spear was equal to the tallest pine (pine)”, “flew up like a cloud of locust”
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11.
After Satan calls the fallen angels to a conference, they fly up from the lake of fire like a
cloud of locusts (what is that, by the way?), then on pages 1954-58 follows another of the
conventions of the epic. What convention is it? Give a few examples (names only). These
pages can be skimmed.
Epic simile Convention: cataloging Names:Moloch, Chemos, Baalem,
Ashtaroth, Astarte, Astoreth, Dagon, Rimmon, Osiris, Isis, Orus, Mammon, and Belial.
12.
What kind of plan does Satan suggest in ll. 645-647
? Already tried force and it doesn’t
work so let’s try guile, trickery, and deceit.
13.
What does Satan think has potential as their first eruption (ll. 651-655)?
He has an idea,
there was a rumor before long God intended to create a generation whom he would regard as
equal to the angels in heaven.
14.
Pages 1961-63 describe the creation of the capital of hell. What is the name of it, and
what does the name mean?
Mammon uses supernatural powers & a building starts to come out
of the ground. It was a palace called “Pandemonium”, all demon city (chaos
Book 2
Pages 1964-72 is a debate among the fallen angels as they try to decide how to best deal with
their situation. For example, Moloch wants open war, and Belial urges passive endurance. But
Beelzebub (Satan's right-hand man), reiterates Satan's plan: revenge. What is that revenge (ll.
344-370)?
Mammon: argues hell may not be so bad, it can be livable, even comfortable, if all the devils will
work to improve it.
Revenge: corrupt God's newest creation: man
1.Once the fallen angels agree on Satan's plan, what do they need to find (ll. 4021-405)?
They need a new enterprise, Creation: man. Figure out "man" and how can they destroy
them or corrupt creation so God can destroy it himself.
2.What is their response to the request for a volunteer? Why (ll. 420-422)?
Even immortal beings can die trying to crossing the Chaotic void. They all sat mute.
3.Who takes on the task (ll. 447-456, 463-465)? Note: keep this in the back of your mind
that later in the story you will run across a parallel opportunity for a volunteer but on a
heavenly plane instead of a demonic one.
"Satan volunteers"
4.Before Satan can cross the abyss, what obstacle must he first overcome? Describe this
obstacle (ll. 629-632, 643-648).
5.Identify the two beings that were found on either side of the gate. Describe them (pages
1978-79).
Sin: (doing wrong) waist up "beautiful", woman to the waist but ends in serpent tale ends
with a sting (penalty of sin), hellhounds around her waist
Death: (a sensation of life) black shadow wearing a crown holding a dart
6.What is the perverse familial relationship between Satan and these two beings? How is
Satan related to the female being? The male being? What in heaven provides an heavenly
counterpart to this unholy family?
Death challenges Satan, Satan is called undaunted (not afraid), and even Satan can face
death (dart)
Sin is Satan's daughter; Death is Satan's son and grandson. Sin says death is the only
begotten son of Satan (compared Death to Jesus)
7. What is the significance of ll. 813-815?
Satan is the father of Sin, Satan has sex with Sin and Sin gets pregnant with Death. So,
Death is his son and grandson. Death overtakes Sin and rapes her... showing how "sin"
leads to destruction, it's not what they seem to be. Sin seems to be attractive. Appearance
vs reality.
8. Once he realizes that they are related, Satan becomes much more friendly with these
beings and makes them an offer. What is that offer (ll. 839-844)?
He said he will bring her and Death to this beautiful place, set them free, well fed for life.
9.
How does Satan get out of Hell (ll. 850-875)?
"Why should I obey God when He hates me" Sin lets him out
Book 3 (Opening of book: Heaven)
Note: Book 3 begins with another invocation to the muse; the reason is that the action is
beginning to heighten, and the poet wants additional inspiration to tell his great story. Look at
lines 21-24, 51-55. These lines refer to Milton s blindness: he was completely blind when he
wrote this epic; he dictated the entire work. The invocation ends at line 55; he then resumes his
story.
Beginning of book three he is changing the location to Heaven.
1.In ll. 56-79 the Father and the Son (God and Christ) are watching Satan make his way
out of hell, over chaos, moving towards the earth. Lines 80-134 are God talking to His
Son. What does He say will happen to Satan when he commits evil (ll. 85-86)?
God says see our advisory, he wants revenge, this revenge will rebound back upon his
own rebellious head. (Permissive evil)
2.He says in ll. 92-95 that man will fall because he will be tricked by the guile of Satan into
breaking God s commandment. Whose fault will it be? Explain your answer (God gives
TWO key points to explain his answer).
It will be his or mans own. Man had everything he could have, just and right, sufficient to
have stood BUT free to fall.
Foreknowledge: God knows about it ahead of time.
3.Why does God give man free will (ll. 103-111)?
If man was not free then he could not give me sincere and true allegiance. He would only
do what he had to do and if he had to do it then how could I praise him? There is no such
pleasure when will and reason are useless in vain. God says he doesn't predetermine their
faith, it's their fault because they have free will.
"they themselves decreed their own revolt"
4.Explain the difference between the fall of Satan and the fall of man. Also, explain the
difference in God s attitude toward the two different groups (man and fallen angels) (ll.
129-132)?
Satan and the demons fell by their own suggestion. Man on the other hand is deceived by
the others. Man can find grace but Satan can't.
Self tempted: myself
Other tempted: other people
5.The Son doesn't seem to be too happy about Satan s impending success (see ll. 156-166)
and complains about God letting Satan get away with his wickedness. But God says man
can be saved on one condition. What is it (11. 173-175, 206-212)?
God says man will not be completely lost, those who want to be saved will be saved,
although not of their own power but because of grace fully given.
6.What happens at first when he asks for a volunteer? Why? Who ultimately volunteers?
(ll. 213-217, 222-245) How does this scene parallel an earlier one in the epic?
The heavenly choir stood mute just like the scene in hell
Jesus volunteers
Book 3 (Continued: end of book, Satan exiting the chaotic void)
1.Once Satan gets out of hell, he sees the various planets but doesn't know which one is
earth. Moreover, he sees one of the archangels guarding the planets. What does Satan do
in order to find out which planet is earth (ll. 634-639).
Satan sees a light and moves towards it. He sees Uriel (archangel), guarding the universe,
he transforms himself into an angel from Heaven's choir (cherub).
2.Who is the archangel? Why was he given this particular task? (ll. 648, 689-691)
Uriel, guard the universe
3.
What does the disguised Satan say to Uriel in order to explain why he wasn't in heaven
with the rest of the angels (ll. 662-676)?
He wants to see man so he can see how to praise God and serve him better. He came so
he could worship God more completely, he wants to see man so he can worship God
more completely.
4.
Is Uriel tricked by Satan's disguise and his words? Explain why. (ll. 681-689)
Yes, because he looks like an angel and talks like an angel. A pure spirit thinks he is an
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angel.
5.
What does Uriel then do? (ll. 722-724)
Uriel doesn't see through the lies, man nor angel can see through hypocrisy (only evil
that walks in visible to all accept to God alone)
Uriel shows him earth and Garden of Eden.
1. Why is
Paradise Lost
biblical in focus and topic?
2. What is the
range
of the content in
Paradise Lost
?
3. What is the
purpose
of
Paradise Lost
?
4. Explain how
PL
is a
literary
epic.
5. Explain how
PL
demonstrates the characteristics of an epic.
6. According to Milton, does evil exist in the world because God is powerless
to stop it? Explain your answer.
7. Describe the scene in Book I (ll. 209-220) that demonstrates and defines
the concept of Permissive Evil.
8. Explain the difference between Foreknowledge and Predestination. Next,
apply those terms to
PL
: according to Milton, did God predestine the fall of
man or simply have foreknowledge? What three arguments does Milton give
in
PL
to support his belief?
9. Describe the scenes in
PL
that deal with the issue of Foreknowledge versus
Predestination (Book 3, ll. 80-125; Book 5, ll. 219-245).
10. According to Milton, the Fall of man in the Garden of Eden was not as
terrible as most people might think. His belief relative to the fall is described
by the concept called the Paradox of the Fortunate Fall. Explain this
concept. To do so, you must first understand what a paradox is. A paradox is
a statement that at first blush seems to be contradictory, but upon closer
examination proves to be true. So to answer this question, first explain how
and why the Fall of man seemed to be so bad. Next, explain how, in truth,
this horrible event isn t quite so horrible after all; in other words, what was
good about the Fall?
11. Explain how the Fall is a great example of Permissive Evil.
12. Describe the situation in the epic when the Paradox of the Fortunate Fall
is discussed (Book 12, ll. 469-477).
13. According to Milton what is the difference between knowledge that is
appropriate for man and knowledge that is appropriate for man? What is the
purpose of all of man s knowledge? What is this concept of right knowledge
for mankind called?
14. Describe the scenes in
PL
where this concept of right knowledge for
mankind is discussed.
15. Explain how Satan s encounter with the archangel Uriel demonstrated
the idea that hypocrisy walked invisible to all eyes (including angel) except
those of God (Book 3, ll. 630-724). Be sure to read carefully l. 634; note the
significance of the description of Uriel in line 690.
Summaries of Certain Books in
Paradise Lost
Below you’ll find some summary comments to help you develop a more complete picture
of
Paradise Lost
.
Be sure to
carefully read and study the additional pages and lines
that I
made reference to within these summaries.
Book 5
. In Book 5 Eve awakens from a bad dream, one in which she dreamed she went to the
Tree of Knowledge where she found an angel who gave her its fruit. In her dream, after she ate
from the tree, she became a goddess and flew up into the heavens. But suddenly she awakes from
the dream, and she is troubled by its content because in tasting of the tree, she had disobeyed
God. Adam says there's no harm in a dream as long as one doesn't act on that dream; they then
prayed to God. God hears them with pity and then sends the archangel Raphael to them to warm
them of his enemy, Satan. God wants Adam and Eve to know the dissembling, tricky nature of
this enemy.
By sending them this warning, God reinforces the idea that the fall of Adam and Eve
was not predestined. Not only did he give them free will, and make them sufficient to withstand
any temptation, but he actually sent them a warning (pp. 2029-30, ll. 209-247).
After being given his charge, Raphael goes to Adam and Eve and tells them the story of Satan's
revolt and fall. The story he recounts starts when God announces to the angels that He has
begotten His only Son, and that the angels must now serve and honor the Son as well as the
Father. Lucifer (who later becomes Satan) is jealous and leads 1/3 of the angels in heaven in a
rebellion against God. Of the millions of angels under the command of Lucifer, only Abdiel
refuses to join the rebellion. [
NOTE: Here Raphael presents through
flashback
what
would
have been the beginning
of the chronological story. Remember that as a traditional
epic,
Paradise Lost
begins
en medias res
(in the middle) in Book I with Satan chained to the
lake of fire].
Book 6
. In Book 6 the story of the 3-day war in heaven begins. On the first day, Satan is insulted
and wounded by a good angel, Abdiel. On the second day, the good angels are in disorder. Day 3
God withdraws all his armies and sends the Son alone into battle. The Son drives His enemies
over the wall of heaven, and the defeated angels fall 9 days through chaos until they are
swallowed up in hell and Satan is chained to the burning lake of fire.
Book 7
. In Book 7 Milton counterbalances the destruction caused by the war in heaven to the
creation of a new universe centering on the earth. Raphael describes how God (to replace the
fallen angels) created the world, all its creatures, and man in 6 days and then rested on the 7th as
the angels devoted the day to thanksgiving.
Book 8
. This book is central to the concept of Prime Wisdom. In this book, Adam seeks to
prolong his visit with Raphael by asking him about the heavens and the stars. Adam wants to
know why so many stars seem to be at the service of the earth. Raphael poses various
possibilities but gives him no conclusive answers about the stars. Instead, he advises Adam to
concern himself with matters closer to home--on earth, in the Garden of Eden. He indicates that
the heavens are God's realm—not man's. Man can use the heavens for timekeeping: hours, days,
months, seasons, and years. He can focus on his relationship with God and his wife. On p. 2079
read ll. 64-75; on p. 2081, ll. 167-175; on p. 2081, ll. 191-200. At the end of the book, as Raphael
is about to depart, he reminds Adam to keep God s sole commandment about the Tree of
Knowledge. He reminds Adam of his free will and his ability to withstand all temptation.
Book 10
. After the fall, God sends the Son to pass judgment. Christ hears their confession and
passes sentence: the serpent is cursed, Eve condemned to pains of childbirth, and Adam
condemned to daily toil. In mercy, Christ clothes Adam and Eve outwardly with skins of beasts
and inwardly with His righteousness. Sin and Death feel new strength, and as they cross the
bridge from hell to earth, they meet Satan who tells them of the prey awaiting them. Satan then
goes back to hell to report to the rest of the fallen angels. He tells them the story of how he
seduced man to his destruction, and then he waited for their applause. Instead he heard hissing.
God, to demonstrate the concept of Permissive Evil (evil doesn't happen because God is
powerless to stop it but because he allows it—ultimately bringing good out of evil), reminds
Satan who's in charge; God reminds Satan that he hasn't pulled the wool over God's eyes. God
does this by turning all of the fallen angels into hissing serpents (the form Satan used to do his
evil deed). Next, God causes a grove of trees to spring up in hell. The demon/snakes, suddenly
overcome by thirst and hunger, slither up the trees and begin to gorge on the apples. However, as
they eat, the apples turn to dust. Thus, God demonstrates that their attempted evil will turn to
naught. Read pp. 2126-29, ll. 460-574. At the end of Book 10, Adam and Eve see the ruin that
they have brought upon the world in their sin. The angels change the axis of the earth so that the
seasons are no longer temperate; instead the winds rage, and there are extremes of heat and cold;
the animals begin to kill each other. Eve considers suicide. Finally, they take responsibility for
their sins and quit blaming the other. They pray to God for forgiveness.
Book 11
. In Book 11, their prayers are accepted by God. He will give them hope of redemption,
but they must leave the Garden of Eden. In His justice, God sends the warrior archangel Michael
to enforce the sentence and evict them from the garden, but in His mercy, He has Michael offer
Adam and Eve hope for the future in a vision of the future of the human race. Book 11 focuses
on the human race up through the time of Noah and the Flood.
Book 12
. Here Michael continues with the vision, this time covering from the Flood up until the
Second Coming of Christ and the end of time. When he describes the crucifixion, the
resurrection, and the ascension, Adam is greatly comforted—to the point that he almost no longer
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regrets his sin. In fact, Adam fully states in this book the Paradox of the Fortunate Fall (which is
an example of Permissive Evil). And the arch angel Michael also provides the definition of
heaven, explaining that paradise is more than a physical location; it is also a state of mind, and
Michael explains to Adam how to achieve it, creating, at the same time, a complete statement of
Prime Wisdom.
Note: Before you complete the questions below, make sure you access the document,
"Summaries of Certain Books in Paradise Lost," and read the summaries of Books 5-8
Books 5-8
1.
God sends the archangel Raphael to Adam and Eve so that they might be fully
prepared to make their choice between good and evil when tempted by Satan. Books
5-7 explain what part of the story: beginning, middle, or end? How is this
information useful to you in explaining one of the conventions of the epic?
Beginning (since the story began en medias res): presents through a flashback what would have
been the beginning of the chronological story. Book 5: rebellion, the origin of sin, the attitude of
disobedience Book 6: Battle Book 7: provide a counterbalance (innovation of muse) focuses on
the creation Book 8: a central concept of Prime Wisdom
2.
In the Book 8 summary, what knowledge is suitable to man and what knowledge is
not?
Ultimate thing: man’s relationship with God, wife, and earth. He tells him to use the Heavens for
timekeeping, hours, days, months, seasons, and years. Gabriel: Archangel, in charge of guarding
the earth Good sex vs Bad sex “Satan squat like a toad” Sign: scales of justice Satan fled when
Gabriel confronts him It’s not evil if you think about that possibility, only if you act on it Angels
have free will also Abdiel angel under Lucifer & he objects Lucifer tries to show he’s equal to
God, he says they are self-begotten self-raised Cannon fire: things happening in England To love
God is to obey Him, be careful because you have free will
Book 9
Note: read this entire book very carefully because it is the climax of the story and focuses
on man's Fall and its ramifications.
1.Once again, a book begins with an invocation to the muse. Why does Milton feel the need
for more inspiration (ll. 5-8, 13-14)?
He had to change the note to tragic foul, because of the fall of man. Disobedience, revolt
on man's part. Now judgment that will be given in Heaven. Less heroic than Achilles.
2.How does Satan get into the Garden of Eden (ll. 69-76)?
Under the cover of darkness (nighttime), enters through an underground river
3. What creature does he use as his disguise (ll. 82-86)?
Serpent
4.What does Satan himself realize about his revenge on God (ll. 171-172)?
How miserable he is, tormented by his spirit because hell isn't a physical location, spirit
of rebellion, bitterness, desire for revenge, creating torment even on Earth.
He thinks the only thing that will bring him happiness is the destruction of man.
Satan says revenge, at first is very sweet, but then it recoils back on itself bitter.
(Permissive evil)
5.What big mistake does Eve make (l. 214)?
She talks about their jobs, she said let's divide our labors, we were near to each other all
day long, "they get distracted by one another"
6.When Adam tries to talk her out of this desire, she insists because she thinks her husband
doubts her ability to withstand Satan s temptation. Adam reminds her that their foe is
subtle and sneaky enough to fool even the angels, but she persists. Finally, he lets her
go. Why (ll. 348-353)?
Eve was upset, she thinks he doubts her ability to stand Satan's temptation. "What is
virtue if it is unasaid" it's not a virtue unless you stand up to the temptation and say no.
He lets her go because of free will.
7.What are the various ways that the disguised Satan attracts Eve s attention (ll. 516-518,
526, 553-554, 538-548)?
Pleasing was his shade, varied his tortuous train, coil, his snake tongue licked the ground,
he talked, he flattered her beauty.
8.How does the serpent explain his speech (ll. 584-586, 595, 644-645)?
He tells her she should be worshipped like a goddess. He talks. He explains he can talk
by telling a story. He went by a tree and ate an apple, he gained reason and speech, and he
offers to worship her.
9.What are the several arguments that he presents to convince her that it is okay for her to
eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (p. 2106)?
Do not believe those treats of death you won't die, look at me. He lives higher than his
god-giving lot.
Do you think God would shut to man what he gave open to the beast, why would he let
me have improvement but not you?
Will God incent increase his anger for such a petty sin, he would rather praise you for
your virtue.
"knowledge between good and evil is a good thing because once you know it you can
prevent it"
10. Once she is convinced and eats from the tree (l. 781), what is her first sin (l. 791)? What
are her second (ll. 795-796) and her third (ll. 825-833) sins?
Gluttony, Idolatry (worships the tree signing hyms of praise), jealousy
11. What is Adam s response to her admission of guilt (ll. 904-907, 997)?
Amazed, astonied stood and blank, horror chill ran through his veins, he stood speechless
and pale. He is wondering how he could live without her or if God would create another
Eve for him.
12. What comment does Milton seem to make in ll. 998-999?
He scruple not to eat, against his better knowledge, not deceived, but fondly overcome
with female charm.
13. What is their first common sin? (ll. 1013-1016, 1042--1045)
Lust, Carnal sex
14. How do they feel when they wake up (ll. 1070-1075, 1091-1098)?
Shameful and naked.
15. List the fruits of their sin (ll. 1122-1126).
High passion, anger, hate, mistrust, suspicion, discord, and shook sore.
16. How do they feel about each other on pages 2115-16?
They are blaming each other, but no one will take accountability.
Book 10:
Jesus comes to judge; God condemns the serpent and he crawls on his belly and has to go back
to hell. Eve is cursed along with all women and will be given the pain of childbirth as well as
subjugation to their husband. Adam and men were cursed to have to labor in the ground to make
their food and be subject to death, returning to dust. God had to condemn because if He didn’t,
he wouldn’t have fulfilled the idea that He is just. Sin and Death go back to Earth to take control.
Satan speaks to the fallen angels when he enters Hell, he says God has given up man and all the
world to Sin and Death, and so to us. “There you have an account of my performance”, he wants
them to cheer him and applaud him. They instead hissed him and scorned him, he fell amongst
them on his belly (serpent), and all were transformed into smaller serpents. They lost the power
of speech and hissed. Satan thinks he has outsmarted God, but God transformed him and his
minions into snakes, God has made it clear he knows and knows how he did it. (Permissive evil)
A grove of apple trees pops out of the ground (just like the tree of knowledge), and the
demons/fallen angels are parched with thirst and hunger, the snakes go up the trees, but when
they bite into them, instead of fruit it was bitter ashes. (Symbolically: rebound back onto
whoever does the evil, greater damnation) “Had it not been the folly of man”: man’s fault
(foreknowledge) God moves the sun and messes with the weather, furious winds come through,
animals war with one another, death was introduced, and Adam feels terrible. (trickle-down
effect) Eve finally feels remorse, she falls down in classical style gripping their knees (asking for
a favor) and asking for forgiveness. They have the idea to kill themselves because if they do that
then sin will disappear and not affect other generations. But Adam said let’s receive the mercy
that God has given us and the punishment isn’t as bad as it could be. They pray to God with
repentant hearts
Book 11 & 12
Book 11 God sends archangel Michael (warrior), he is sent to enforce their eviction but also to
offer them hope for the future. Paradox (statement at first contradictory) of the fortunate fall: fall
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is bad, lost immortality, lost paradise, lost daily personal communication with God, individual
penalties, both are going to die. Subcategory of permissive evil
1.
After the archangel Michael has given Adam an overview of all of his progeny, all of
human history, Adam doesn t feel as badly about his sin. Why (ll. 470-478)?
Out of all the evil, God will turn evil into good. (Permissive evil) What Christ has done is
more magnificent than creation, he said he maybe shouldn’t even repent because much
good will come out of the evil he has done. By God giving up His son, God is showing
incredible love for humankind. That love for mankind that Adam is rejoicing in. The fall
created a need for a savior.
2.
According to Michael, what kind of knowledge is appropriate to man (ll. 557-564)?
(Prime wisdom) to obey God is best, to love only God, to walk with God in His presence,
to observe His providence, and depend on Him only You don’t need to know all the stars
by name BUT only add to this faith, virtue, temperance, and love, AND THEN you will
not loathe, or be afraid to leave this paradise because you shall possess a paradise within
you and thus far happier. You will have an internal bliss is what he is implying. Even
though they aren’t physically in paradise.
3.
How does the epic end (ll. 646-649)?
They walked off a little sad but had hope.