John Milton Paradise Lost

Analysis
Wanted to surpass previous epics 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
– Galileo; Cardinal Barberini (Pope’s nephew); Giovanni Batista; Giovanni Diodati
Completely blind by 1652 Became a Puritan and was an anti-royalist During the Restoration, Milton under attack for his beliefs, and had to suppress political writings Died 1674, just shy of his 65th birthday
Beelzebub
Satan’s best friend (“Lord of the Flies,” Prince of Demons) He is talking to Satan about a return to Heaven for more fighting Disappears after Book I
Foundational stories:
– the Bible (various versions and translations, including King James Version, as well as commentaries by St. Augustine, John Calvin, and other theologians) – Ovid’s Metamorphoses – Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey – Virgil’s Aeneid
The Characters
Six major characters Satan, the leader of the fallen angels (now known as devils) claiming self-creation. Beelzebub, Beelzebub Satan's closest friend/ally God, God the Father ,creator of the Eden, heaven, hell and each of the main character. The Son, God the Son; also known as the Messiah, Christ singlehandedly defeating Satan and his followers
Paradise Lost
Basic Information
An epic in blank verse First edition 1667 in ten books Second edition 1674 in twelve books Basics: the story of Genesis - the Fall of Man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden
EpHale Waihona Puke Baiduc Poetry As a Classic Literary Form
Homer recorded first major epic poems: The Iliad and The Odyssey Virgil tells story of Rome’s founding in The Aeneid Dante describes Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory in great detail in The Divine Comedy John Milton gives account of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden in Paradise Lost
John Milton and “Paradise Lost”
Presented by 罗雯 张红艳 李欣然
John Milton
Mini bio of John Milton
Born Dec. 9, 1609 Master’s Degree from Cambridge: 1632 An official serving under Oliver Cromwell European tour, met some of Europe’s greatest minds: 1638
“ When I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold, in slender Book his vast Design unfold Messiah Crown'd, Gods Reconcil'd Decree, Rebelling Angels, the Forbidden Tree, Heav'n, Hell, Earth, Chaos, All; the Argument;” -Notice how there are 10 syllables in each line -To read correctly, emphasize every second syllable
Paradise, visions of the future
Satan
"Better to reign in Hell then serve in Heav'n!"
The leader of the angels who were cast from Heaven for eternity His big entrance to the poem are lines 84191. He is the focus of the section we’ll read.
Shows the struggle between good and evil (goodness is not goodness without a struggle to overcome evil) Virtue is not virtue unless it is won in the “dust and heat” of the conflict with evil. Though Adam and Eve “lose,” they gain the right to prove themselves.
Adam, The first man, living in Paradise Eve, His wife, supposed to be under his control Raphael, an angel sent by God to warn Adam about Satan's infiltration of Eden and his trying to curse Adam and Eve Michael , escort Adam and Eve out of
Verse Style
Blank verse: verse written in unrhymed iambic pentameter John Milton did not think that his poem had to rhyme, since Classical poetry (e.g. The Iliad) did not. You will notice when reading that perfect I.P. does not always occur in Paradise Lost
God The Father
Called the Father because of Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit Ruler of Heaven and Creator of Earth It was he who cast Satan out