Paradise Lost Quotes: Book 9

What does the narrator say at the beginning of book 9 which sets the tone?

'I now must change these notes to tragic'

What does Milton say about heroism at the beginning of Book 9?

‘Not less but more heroic than the wrath of stern Achilles’

Wars hitherto the only argument heroic deemed

the better fortitude of patience and heroic martyrdom unsung

higher argument

What does the narrator say about Satan?

'bent on Man's destruction'

how is Satan sneaky?

‘by stealth found unsuspected way’

What is said about the disguise of the serpent?

'subtlest beast of all'

'fittest imp of fraud'

How does Satan describe Earth?

'seat worthier of Gods'

Terrestial heaven … danced round by other heavens that shine …for thee alone

How does Satan feel whilst at Earth?

'the more I see pleasures about me, so much more I feel torment within me’

'only in destroying I find ease.'

What does Satan say about himself as a freedom fighter that hates control

• ‘But neither here seek I no nor in Heaven to dwell, unless by Mastering Heaven’s Supreme’ 

• ‘In one night freed from servitude inglorious … half the angelic name’

• ‘subjected to [man’s] service angel wings’

Satan as Homeric hero

to me shall the glory sole among the infernal powers in one day to have marred what he almighty styled six nights and days

A+E ‘endowed with heavenly spoils, our spoils’

What does Satan say about his 'foul descent'?

Butwhat will not ambition and revenge descend to

he 'contended with Gods to sit the highest, am now constrained into a beast; and, mixed with bestial slime'

What is Satan's final line in his soliloquy?

'Spite then with spite is best repaid'

The Monist maze snake

in labyrinth of many a round self-rolled his head the midst

What does Eve tell Adam about their work?

'till more hands aid us, the work under our labour grows'

let us divide our labours

Adam and Eve love nature

joined their vocal worship to the choir of creatures wanting voice

How does Adam address Eve?

'Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond compare all living creatures'

'Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve!'

What does Adam say about women that link to the AITH?

'nothing lovelier can be found in woman, than to study household good, and good works in her husband promote'

What is Adam's argument about God and work?

'for not to irksome toil, but to delight, he made us, and delight to reason joined'

What does Adam say about the warning?

'thou knowest what has been warned us, what malicious foe' who 'seeks to work us woe and shame'

sly assault

What does Adam say about danger and marriage?

leave not the faithful side the wife 'safest and seemliest by her husband stays'

How does Eve address Adam?

'Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth's Lord!'

What is Eve's problem with Earth?

'How are we happy, still in fear of harm?'

'Frail is our happiness if this be so and Eden were no Eden thus exposed'

What does Adam say about Man?

'within himself the danger lies'

What does Adam say to Eve about freewill?

But God left free the will for what obeys reason is free and reason he made right

Go for thy stay, not free, absents thee more'

What does Eve do?

'from her husband's hand her hand soft she withdrew'

How does Satan speak of Adam?

'higher intellectual more I shun'

'foe not informidable'

What does Eves beauty do to Satan

stupidly good of enmity disarmed of guile of hate of envy of revenge

but the hot hell that always in him burns

tortures him now more the more he sees of pleasures not for him ordained

says = hate not love nor hope of Paradise for hell hope here to taste of pleasure but all pleasure here to destroy

joy to me is lost

How is the snake's appearance described?

'circular base of rising folds'

a surging maze

circling spires

'neck of verdant gold'

Eve and nature

every beast more dutious at her call than at Circean call

How does Satan address Eve?

'sovran Mistress'

'Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve!'

'Queen of this universe!'

should be seen as a Godess among Gods adored and served by angels numberless

How does Satan describe the animals that saw him?

'longing and envying stood. but could not reach'

What is the effect described by Satan of the fruit?

'thenceforth to speculation high or deep I turned my thoughts'

'it gives you life to knowledge'

'venturing higher than my lot'

'eyes shall be opened … ye shall be of Gods'

What does Eve say when she realises what tree they are at?

'But of this tree we may not taste or touch'

What was God's actual command that Eve says?

'Ye shall not eat thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die'

How does Satan address the tree?

'O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving plant, Mother of Science!'

How does Satan link knowledge with happiness?

'lead to happier life, knowledge of good and evil'

Satan on God as a tyrant to Eve

• ‘Ye shall not eat yet lords declared of earth and air’ 

• ‘Rigid threats of death’ 

• Reason they cannot eat = ‘to keep you low and ignorant worshipers’

How is the effect of Satan's speech on Eve described?

his words 'into her heart too easy entrance won'

What does Eve describe the fruit as?

'the cure of all'

Eve big red button

his forbidding comends thee more

Eve thinks that knowledge cannot be bad so why would God forbid the tree

(God shows good) Naming thee the tree of knowledge … forbids us then to taste

for good unknown sure is not had

forbids us good forbids us to be wise

our inward freedom

what know to fear under this ignorance of good and evil

Eve thinking about death

how dies the serpent

What does Eve decide to do?

'she plucked she ate'

What is the effect of her action on nature?

'earth felt the wound' and nature 'sighing...gave signs of woe'

What is the effect of the fruit on Eve?

'Greedily she ingorged without restraint'

'heightened as with wine'

'I grow mature with knowledge'

eve on experience

experience to thee I owe best guide not following thee I had remained in ignorance thou openst wisdoms way

Eve thinks God will not see her

and perhaps I am secret

heaven is high and remote

How does Eve refer to God and angels?

'Our great Forbidder' ‘Spies’

What does Eve say about Adam?

'render me more equal' to him

'sometime superior; for inferiour, who is free'

What is the effect of Eve thinking of herself being replaced?

'a death to think'

What is Eve's conclusion?

'Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe'

What does Eve do before she leaves?

'first low reverence done'

What has Adam made Eve?

'wove of choicest flowers a garland to adorn her tresses'

What does Eve tell Adam?

'Thee I have missed and thought it long, deprived thy presence'

How does Eve describe the effects of the fruit?

'opener mine eyes, dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart and growing up to Godhead'

What is Adam's reaction to Eve's story?

'horrour chill ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed'

drop that garland

from his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve down dropt and all the faded roses shed

what is Adam certain about

Certain my resolution is to die

How does Adam refer to Eve now?

'defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote'

What does Adam call Eve?

'adventurous Eve'

What does Adam say of their love?

'one flesh, to lose thee were to lose myself'

What is the reason for Adam's decision?

'not deceived, but fondly overcome with feminine charm'

What is the effect of Adam's fall on nature?

'Earth trembled from her entrails...and Nature gave a second groan'

What is the effect of Adam's fall on the couple?

'new wine intoxicated both, they swim in mirth and fancy that they feel divinity within them breeding wings'

'carnal desire inflaming'

What does Adam do?

'her hand he seized'

What happens once the two wake up?

'their eyes how opened, and their minds how darkened'

What does Adam blame Eve for?

'O Eve in evil hour thou dist give ear to that false worm'

What does Adam want?

'obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable to star or sun-light'

How does Adam describe the effects?

'despoiled of all our good; shamed, naked, miserable!'

What is Eve's new name for Adam?

'Adam severe!'

'the head' - in reference to his giving her command to leave

How has Adam's name for Eve changed?

'Ingrateful Eve'

What does Adam say about choice in Eden?

'force upon free will hath her no place'

How does Book 9 end?

the fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning, and of their vain contest appeared no end'