Milton Paradise Lost

Epic Question

Milton states his purpose: to "justify the ways of God to men" and answer "How Man's 'First Disobedience' brought death and suffering into the world"

Heavenly Muse

The Muse Milton invokes is the Holy Spirit (or Urania, the Heavenly Muse) which he asserts is superior to the pagan muses.

In Medias Res

The epic begins in the middle of the action—after the war is lost and Satan is cast out

Hell / "Darkness Visible

A powerful paradox. The light in Hell only serves to make the endless misery, woe, and despair fully visible.

Anatomy of the Fall

The line "Him the Almighty Power / Hurled headlong flaming…" (I. 44-45) uses inverted syntax (anastrophe) to place the violent action at the end for emphasis.

Satan's Irony

Satan's first speech uses irony when asking about their former status as "chief in might and favour," highlighting their bitter, lost status.

Satan's Motivation

His core motive is immortal, self-consuming spite and the study of revenge, resolving to attack God "By fraud/force or guile" (I. 120), a battle between force (God) and subtle malice (Satan).

Oxymoron / Paradox

"Glory extinct" (I. 141). Signifies the fallen angel retains traces of celestial splendor despite their spiritual and moral ruin.

Epic Simile

Comparing Satan to the giant sea creature "Leviathan" (I. 200-208). Measures his colossal scale but also suggests the theme of deception (mistaken for an island).

Rhetorical Question

"What reinforcement can we now remain…?" (I. 190). Satan asks this to immediately dismiss the possibility of hope, establishing his dominance and new plan.

Serpent's use of Syllogism

(forms of deductive reasoning that use two premises to reach a conclusion): I have eaten; I am not dead

Perverted Will

"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n." (I. 263). The ultimate expression of his refusal to accept authority, prioritizing self-sovereignty.

Ironic Confidence

In some versions, Satan says that God is "Thron'd in his Securities.". Satan sees God as too confident/complacent, making Him vulnerable to a sneaky, indirect assault.

The Mind's Place

"The mind is its own place" (I. 254). Hints at the self-determining nature of moral choice and the potential for the mind to create its own corrupted reality.

Inverted syntax (or Anastrophe)

places the verb and modifiers at the end of a line for dramatic emphasis.

The Result

In some versions, we are told that the Angels' rebellion in Heaven "Fell unexpected, unprepared" —referring to the surprising swiftness of their failure.

Eve's Motivation

Eve argues for separation based on pragmatic efficiency, claiming their labor is hindered by excessive conversation

Adam's Warning

Adam argues that their union in love and mutual support is their primary defense against the "Malicious Foe".

Eve's Counter

Eve argues that Adam is implying her reason and internal virtue are too weak to resist temptation unless he guards her

Unfallen State

"Reason in her seat to govern" describes the proper Miltonic state where rational intellect controls all passion and emotion.

Initial Lure

The Serpent begins with extravagant flattery, appealing directly to Eve's vanity and desire for elevated status.

The Lie of Knowledge

The Serpent claims the fruit conferred "to degree of Reason in my inward powers and Speech" (IX. 599-600), presenting the fruit as a transformative source of intellect.

Dismissal of Death

The Serpent uses the faulty premise of his own survival after eating the fruit to argue the threat of death is false

Attack on God's Motive

Satan argues that God fears Man's potential ascent to the status of a 'God', implying divine envy and tyranny.

Satan's Malice

"but all pleasure to destroy, Save what is in destroying, other joy To me is lost." (IX. 477-479). A profound statement that reveals the utter, self-consuming misery of his malice.

Alliteration

In some versions, "Defacing, what was fair" is used by Satan, which reinforces the theme of the destruction and corruption of God's perfect, moral design.

Attack on Justice

The argument that "God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just" (IX. 700) is a direct attack on God's attribute of Justice

Eve's Primary Sin

Eve was deceived by the lie, and her final motivation was driven by ambition to gain intellectual ascent and equality with Adam/the gods.

Eve's Jealousy

After eating, she considers not telling Adam out of jealousy and a fear of losing her new intellectual status and equality.

Adam's Primary Sin

Adam was not deceived but made an informed, deliberate choice based on excessive, misguided connubial love. The term "fondly" (IX. 999) means foolishly.

Adam's Reaction

His silence and turning to "Astonied" (or astonished/like stone) (IX. 890-896) emphasizes the stunning, devastating impact of the realization that his wife and fate are lost.

Immediate Effect

the fall results in immediate consuming lust (IX. 1015-1016), a symbolic reversal of their spiritual love to passion overriding reason

Final Result

The direct result is shame, self-contempt, and a desperate realization of their nakedness, leading to the futile attempt to conceal guilt with fig leaves.

Post-Lapsarian (After the Fall) Tone

The first words spoken are characterized by a profound shift to bitter accusation and mutual blame, ending the book in "mutual recrimination, 'fruitless hours,'" and human conflict.

Eve's Regret

Her belief that knowledge, even stolen, is a higher form of pleasure than mere innocent bliss (IX. 823-824) reveals her corrupted valuation of experience.