Paradise Lost Review:

Author

The English writer and poet John Milton (1608–1674). Milton penned Paradise Lost (1667) when he was completely blind and financially destitute.

Genre

Paradise Lost is another epic poem, like Beowulf. It is divided into twelve books.

Language

Early Modern English. The lines are composed in blank verse and iambic pentameter.

Plot

Paradise Lost retells the Christian story of the fall of Satan, the creation of the Earth and humanity, and the fall of Adam and Eve. It follows the biblical account but adds a lot of characterization, subtext, and backstory.

Characters

Adam and Eve: God's first human creations

God: The Creator of the Earth, Eden, Adam, and Eve

Satan: A fallen angel who gets much more sympathy and "screen time" in this version of the story than he does in Genesis

Main Themes/Motifs

• We discussed the following themes in Paradise Lost.

  • The story of humanity is bittersweet: we lost Paradise, but it has been regained through God's works of redemption.

  • We cannot blame the consequences of our actions on Fate or God because we have been given free will.

  • Too much knowledge is not a good thing.

  • Pride goes before a fall—literally.