Paradise Lost

Sonya Datta, Jessica Zhang, Kayla Krammes

What is Paradise Lost?

A series of arguments put forth to express John Milton’s view on the Anglican Church.

It addresses the Christian theology in a long narrative, non-rhyming poem that told a story about the creation of man.

The poem was separated into 10 books originally, but later reorganized into 12.

Publishing Dates

• Published in 1667 as 10 books• Reorganized (by John Milton) into 12 books

and re-published 1674• Paradise Regained (2nd book) in 1671• Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained are

considered companions because they are not a sequel but are related

Information about Literature

Main idea of the story is Adam and Eve. In addition, they also focus on Genesis.

Its main concept is based on the “felix culpa” also known as the fortunate fall.

Fortunate Fall – a philosophy that says that good leaves us in a better place (God’s mercy)

Style of Paradise Lost

• Non-rhyming/ Blank verse• 5 long unaccented syllables – Followed by a short accented one

• Similar to Shakespeare poems

About John Milton• Born December 9th in Bread St. London• May 1642

– Marries Mary Powell– Kids: 4, 2 die Wife dies

• November 1656– Marries Katherine Woodcock– Kids: 1, 1 die Wife dies

• February 1663– Marries Elizabeth Minshull

• February 1652 – Becomes blind; glaucoma (disease caused)

• October 1659 – Arrested and imprisoned

• November 1674– Dies but with little pain

Content/ Structure

• Introductory Prose as an argument• Exploits of a hero/ anti-hero• Includes warfare and the supernatural• Evidence common to Aeneid, the Illiad, and

the Odyssey

Characters• The Holy Trinity

– The Father– The Son– The Holy Ghost

• The Faithful Angels– Abdiel– Gabriel– Ithuriel– Michael– Raphael– Urania– Uriel– Uzziel– Zephon– Zophiel

• The Fallen Angels– Adonis– Adramelec– Ariel– Arioc– Ashtaroth– Asmadai– Astoreth– Azazel– Baalim– Beelzebub– Belial– Chemos– Dagon– Lucifer– Mammon– Molovh– Mulciber– Nisroch– Ramiel– Rimmon– Satan

• Personifications– Sin– Death– Chaos

• The Human Race– Adam – Eve

• Michael’s Prophecies– Cain– Abel– Enoch– Noah– Nimrod– Abraham– Isaac– Israel– Joseph– Pharoah– Moses– Aaron– Joshua– David– Solomon– Jesus