By:Katy, Melissa & Tisa

“Where Paradise Lost is not loved, it is deeply hated. As Keats said more rightly than he knew, ‘there is death’ in Milton. We have all skirted the Satanic island closely enough to have motive for wishing to evade the full impact of the poem. For the thing is possible; and after a certain point it is prized…Satan want to go on being Satan, That is the real meaning of his choice “Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n.” Some, to the very end, will think this a fine thing to say, other will think that it fails to be roaring farce only because it spells agony. On the level of literary criticism the matter cannot be argued further. Each to his taste” (103).

CharactersCharactersSatan

Adam & Eve

God the Father

God the Son

Beelzebub

Belial

Mammon

Mulciber

Moloch

Sin

Death

Gabriel

Raphael

Uriel

Abdiel

Michael

Book IBook I

Milton begins by stating is poem’s subject: “humankind’s first act of disobedience toward God, & the consequences that followed.”

That act was Adam & Eve’s eating of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge

Milton argues that this sin was the reason death was brought to human beings, causing everyone to lose their home in paradise, until Jesus came to restore humankind to its former position of purity.

Milton’s speaker introduces his muse, a mystical source, the Holy Spirit

Book IBook IMilton discuses Adam & Eve’s actions were a cause of the serpent’s (Satan’s) deceit

The poem then begins to follow Satan & his followers where they were cast to Hell by God who defeated them in Heaven

Satan who is stunned by his defeat talks to Beelzebub about gathering forces for another attack

Satan commands for the legion of devils to start building a temple; Pandemonium, where the debate of another attack will be held

Book IIBook IISatan begins the debate by stating that Heaven is not yet lost and they (the devils) could have a chance to rise up stronger if they all work together

Moloch is the first to speak and is anxiously willing to have another war, but this time with weapons from Hell. He believes nothing not even their own death could be worse than Hell, so they have nothing to lose

Belial contradicts Moloch saying that God hasn’t punished them quite as bad as he could have because after all they aren’t chained to the fiery lake like they once were and God may one day forgive them, therefore it is better to live how they are now. Peace is not his intentions but rather preventing future wars

Mammon refuses to ever bow down to God again he peacefully asks the devils to live in Hell and they can make it their own kingdom mimicking Heaven. This argument is the one most well received by the devils

Book IIBook IIBeelzebub begins to state rumors of how God is going to create a new world with a race called Man & God will favor them more than the angels. He suggests that they find the place and destroy/corrupt the new race. This plan is agreed upon and Satan volunteers himself to spy and find out what is going on.

Satan reaches Hell’s gate (9 gates 3 of iron, brass, & adamantine) guarded by his daughter Sin and son Death

He then flies out and reaches Chaos, Night, Confusion, & Discord

Sin & Death follow far behind building a bridge from Hell to Earth so evil spirits can use to tempt mortals

Book IIIBook IIIBook III opens up to Milton’s 2nd muse the “holy light”. He asks the light to show him the divine knowledge inside his mind to help him show the readers that knowledge.

The scene shifts to Heaven where God & his son has been watching all of the events going on in Hell. He see’s Satan flying up to Earth and can see everything that is about to unfold; past, present & future.

A sacrifice must be made to pay for man’s sin; the Son doesn’t hesitate and offers himself

Satan arrives on Earth and see’s the stairs leading to Heaven, as he looks up to the Heavens he can only feel jealously but he doesn’t stay put for long. He spots the archangel Uriel over on top of a hill and transforms himself into a cherub (a low ranking angel). Satan lies and says he just flew down from Heaven and asks about God’s plan for Earth, Uriel not know it was Satan directs him to Paradise.

Book IVBook IVSatan arrives just north of the Garden of Eden & contemplates what he’s doing. He sees the pure innocence & beauty of Earth & it reminds him of what he once used to be. He wonders if all would be forgiven if he left & repented. He considers going to Heaven & confessing to God but Hell follows him where ever he goes, if he asked for forgiveness it would be a false confession. He also realizes that he is not yet able to bow down to God

While contemplating all of this Satan doesn’t realize that he has revealed himself in his devilish nature. Uriel knows that all cheurbs have a look of joy permanently on their face and concludes Satan cannot be a cherub

Satan sees Adam & Eve walking and working. He hears Adam tell Eve to not complain about the work they have to do & be obedient to God because of all the great things he has given them & only one rule; not to eat the fruit from Tree of Knowledge. Eve agrees

Book IVBook IVEve tells Adam about her first awakening

Satan comes up with a plan. If God has given them a rule they might be tempted to break it. He then leaves to go find out more from the other angels

Uriel meets with archangel Gabriel at the gate of Eden and tells him about the shape changing figure he saw on the hill top. Gabriel suspects it’s one of the fallen and will find it by morning

Gabriel sends search parties out to find Satan, they find him disguised as a toad whispering into Eve’s ear. They bring him before Gabriel, who recognizes him, & asks what he is doing there.

Satan & Gabriel begin to fight but a sign from Heaven in the sky shows Satan he could not win so he flies off

Book VBook VAdam wakes up from the night before and discovers Eve didn’t sleep as well as he did. She describes her “dream” she had about a creature telling her to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and becoming like one of the gods. Adam troubled by what he has just heard reassures Eve that it is not a prediction of what will happen because she has the faculty of reason to control herself.

God tells Archangel Raphael to go tell Adam about the danger that is around so Adam and Eve can not blame the devil taking them by surprise.

Book VBook V

Raphael describes the composition of the things God created: 1st spirit, 2nd humans, 3rd animals, 4th plants, 5th inanimate objects. Humans are the highest beings on Earth because of their ability to reason. Raphael told Adam to no matter what choose to be obedient to God. Adam wondered how disobedience came about & Raphael describes Satan’s fall.

God told all the angels that he had a begotten son who was to rule as his right hand. This pleased most of the angels except for one Satan. He felt he should have all the powers that God did; erected his own throne inHeaven &convinced one third of the angels to no be unjustly ruled. One of the followers disagreed, Abdiel, after arguing with Satan he faithfully returned to God.

Book VIBook VI

Book VI continues with Raphael’s story; God appoints Gabriel & Michael as the leaders of Heaven’s army. Raphael continues to tell of the big fight between Satan’s army & Heaven’s army. Eventually Satan & his army fall through the Gate of Heaven, through Chaos for nine days before landing in Hell.

Raphael tries to warn Adam about Satan’s plan to harm mankind. He hypothesizes that Satan wishes mankind to commit sin again God & fears Satan wants others to suffer the same fate. He tells Adam that they must always fear Satan & never yield to his evilness.

Book VIIBook VIIOnce more Milton introduces another muse, Urania the muse of Astronomy. He asks her to insure his safe transition from relating the story of the war in Heaven back to Raphael and Adam’s conversation on Earth. Again, Milton asks that the muse inspire him through the rest of Raphael’s speech and protect him from the troublesome beliefs of others who do not have access to her wisdom.

Returning to Earth Adam asks Raphael about Earth’s creation as well as his own. Raphael explains that shortly after the fall, the Father wished to forge a new race, partly to erase the memory of the rebellion and partly to make up for the rebels’ absence from the ranks of God’s loyal creations.

God decides to create Earth and humans, with the idea that Earth and Heaven will eventually be joined together as one kingdom through mankind’s obedience to God’s divine will.

Book VIIBook VIIGod sends down his Son to create Earth, and is given night & day in equal measure, land is separated from water; animals are created to populate land & sea.

The creation takes 6 days & Adam & Eve are created last. The entire Earth was created by the Son; Adam & Eve were given one command not to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, which gives knowledge to all good & evil.

When the son is finished he hangs Earth from a chain from Heaven; the Son reascends back to Heaven. Pleased with his work God rested on the seventh day, now known as the Sabbath.

Book VIIIBook VIII

After Raphael finishes the story of creation Adam asks about the sun, stars & planets. Eve leaves because she would rather hear about the story from Adam. Raphael tells Adam that some questions need no answers and that he should be satisfied with the knowledge he has.

Adam begins to tell Raphael what he knows about his own creation & Eve’s as well. He then goes on to tell Raphael what a hard time he has restraining himself from Eve.

Raphael reiterates to Adam the danger that he faces with Eve and the need for both of them to avoid Satan’s temptations. Later, Raphael takes his leave to return to Heaven and Adam falls asleep.

Book IXBook IXMilton explains how now the attention needs to go back to Adam & Eve’s act of sin. He invokes Urania, the “Celestial Patroness” (IX.21) and muse of Christian inspiration, and asks for her to visit him in his sleep and inspire his words, because he feels he is not creative enough to do so.

8 days after being caught by the angels Satan the night Raphael left sneaks past Gabriel over the wall and tries to find the body of a serpent. Once again Satan hesitates, not for the same reasons but because he is so caught up in being jealous of how beautiful Earth is; he is jealous Adam & Eve were picked to maintain Paradise. He complains the beauty of Earth makes him feel even more torment & anguish.

Satan gathered his thoughts and found a serpent to claim his body.

Book IXBook IXThe next morning Adam & Eve have a lot of work to do so Eve suggests they work alone to get more done. Adam is not to sure of the idea & fear they will be more gullible to Satan’s temptation.

Eve wants her strength tested & argues until Adam gives in. Eve promises that she will return soon & the two go off to do their work.

Book IXBook IXSatan in the form of a serpent searches for the couple & finds Eve alone. He begins to flatter her on her beauty, grace etc. Eve is shocked to find an animal that speaks. The serpent tells Eve how he got the gifts of speech & intellect by eating on of the delicious fruits from the tree & how it help him seek her out to admire her beauty.

Eve is curious & follows the serpent until they reach the Tree of Knowledge. Eve states that God specifically told her not to eat the fruit from that tree but Satan persists telling her God actually wants them to eat from the tree.

Satan tries to tell Eve God wants them to show their independence. Eve now is even more tempted. She goes back and forth in her head deciding what to do & eventually plucks the apple from the tree & takes a bite. The Earth feels wounded & mankind has fallen.

Book IXBook IXEve’s first thought is to get Adam to eat the fruit also so they can be equal. Adam cannot believe what she has done. They both realize they are doomed; Adam eats the fruit and they both run off into the woods and fall into the woods for sexual play.

Adam & Eve fall asleep briefly but awake to see the world in a new way. They think they will regain a plethora of knowledge but the only knowledge they receive is the good they lost and the sin that they committed.

They see each other's nakedness & are ashamed & cover themselves with leaves

Milton explain’s their appetite for knowledge is fulfilled & the hunger for God is quenched. Both angry & confused both blame the other and the fight continues for hours neither one admitting their wrongs.

Book XBook XBook X begins in Heaven where God sees Adam & Eve sin. Gabriel & Rafael explain they did all they could to keep Satan from re-entering the Garden. God explains he allowed it himself without condoning it & takes any blame away from the angels. God then sends his Son down to Earth to “pass judgement” on the couple.

The Son calls the couple & asks if they have eaten the forbidden fruit. Adam explains Eve gave him the apple after she bit from it & Eve blames the serpent for convincing her.

The Son first condemns the serpent & says all snakes will crawl on their bellies never to be upright again. He then tells the couple that their children will bruise the serpents head, while serpents will forever bite the humans by the heel. As punishment Eve & all women to follow will have to give birth in pain & submit to their husbands.

Likewise Adam & all men following will have to labor & hunt and harvest food in cursed ground. After passing these sentences, the Son returns to Heaven.

Book XBook XMeanwhile Sin & Death are still back at the gate of Hell where Satan left them. Since have haven’t heard anything they continue to build the bridge from Hell to Earth and fly up to meet him. They congratulate him on his success and promise to infect the Earth. Death will corrupt all living things causing them to die & Sin will corrupt the thoughts and deeds of humankind

Satan returns to Pandemonium boasting of his success, instead of applause by all the other devils they only are able to hiss due to the fact they were all transformed into snakes by the Son.

God instructs the angels on what changes must be made to the fallen Earth

Eve tries to console Adam and when he tries to refuse she ends up persuading him to forgive her. She proposes they commit suicide, but Adam reminds her of God's promise that her seed should wreak vengeance upon the serpent. They must seek to make peace with their offended Lord.

Book XIBook XIGod hears the prayers of Adam & Eve & allows his Son to act as an advocate for mankind to pay for man’s sins.

God sends Michael to ban the sinning pair from Paradise, but first to reveal to Adam future events, resulting from his sin. Michael leads Adam up a hill, where he sets before him in visions what shall happen till the Great Flood.

Book XIIBook XIIMichael continues the prophecy from the flood by degrees to explain who the Seed of woman shall be; the Savior which was promised, who shall redeem mankind. Adam is comforted by these last revelations and resolves faithful obedience. He descends the hill with Michael and rejoins Eve.

A flaming sword is placed to bar the gates of Paradise. Adam & Eve walk with Michael tearfully into the new world.

Lewis, C. S.. A preface to Paradise lost . London: Oxford University Press, 1961. Print.

Bloom, Harold. John Milton's Paradise lost . New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Print.

Kean, Margaret. John Milton's Paradise lost: a sourcebook. London: Routledge, 2005. Print.

Waldock, A. J. A.. Paradise lost and its critics . Cambridge [Eng.: Cambridge University Press, 1947. Print.

Works Cited