“Paradise Lost”

John Milton

Retold the story of the Bible:CreationFallRedemption

Milton told this in two epics“Paradise Lost”“Paradise Regained”

This symbolizes the plight of England and its monarchy

Paradise Lost

Milton went blind in 1652Because he was unable to write, he dictated or

told his daughters what to writeHe opposed the monarchy and went to jailHe was “blind, disgraced, and disillusioned”

It took him 10 years to complete“Paradise Lost” is known as the greatest

English epic

The speaker’s situation

The epic begins in the middleSatan with his allies (angels/demons) have

rebelled against GodGod has sent him to Hell

A place devoid of light, life, and form“One great furnace flamed, yet from those flames /

No light, but rather darkness visible / Served only to discern sights of woe.”

Plot Overview

The epic follows the story of the BibleGod forbids Adam and Eve to eat of the fruit

from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Because Satan wants revenge, he manipulates Eve and has her eat of the fruit and convince Adam to do the same

Because of this they and humanity are thrown out of the Garden of Eden For Milton, the old England. Satan destroying

Christianity

Plot Overview

Reason and Free Will:Humanity can see the difference between right

and wrong.Free Will and Predestination:

God knows everything that is, was, and will be. Unlike the Puritans who believed they were

predestined for Heaven, Milton brought out the point that humanity makes that decision because of the free will granted by God.

The Fall of Humanity vs. the fall of England’ Christianity

Milton was challenging the official Church of EnglandHe motivated people to return to the origins of

Christian ReligionIt was at this time that the Civil War in England

occurred Charles I was put to death.

Author’s Motivation

Satan – the destructive forces that had torn through the nation

Fall of Satan – return of the power of Christianity in England

Allusions

AvatarThe Hunger GamesExtremely Loud and Incredibly CloseSchindler’s List

What examples can you explain where literature, including drama, deals with a real historical crisis?

Journal Question