Moloc is the typical aggressive individual who rejects “wiles” and suggests open warfare as the means to resolve all conflicts Belial is the ultimate hypocrite who is graceful and fair in exterior but, inside, “all was false and hollow” (Milton, 2, 112) Mammon is the cautious peace-lover. Milton’s characterization of the devils is particularly striking in its resemblance to the personalities of men. One cannot but admire such an attitude!īook 2 describes the council in Hell. Although he has been vanquished in the battle for the throne of Heaven, Satan remains defiant, saying, “All is not lost the unconquerable Will, / And study of revenge, immortal hate, / And courage never to submit or yield” (Milton, 1, 106/107/108). Satan is introduced, languishing with his fellow-rebels in Chaos. Milton asserts that his purpose in writing the poem is “to justify the ways of God to man” (Book 1, 26). The subject of the poem is introduced: the fall of Adam and Eve. In Book 1, Milton invokes his Muse in the tradition of the epic poem. ![]() In Books 1-6, the action moves from Satan’s and God’s respective councils, Satan’s determination to bring about man’s downfall as an act of vengeance for his own banishment, Satan’s visit to Eden and Raphael’s warning to Adam and Eve about the threat posed by Satan. Milton elaborately describes Hell, Eden, the seven days of Creation, the battle between Satan’s army and the Heavenly hosts, and a major portion of Biblical history. All these incidents are dealt with in great detail. The plot of “Paradise Lost,” narrates the Biblical story of Creation, Satan’s fall from grace and banishment to Hell, Adam and Eve’s sojourn in Paradise, the temptation of Eve by Satan and the banishment of Adam and Eve from Eden. The characters in the epic stand out in strong delineation. There is a lengthy list of characters, ranging from Satan to the several leading angels. Instead of rhyming couplets, Milton reverts to the traditional heroic verse without rhyme. He rejects “the troublesome and modern bondage of rhyming” (Milton, 1945). All these devices belong to the epic genre. Milton uses extended, dramatic similes, catalogs (lists), battle scenes, interventions of God in the affairs of men, the invocation to the Muse, and a trip from the underworld, and begins the poem with a declaration of the theme. It opens in media res, or in the middle of the story, and then takes the reader back to prior happenings. ![]() It is a long narrative poem that focuses on a serious theme: the fall of man. It displays several characteristics of this genre. In spite of this disability, Milton completed his magnum opus, “Paradise Lost,” in 1667, by dictating his work to his three grown daughters. By 1652, Milton had completely lost his sight. A multi-linguist with a prodigious memory, Milton is the author of several celebrated poems, pamphlets and prose work. John Milton (1608-1674), is considered to be one of the most brilliant in EnglishLiterature.
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