Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost, epic poem in blank verse by English poet John Milton. Paradise Lost was first published in August 1667. A revised edition published in 1674 rearranged the original 10 books of the poem into 12. Milton first considered writing a great epic poem in 1639, but did not begin writing Paradise Lost until 1658. The poem was completed in 1663.

Book I: In a long, sinuous opening sentence, the poet invokes the “Heav'nly Muse” and states his theme, the Fall of Man, and his aim, to “justifie the wayes of God to men”. The origins of Man's disobedience are traced to Satan and his rebellion against God. Satan, Beelzebub, and the other rebel angels are described as lying on a lake of fire, from where Satan delivers a rousing speech to his followers (“Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven”), and organizes the building of a palace, Pandemonium.

Book II: Satan and the rebel angels debate whether or not to wage another war on Heaven, and Beelzebub tells them of a new world being built, which is to be the home of Man. Satan decides to visit this new world, passes through the gates of Hell, past the sentries Sin and Death, and journeys through the realm of Chaos.

Book III: God observes Satan's journey and foretells how Satan will bring about Man's Fall. God emphasizes, however, that the Fall will come about as a result of Man's own free will and excuses Himself of responsibility, for “if I foreknew/ Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault/ Which had no less proved certain unforeseen”. The Son of God offers himself as a ransom for Man's disobedience, an offer which God accepts, ordaining the Son's future incarnation and punishment. Satan arrives at the rim of the universe, disguises himself as a cherub, and is directed to Earth by Uriel, Guardian of the Sun.

Book IV: Satan journeys to the Garden of Eden, where he observes Adam and Eve discussing the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. Satan attempts to tempt Eve while she is sleeping, but is discovered by the angels Ithuriel and Zephon. The angel Gabriel expels Satan from the Garden.

Book V: Eve awakes and relates her dream to Adam. God sends Raphael to warn and encourage Adam: they discuss free will and predestination and Raphael tells Adam the story of how Satan inspired his angels to revolt against God.

Book VI: Raphael goes on to describe further the war in Heaven and explains how the Son of God drove Satan and his minions down to Hell.

Book VII: Raphael explains to Adam that God then decided to create another world (the Earth), and he warns Adam again not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, for “in the day thou eat'st, thou diest;/ Death is the penalty imposed, beware,/ And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin/ Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death”.

Book VIII: Adam asks Raphael for knowledge concerning the stars and the heavenly orders; Raphael warns that “heaven is for thee too high/ To know what passes there; be lowly wise”, and advises modesty and patience.

Book IX: Satan returns to Eden and enters into the body of a sleeping serpent. The serpent tempts Eve to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. She eats and takes some fruit for Adam. Adam realizes that Eve has been tricked, but eats of the fruit. In their loss of innocence Adam and Eve cover their nakedness and fall into despair: “They sat them down to weep, nor only tears/ Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within/ Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate,/ Mistrust, suspicion, discord, and shook sore/ Their inward state of mind.”

Book X: God sends his Son to Eden to deliver judgement on Adam and Eve, and Satan returns in triumph to Hell.

Book XI: The Son of God intercedes with God on behalf of Adam and Eve. God declares that the couple must be expelled from the Garden, and the angel Michael descends to deliver God's judgement. Michael begins to unfold the future history of the world to Adam.

Book XII: Michael tells Adam of the eventual coming of the Messiah, before leading Adam and Eve from the Garden. Paradise has been lost. The poem ends: “The world was all before them, where to choose/ Their place of rest, and Providence their guide:/ They hand in hand with wandering steps and slow,/ Through Eden took their solitary way.”