Monthly Archives: April 2021

649 lines. Most of the book continues Michael’s conversation with Adam, revealing the future, including the exodus, and the giving of the Torah, and the exile, and the coming of the Messiah, and even a bit of the period after the Messiah’s ascension. The book ends with Adam and Eve leaving Paradise. Michael resumes tellingContinue reading “Paradise Lost, Book 12”

901 lines. God sends Michael to drive the couple out of Eden, but before he does, he shows Adam what the future holds. This revelation of the future will continue into book 12; here Michael takes Adam up to the flood and its immediate aftermath (i.e., the rainbow). The prayers of Adam and Eve goContinue reading “Paradise Lost, Book 11”

1104 lines. This book shows the immediate aftereffects of the first sin. The punishment is brought to the couple, Satan returns to hell to announce his victory, and Sin and Death make their way to earth. The act became quickly known in heaven, by God immediately since he was watching the whole thing happen, byContinue reading “Paradise Lost, Book 10”

1189 lines, the longest book, presenting the main event, the Fall, the eating of the forbidden fruit. In Milton’s prologue to this book (lines 1–47), he warns us that he is going to leave the pleasant subjects of previous books and get to the temptation. He again invokes his Muse’s aid. Satan returns to theContinue reading “Paradise Lost, Book 9”

653 lines. Here Adam tells his experience of his life thus far. Adam speaks (lines 5–38), asking about the heavenly bodies, the sun and stars and planets, about their motions. Eve gets up to tend the garden, planning to ask Adam about the conversation later (lines 39–65). Raphael replies (lines 66–178), describing possible motions ofContinue reading “Paradise Lost, Book 8”

640 lines. Raphael tells the story of Creation, mostly drawing on Genesis 1 but also bringing in some elements of Genesis 2 with regard to the creation of humans. Milton invokes a Muse again, this time Urania (lines 1–39). Adam and Eve listened to Raphael’s account of war in heaven, and now Adam wants toContinue reading “Paradise Lost, Book 7”

912 lines. Raphael continues his narrative about the battle in heaven that resulted in the overthrow of Satan. The entire book is in the voice of Raphael. Abdiel made his way to heaven at dawn, and found that thew news he brought of the angelic rebellion was already known (lines 1–28). The Father speaks (linesContinue reading “Paradise Lost, Book 6”

907 lines. Here we begin a narrative of the war in heaven that took place before Book 1. The setting of the entire book is Paradise, with Adam and Eve. We meet Satan in this book only in flashback, as his prior history is narrated. The angel Raphael, sent by God, comes for a visitContinue reading “Paradise Lost, Book 5”