Paradise lost Book 9 simplified explanation

Paradise lost Book 9 simplified explanation

         An epic poem is a lengthy narrative poem involving a time beyond living memory in which occurred extraordinary doings of extraordinary men, dealing with Gods or other superhuman forces

10 characteristics

1.  Begins in media res

2.  Setting is vast covering nations and universe

3.  Invocation to Muse

4.  Begins with statement of theme

5.  Includes use of epithets

6.  Epic catalogue

7.  Long and formal speeches

8.  Divine intervention in human affairs

9.  features heroes that embody the value of civilization

10.               Often features hero’s tragic descent into the underworld.

Hero

Participates in cyclical journey or quest, faces adversaries and returns home transformed by his journey. Hero performs deeds and exemplifies morals.

Epic conventions

1.  Proposition: Stating theme or cause of the epic. “Justify the ways of God to men”

2.  Invocation: poet invokes a muse (one of the nine daughters of Zeus)

3.  In Media res: in the middle of things

4.  Enumeratio: Catalogues and genealogies are given

5.  Epithet: repetition f stock phrases

Short summary of Book 9

         Milton places his epic within the tradition of tragedy; it involves the fall of great mean through some special flaw. Milton reaffirms has ability and speaks with Christian humility mentioning hi old age and asking the holy spirit to finish the poem through him

ADAM AND EVE’S DISOBEDIENCE AND THE FALL OF MAN

·      Milton asks Muse to keep him from being distracted by vain descriptions of long and tedious havoc (as Homer and Virgil) did in their epics. The scene turns to Satan, who has been hiding in the dark side of the Earth for 7 days after being banished by Gabriel. On the 8^th day Satan returns to Eden disguised as a mist following the Tigris river and rising up in the fountain next to the tree of life

SATAN’S PLAN

·      Satan studies all the creatures of Eden and finally settles on snake for its wit and native subtlety. Before continuing with his plan Satan hesitates grieving what might have been. He decides that the Earth was more beautiful than heaven

·      Adam and Eve’s happiness causes him grater anguish

·      Satan reaffirms his purpose to bring evil out of God’s creation

·      Satan laments how far he has fallen from the position of Archangel to the mazy folds and bestial slime f the serpent. He poses like a sleeping snake which is curled up upon itself like a labyrinth

EVE ‘S IDEA OF WORKING SEPARATELY

·      The next morning Adam and Eve wake up and do their usual praise to God. Eve proposes that she and Adam work separately to get more work done. Adam does not approve of the idea, he worries that the two might be more susceptible to Stan if they are separated. And in times of danger a woman’s place is with her husband.

·      Eve responds that she has overheard Raphael’s warning. Adam tries to dissuade her because he is wiser than her. Eve says they will have “double honour” if they defend themselves alone angst Satan. Adam reminds her of her free will. Eve replies that the proud Satan will seek Adam first. She parts Adam asks her to be back by noon. Milton comments that they will never have sweet repast in paradise again.

SATAN CONVINCING EVE

·      Satan is delighted t find her alone. Satan is momentarily stunned by her beauty but he is reminded of his hatred. Satan coils himself and seems to stand upright in a “surging maze” lifting his head  to get Eve’s attention

·      Serpent calls Eve “goddess among Gods” she is amazed that serpent could talk, Satan explains that he found a tree with beautiful apples and at the fruit and he go the ability to talk and expanded intellect , he is able to perceive heavenly and earthly knowledge

·      Eve asks him where the tree grows. Satan offers to show her. Eve sees the tree of  knowledge and says she has been forbidden by God from eating the fruit. Stan asks about the commandment, Eve reaffirms that she and Adam can eat any fruit except that of tree of knowledge

·      Satan says that the Tree of knowledge has revealed to him that god actually wants Even an Adam to disobey him as this will prove her independence and dauntless virtue in braving death. Satan says that he himself has proved that the fruit does not bring death. He persuades Eve telling that God will not punish for such small thing

·      Satan says that God has forbidden the fruit to keep Adam and Eve “low and ignorant instead of assuming their proper places as Gods” if servant can achieve speech, then Eve will surely become a goddess. Satan suggest that there is no sin in desiring virtue and knowledge

EVE EATING THE FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE

·      Eve looks at the fruit which seems perfect and delicious. She thinks that the fruit might be very powerful since the God has forbidden it. It seems very wrong that such magical fruit is denied to humans if beasts can have it. In the evil hour, she takes a bite, “Earth felt the wound and ll was lost”

·      Eve praises the tree of knowledge and thiks if she should let Adam eat it. Then resolves to give him. If she dies, he would be wedded to another Eve

ADAM EATS THE FRUIT

·      Adam has been weaving a bouquet of flowers to give Eve. Adam sees the forbidden fruit in her hand and Eve explains that the serpent ate it and learnt to speak. She has eaten it an her eyes have been open. she is “growing up to Godhead” she wants Adam to try “equal joy as equal love”

·      Adam drops the garland, he stands there speechless and pale. He is horrified that Eve has succumbed to temptation. Adam’s sin is placing his love for Eve above his love for God.

·      Adam is curious and is attracted to Eve’s beauty; Eve is distracted by appearance and wanting to prove herself. Milton shows how these flaws lead to fully fledged sins

FALL OF MAN

·      NATURE GROANS AGAIN AND SKY WEEPS. Adam feels invigorated and godlike, he is filled with lust. They runoff to a shady bank to have sex and they sleep. After waking up they realized that instead of gaining knowledge of divine, they have gained knowledge of “good lost and evil got”

·      The two are suddenly aware off their nakedness an cover themselves with fig leaves

·      They stat o weep and emotions f sin com to them , they are filled with anger, hate mistrust suspicion and discord

MILTON’S MESSAGE

·      Knowledge is important but not all knowledge leads to good when it involves being disobedient and breaking order.

ANALYSIS

Milton’s 4^th invocation differs from the earlier ones. He doesnot invoke Urania

Christian epic with tragic core

Adam – “patience and heroic matryrdom”

Felix culpa- happy fault

Satan – “incarnate and brute/ That to the height f deity aspired”

Prilapsarian serpent “circular base of riing folds that towed/ Fold above fold, a surging maze”

Epic poem in blank verse

Ist verson 1667- 10 books-10,000 verse

2^nd version- 1674-12 books

Epics purpose is stated in Book 1

Charcters

1.  Satan

2.  Adam

3.  Eve

4.  Son of God

5.  God, the Father

6.  Raphael

7.  Michael

MOTIFS

·      Marriage

·      Idolatory

IMPORTANT QUOTATIONS

1.  "Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe That all was lost." ~ John Milton

2.  "Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit/Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste/Brought death into the world, and all our woe,/With loss of Eden, till one greater Man/Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,/Sing heavenly muse" ~ John Milton

3.  "Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be a sin to know? Can it be death?" ~ John Milton

4.  "Our state cannot be severed, we are one, One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself." ~ John Milton

5.  "So glistered the dire Snake , and into fraud Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the Tree Of Prohibition, root of all our woe." ~ John Milton

6.  "Here we may reign secure; and in my choice

To reign is worth ambition, though in hell:

Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven." ~ John Milton

7.  "The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,

Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,

Who guards her, or with her the worst endures." ~ John Milton

8."Should God create another Eve, and I Another Rib afford, yet loss of thee Would never from my heart; no no, I feel The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh, Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe." ~ John Milton

9."Revenge, at first though sweet, Bitter ere long back on itself recoils." ~ John Milton

10."All is not lost, the unconquerable will, and study of revenge, immortal hate, and the courage never to submit or yield." ~ John Milton

11. "O fairest of creation, last and best Of all God's works, creature in whom excelled Whatever can to sight or thought be formed, Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost, Defaced, deflow'red, and now to death devote? Paradise Lost" ~ John Milton