Transcript Paradise Lost

English IV
Paradise Lost (Excerpt) by John Milton
Paradise Lost
 Paradise Lost is a Christian Epic Poem written by
poet John Milton.
 Milton, a Puritan, wrote political tracts and
pamphlets in addition to his poetry.
 Paradise Lost features Christian allusions
(references) that are taken from biblical stories.
The poem also contains references to classical
literature, such as Greek and Roman mythology.
Literary Features:
 Syntax is often rearranged.
 Archaic expressions are used.
 Allusions provide important background
information and expand the meaning of the text.
Our Excerpt:
 Our excerpt comes from the opening of Book I of
the epic (it’s so long if you read it all!).
 This excerpt discusses the casting out of Satan,
who was previously one of God’s most powerful
angels. After Satan led a rebellion against God’s
rule in Heaven, he was cast out to hell.
 Satan wakes up in Hell with fellow fallen angel
Beelzebub and restates his defiance against God.
 We will be comparing the excerpt of Paradise Lost
to excerpts from Dante’s The Divine Comedy and a
selection from Dan Brown’s Inferno.