Paradise Lost is a long and epic poem by John Milton based on the Bible’s book of Genesis. It tells the tale of the fallen angels—their rebellion against God and their leader’s attempt to corrupt human beings. After getting defeated by God, Satan plans to invade the Garden of Eden in hopes of tempting the first human beings, Adam and Eve.
God specifically told Adam and Eve not to eat fruit from the forbidden tree. However, Satan was successful in tempting Eve to eat the fruit. Following Eve’s pursuit, Adam also did the same and as a result, sin and death took over the human species. God created Earth and populated it with different species and creatures.
Paradise Lost By John Milton
The poem itself is very long and mainly consists of the elaboration of the ancient religious text of the Bible. One can find multiple instances which are the same as the holy book, however, Milton uses poetry to express them.
The book can be divided into different parts which are based on the different acts of the writings. So, the long epic goes into detail about the fall of man from the Garden of Eden.
The Rise and Fall of Rebellion
Satan and his fellow angels rebel against God because of his ways and going. However, they soon realize that they are not as strong as him. After suffering defeat, Satan and his group of rebels fall into hell where they plan to corrupt the favourite creation of God: Man.
Fall of Human Beings
Human beings: Adam and Eve were beautiful and Satan wants to attack them with sin and death. So, he transforms himself into a snake which crawls up to Eve and tempts her to eat the forbidden fruits. She falls for her trick and eventually, Adam too also eats the fruit against God’s will. And from there, the downfall of the human species began as now they were captured in sin and death.
Redemption Through the Son
However, God loves his creation so much that to redeem them from their original sin, he gave his only son. Only through him and believing in him, one can reach back to God. His grace over the room for redemption to all the beings.
Final Thoughts on Paradise Lost by John Milton
Paradise Lost by John Milton is an exceptional piece of literature depicting the Book of Genesis. It has great verses which hit the mark. One of the most famous ones is given below.
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“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”
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“Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.”
Summary
Paradise Lost is a poem by John Milton, based on the Bible’s Genesis book, detailing the fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Satan, a fallen angel, attempts to corrupt humans by attempting to eat forbidden fruit. After defeating God, Satan transforms into a snake, tempting Eve and Adam to eat the fruit. God’s love for his creation leads to redemption through his only son, Jesus.
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)
What is the story of Paradise Lost?
Paradise Lost is the retelling of the biblical book of Genesis which describes the creation of heaven, hell and Earth.
What is the point of Paradise Lost?
The three main points of Paradise Lost which resonate throughout the poem are:
- Rebellion of the Fallen Angels
- Disobedience of First Men
- Creation of Earth
What is the theme of Paradise Lost?
Paradise Lost has several themes which are given below:
- Free Will
- Obedience
- Revenge
- Pride
How is Paradise Lost an epic poem?
Paradise Lost is an epic poem because it’s very long and is based on biblical verses, from the Book of Genesis.
