English IVParadise 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.