In "Paradise Lost", Milton produced poem of epic scale, conjuring up a vast, awe-inspiring cosmos and ranging across huge tracts of space and time. And yet, in putting a charismatic Satan and naked Adam and Eve at the centre of this story, he also created an intensely human tragedy on the Fall of Man. Written when Milton was in his fifties, blind, bitterly disappointed by the Restoration and briefly in danger of execution, "Paradise Lost's" apparent ambivalence towards authority has led to intense debate about whether it ...
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In "Paradise Lost", Milton produced poem of epic scale, conjuring up a vast, awe-inspiring cosmos and ranging across huge tracts of space and time. And yet, in putting a charismatic Satan and naked Adam and Eve at the centre of this story, he also created an intensely human tragedy on the Fall of Man. Written when Milton was in his fifties, blind, bitterly disappointed by the Restoration and briefly in danger of execution, "Paradise Lost's" apparent ambivalence towards authority has led to intense debate about whether it manages to justify the 'ways of God to men', or exposes the cruelty of Christianity.
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Written in 1667 Paradise Lost is an epic poem depicting the events of the Bible with an emphasis on Genesis Chapters Two and Three. The following is a list of events included in the narrative: God casting a prideful and arrogant Satan with one-third of the angels out of heaven, the creation of Adam and Eve, the deception of the serpent, the disobedience of Adam and Eve, and their subsequent removal from the Garden of Eden. The Son of God and the archangels Gabriel and Michael play major roles in the story. God's grace, wisdom, and love and Satan's pride, arrogance, and ambition are the major themes of this work. I will admit that this is not easy reading and I really had to focus to understand what was taking place in the narrative. Still, I did like this book a great deal with its rich vocabulary, vivid imagery, and many references to Near Eastern mythology, Egyptian mythology, Greek and Roman mythology, the Bible, and classical literature.
Shanlee2405
Apr 1, 2010
I ordered this for my fiance and he is liking it a lot. He hasn't finished it b/c he has school work to do, but he can't wait until the semester is over so he can start reading again.
The Pageturner
Oct 29, 2008
Gigantic, Difficult Book Worth Reading
Imagine a book the size of the 7th Harry Potter book, but you don't understand any of the language. Welcome to "Paradise Lost". This book in itself is a literary masterpiece and sheer genius. Using poetry to describe the Fall of Man from different perspectives, it is a great way to open discussions ranging from religion to the secular world. I will admit that this book is very lengthy, so lengthy that you feel like you are dying on the inside and want to rip out your hair. But, it is a sort of accomplishment reading it and if you have a book to interpret the language or Cliff notes, you will find this story fascinating. If it were a motion picture, most likely it would be worth seeing. Read "Paradise Lost". If you enjoy that book, read the sequel. I think it is called "Paradise Returned".
