"Paradise Lost" Intro

We are continuing our unit of Renaissance poetry by reading an excerpt from "Paradise Lost" by John Milton.

"Paradise Lost" is a metaphysical poem, but it is written in the style of an epic, like Beowulf. Let me break down what that means.

Metaphysical Poetry	Epic Poetry
- Written in many different styles and formats - Questioned the meaning of life - Concerned with the purpose of death and spiritual issues - Frequent use of paradoxes to demonstrate the contradictions within life - May portray difficult or controversial ideas using beautiful imagery or surprising comparisons	- Focused on a time period before modern recollection (WAY BACK IN THE DAY) - Unites a group of people with a specific moral code - Features extraordinary characters or gods - Form is determined by what is popular in that culture - Begins with a call upon a spiritual force for inspiration and the purpose of the piece - Originally a facet of ancient pagan cultures like the Greeks and Romans

Notice how many of the traits of epic poetry still hold true from "Beowulf."

John Milton was a Puritan, which means he led a life devoted to God, held fast to a very simple and minimalistic lifestyle, and shunned anything that was flashy, showy, prideful, or extravagant. Milton demonstrates that view point at the very beginning of the piece.

Normally, at the beginning of epics in Ancient Greece and Rome, the story teller would call upon the Muses, goddesses responsible for creativity, art, and inspiration. However, Milton calls upon the spirit of God, mentions Moses and Jesus, and asks God to help him spread his word in a way he has never done before. We see Milton not as someone who wants to be a great storyteller, but as someone who views his purpose as spiritual.

"Paradise Lost" tells the story of the fall of Satan and Satan's desire to wage a war of vengeance on God. Another angel, Beelzebub, is also in Hell with him and contemplates the purpose of their continued existence. When we return to class, we will see how these two fallen angels approach their new fate in Hell and their thoughts on their punishment and God's wrath.