Paradise Lost

The structure and layout of the poem greatly reinforce its theme and narrative. It is perfectly balanced with the beginning and end mirroring each other, a balance that moves toward the center of the work. For example, Books I-III detail the adventures of Satan and provide a balance for Books X-XII which cover the history of mankind. Books IV and IX are also balanced with the former being the account of Satan’s entry into Paradise while the latter reveals man’s loss of Paradise. The remaining four Books are also balanced. Books V and VI which portray the war in Heaven are balanced against Books VII and VIII which explain Creation and the issues necessary to understand it.

As with most works of literature, they are produced and shaped by their author but also by their era. This is also the case with Paradise Lost. In Paradise Lost we see Satan resist the powers of God. In Milton’s time, Protestant Christians like Luther and Calvin proposed various arguments for who and under what circumstances the power of kingship could

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arry as the first sinners of mankind. They are sustained by a faith that gives them the courage to reach the blessing of the afterlife. We see this at the end of the piece which is tempered with humility by Milton and explains that though they shed a tear for the world they must leave behind, Adam and Eve are very much filled with joy at the prospect of Christian life everlasting, “They, looking back, all th’ eastern side beheld / Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, / Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate / With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms. / Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; / The world was all before them, where to choose / Their place of rest, and Providence their guide. / They hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, / Through Eden took their solitary way”(Milton XII. 641-649). Adam and Eve do not rebel against God though they do have a difficult time coming to terms with the actions which made them fall prey to Satan and disobey the word of God. However, part of the purpose of the epic poem is to remind us of the ways of men to God and we see that Adam and Eve must use faith and hope to become the wayfaring and warfaring Christians like Milton himself was in his belief that the p
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Approximate Word count = 1623
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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