In the late 17th century, after surviving the English civil wars, disgraced statesman John Milton began to write his epic poem, Paradise Lost. Earlier in his life, Milton had graduated from Christ’s College, Cambridge; taken a tour of Western Europe; joined the Parliamentary cause in their civil war against the Royalists; written a pamphlet justifying the Parlimentarians’ execution of King Charles I; served as the Secretary of Foreign Tongues under Oliver Cromwell’s regime; and was nearly executed himself after the Restoration of the English monarchy in 1660.
Paradise Lost, first published in 1664 (with a revised, second edition in 1674) is one of the most important poems in English literary history. Milton uses the account of creation and the fall of humanity from Genesis as the skeleton of his magnum opus and then fleshes out that skeleton by creating rich backstories and complex psychologies for many of the characters involved in the story.
Early in Book I, Milton professes that his mission is to “assert Eternal Providence/ And justifie the wayes of God to men” (25-26). As you read the poem, reflect upon whether Milton does, in fact, deliver on this promise. Take special note of the most powerful characters in the text, and ask yourself which (if any) functions as the protagonist (and why). You may also wish to consider the motivations ascribed to especially three-dimensional characters such as Satan and Eve.
For a full introduction to this text, visit the Milton Reading Room, hosted by Dartmouth College. In crafting Paradise Lost, Milton drew upon a vast body of theological, philosophical, and mythological texts. For this reason, the poem is full of allusions that may be unfamiliar to you. The edition of the poem provided by the Milton Reading Room provides numerous annotations that will be useful as you read the poem.