Unlike the learned classicists of his day, who imitated Greek and Latin versification, Milton sought to rehabilitate the English poetic tradition by establishing it as an extension or flowering of the classical tradition. As soon as his third year at Cambridge, however, he expressed his desire to abandon such fashionable poetry in order to write in his native tongue. Milton composed his early verse in Latin, in the fashion of a classically educated person. During these years, Milton considered entering the ministry, but his poetic ambitions always seemed to take precedence over his ministerial aspirations. In April 1625, just after the accession of Charles I, he matriculated at Christ's College, Cambridge. Milton's father was a scrivener and, perhaps more importantly, a devout Puritan, who had been disinherited by his Roman Catholic family when he turned Protestant. Adam is comforted, and then he and Eve tearfully leave Eden.John Milton was born on December 9, 1608. Michael explains the Son’s sacrifice to atone for the Fall and save humanity. He sees the Tower of Babel, the creation of Israel, the Exodus from Egypt, and finally Jesus as the Son incarnate. Before he does so Michael shows Adam a vision of the future, including his children’s crimes and many sinful generations, and then the flood, when God kills all humans except Noah’s family. God sends Michael to expel the couple from Paradise. Adam suggests they have revenge on Satan by being obedient to God, and they both weep and repent. Adam and Eve blame each other and fight, and then Eve accepts the blame and considers suicide. Satan and the devils are punished by being turned into serpents.Īfter the Fall, the angels rearrange the earth to make it less hospitable, and the animals become carnivorous and unfriendly. Meanwhile Satan returns to Hell and sends Sin and Death to infect Earth. The Son punishes the serpent to slither on the ground, Eve to have pain in childbirth and submit to her husband, and Adam to labor for his food. The two experience lust for the first time and have sex. She offers some to Adam, who realizes Eve has fallen, but he eats the fruit so they won’t be separated. He suggests that Eve should eat the fruit to prove her courage and to become a goddess, and Eve hesitates but then eats. She asks how he learned to speak, and Satan says he ate the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Meanwhile Eve suggests that she and Adam work separately. Adam tells Raphael his first memories and admits his physical attraction to Eve, and then Raphael returns to Heaven.Īfter seven days Satan returns to Eden and possesses a serpent. Adam asks Raphael more about the cosmos, but Raphael warns him about seeking too much knowledge. Raphael tells the story of creation: the Son created light, then the stars and planets, and then the animals and humans. Raphael warns Adam about Satan’s attempts to corrupt him. On the second day the rebels fired cannons at the good angels, but then the Son drove them out of Heaven and into Hell. The rebels experienced pain but couldn’t be killed. The angel armies fought, with Michael leading Heaven’s army. Only one angel, Abdiel, left his cause and returned to God. Satan was jealous of God’s Son, and he convinced a third of the angels to rebel with him. Raphael eats with Adam and Eve and then describes Satan’s war in Heaven. To ensure the couple’s free will, God sends the angel Raphael to warn Adam and Eve about Satan. Eve wakes up from a dream about disobedience. Satan considers fighting but then God hangs Golden Scales in the sky and Satan flees. The Archangel Gabriel finds Satan and confronts him. That night Adam and Eve have innocent sex and fall asleep, and Satan turns into a toad whispering to Eve. Satan sees Adam and Eve, the first humans, and overhears them discussing God’s commandment forbidding them from eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Satan enters Paradise and its beauty causes him painful envy, but he resolves to bring evil out of God’s goodness. He pretends to be a cherub and sneaks past the angelic guard. Satan travels past Chaos and Night and finds Earth. God predicts that Satan will corrupt humans, and the Son offers to sacrifice himself for humanity’s sake. As he leaves Hell he meets his children, Sin and Death, who follow him and build a bridge from Hell to Earth. Satan offers to cross the abyss and find Earth alone. Beelzebub suggests they corrupt God’s new creation, Earth, and Satan agrees. The devils construct Pandaemonium, a meeting place, and discuss how they will continue their revolt against God. Milton invokes a Heavenly Muse to help him describe the “Fall of Man.” The action begins with Satan and his devils in Hell after they have been defeated by God’s army.
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