Paradise Lost

Books IX - XII

1

BOOK IX - The Fall

-[1-47] Milton invokes the Muse for the forth and final time and makes a few claims about his Epic:

1) 20-24 & 41-47 What claim does he make regarding the Muse and his writing process?

2) 13-41 What does he claim about epic heroism and his epic?

-[48-191] Satan returns to Eden and possesses the serpent

-[205-341] Adam and Eve in the morning go forth to their labors,

and Eve proposes that they trim the Garden separately in order to

get more done in less time.

Summarize what each says in this discussion, especially focus on

what they say about their nature, temptation, and sin:

1) [226-269] Adam responds to Eve’s proposal:

2) [270-289] Eve:

3) [290-318] Adam:

4) [319-341] Eve:

5) [342-375] Adam

-[404-732] The Serpent finds Eve alone and subtly approaches first gazing, then speaking.

Summarize the dialogue between Eve and the Serpent:

1) [532-548] Serpent:

2) [549-566] Eve:

3) [567-613] Serpent:

The Serpent leads Eve to the Tree of Knowledge. [614-645]

4) [646-654]Eve:

5) [655-658] Serpent:

Paradise Lost

Books IX - XII

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6) [659-663] Eve:

7) [679-732] The Serpent begins to

worship Eve then the Tree, then

speaks:

8) [733-743] Narrator:

9) 744-784 Eve:

-[795-833] Eve has eaten the fruit and thus

has fallen. How has her thinking changed?

In her speech here, find at least 4 false

things that she now believes:

1)

2)

3)

4)

-[856-895] Eve finds and greets Adam, who has come to look for her and is horrified at finding Eve has eaten

the fruit. He drops the rose garland he has made for her.

1) [892-893]What is the illusion made with the rose garland?

2) [896-916] Summarize Adam’s inward thoughts about the fallen Eve and her proposal to eat the fruit:

3) [917-961] Summarize Adam’s words to Eve:

4) [990-1016] What does Milton, as the narrator, say about the fall as Adam eats the fruit in these lines:

-[1004-1189] The aftermath

1) [1013-1045] What is the first thing Adam and Eve do after the Fall? What has changed about it since

before the fall?

Paradise Lost

Books IX - XII

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2) [1134-End]What happens when Adam and Eve awake?

Whom do they blame for the Fall?

Whom does neither blame?

BOOK X - God's judgment; Adam and Eve's reconciliation

A. God reviews the situation before the assembled angels [1-]

B. The Son of God judges the sinners [63-228]

. . . . . 1. The Son accepts his Father's charge and descends to Earth [63-]

. . . . . 2. Adam and Eve give account [115-]

. . . . . 3. God passes judgement on them and the serpent [163-]

. . . . . 4. God shows compassion towards the couple [209-]

C. Sin and Death build a bridge to Earth [229-409]

. . . . . 1. In Hell, Sin and Death sense Satan's success [229-]

. . . . . 2. They construct a highway across Chaos [282-]

. . . . . 3. They meet their father returning from Earth [325-]

D. Satan reenters Hell [410-584]

. . . . . 1. Satan arrives in Pandemonium and ascends his throne unperceived [410-]

. . . . . 2. He reports the success of his mission to the throng [449-]

. . . . . 3. They are all turned into serpents by God as punishment [504-]

E. Sin and Death arrive on Earth [585-648]

. . . . . 1. They prepare to ravage all life on Earth [585-]

. . . . . 2. Watching them, God proclaims what their fate will be at the end of time [613-]

F. God prescribes what physical changes shall take place in the fallen world [649-]

G. Adam and Eve confront their changed state [714-]

. . . . . 1. Adam laments his fallen condition [714-]

. . . . . 2. Adam and Eve reconciliate [863-1104]

. . . . . . . . . . a) Adam harshly rejects Eve's overture [863-]

. . . . . . . . . . b) She humbles herself and begs forgiveness [909-]

. . . . . . . . . . c) Adam relents and forgives her [937-]

. . . . . . . . . . d) Eve suggests they commit suicide [966-]

. . . . . . . . . . e) Adam gently admonishes her [1010-1104]

1) Book 10 ends with Adam’s speech to Eve as they determine what to do now that they are fallen.

Milton, the narrator, repeats the end of Adam’s speech to Eve. [1086-1096 & 1097-End] Summarize what

he repeats and explain its significance:

Paradise Lost

Books IX - XII

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BOOK XI – The Angel Michael's prophecies till the Flood

A. The prayers of Adam and Eve reach Heaven [1-125]

. . . . . 1. The Son of God intercedes for them [20-]

. . . . . 2. The Father accepts his intercession [45-]

. . . . . 3. God pronounces his will to the angels [72-]

. . . . . 4. God sends Michael to expel the pair from Paradise [99-]

B. Michael descends to Earth [126-410]

. . . . . 1. Having prayed, Adam and Eve accept their plight [133-]

. . . . . 2. They see omens [181-]

. . . . . 3. They witness Michael's arrival [208-]

. . . . . 4. He informs them of their eminent expulsion [251-]

. . . . . 5. Eve's lament [265-]

. . . . . 6. Adam's lament [293-]

. . . . . 7. Michael's admonition [334-]

. . . . . 8. Michael brings Adam to the mountain top [370-]

C. Michael shows Adam the future in visions [411-901]

. . . . . 1. Cain and Abel [423-]

. . . . . 2. The house of diseases [466-]

. . . . . 3. Men corrupted by women [556-]

. . . . . 4. War and plunder; Enoch [638-]

. . . . . 5. Noah [712-901]

. . . . . . . . . . a) The Ark and the Flood [712-]

. . . . . . . . . . b) Adam weeps at mankind's destruction [754-]

. . . . . . . . . . c) The rainbow and the covenant [840-901]

1) [355-366] In Epic poetry, the Epic hero is a warrior or fighter, in these lines, what does Michael say

about the true battle of a true Epic hero?

Who in the story so far has been the only example of a True Hero? Explain how.

2) In lines 628-633, what does Adam blame for the woe of mankind?

3) In response to Adam, What does the Angel Michael blame (634-636)?

Paradise Lost

Books IX - XII

5

BOOK XII - From the Flood to Jesus & The Expulsion from Eden

A. Michael continues to relate prophecies to Adam [1-605]

. . . . . 1. The Tower of Babel [13-]

. . . . . 2. Abraham [105-]

. . . . . 3. Moses [151-]

. . . . . 4. Jesus [270-551]

. . . . . . . . . . a) Adam expresses his sense of enlightenment [270-]

. . . . . . . . . . b) Raphael relates the origin of Jesus [285-]

. . . . . . . . . . c) Adam inquires about Jesus' battle against Satan [372-]

. . . . . . . . . . d) Raphael relates the life and resurrection of Jesus [386-]

. . . . . . . . . . e) Adam rejoices, but questions the fate of mankind [466-]

. . . . . . . . . . f) Raphael summarizes the struggles of Christianity [485-]

. . . . . 5. Adam is reconfirmed in obedience to God [552-]

B. Michael expels Adam and Eve from Paradise [606-649]

. . . . . 1. Eve greets the returning pair her spirits restored by dreams [606-]

. . . . . 2. Adam and Eve are sent out of the Garden of Eden [624-649]

1) How does Adam respond in lines 469-484, to the historical vision he has just received from Michael?

2) In lines 557-573, explain at least 3 lessons

that Adam has learned?

3) Compare Michael’s promise to Adam in

lines 575-588 with Satan’s words in Book 4

line 20. How is this the same?

How is it different?

4) According to the above lines, 575-588, is Paradise somehow already Regained?

5) There are multiple Biblical illusions in the last 5 lines. Explain what Milton finally says about them

and us as fallen people trying to obey God?