Notes on Paradise Lost Lecture

Introduction

• Conforms to Epic tradition
• Theme: The Fall
• Invocation of a Heavenly Muse to justify God’s ways to mankind

Rising Action

• Satan and His Army: Cast out of Heaven, floating on a fiery lake in Hell
• Council of Fallen Angels: Debate on how to resist God
• Target: Decides to tempt man, God's newest creation
• Satan's Journey: Volunteers to fly to the world of humans
• Assistance: Sin and Death help him exit Hell
• God's Knowledge: Aware of Satan's plans to tempt mankind
  • Punishment Announced: Man will face death for disobedience unless someone in Heaven volunteers to die for them
  • Son's Sacrifice: God's only son offers to die on behalf of man

Satan's Entrance to Eden

• Disguise: Enters Garden of Eden as a cherub
• Observation: Watches Adam and Eve, envious of their happiness
• Temptation Plan: Overhears discussion of the forbidden fruit

Uriel's Realization

• Uriel's Warning: Recognizes the disguised Satan and sends angels to find him
• Confrontation: Angels discover Satan whispering to Eve and inform Gabriel
• Satan's Challenge: Prepares for a battle but is warned by God through golden scales
• Satan Flees: Recognizes God's ultimate power

Warning to Adam

• Raphael's Mission: Sent by God to warn Adam about Satan
  • Free Will Reminder: Adam is reminded of his free will
  • Story of Rebellion: Raphael tells Adam about Satan's rebellion and defeat

Climax of the Poem

• Satan Returns: Takes the form of a serpent
• Temptation of Eve: Tempts her with knowledge and status
  • Eve's Hesitation and Act: She eats the fruit and offers it to Adam
  • Adam's Choice: Chooses to eat the fruit to share fate with Eve

Falling Action

• God's Judgment: Sends His Son to deliver punishment
  • Consequences: Eve and women face childbirth pain; Adam and men must labor
• Satan's Delight: Celebrates his success; sin and death build a bridge to Earth
• Transformation: God transforms Satan and followers into serpents, eternally hungry

Change in the New World

• Alterations by Angels: Reflects Adam and Eve's fall, creates discord in nature
• Blame Game: Adam and Eve argue, ultimately confess and seek forgiveness
  • God's Mercy: Promises afterlife in Heaven for their repentance

Vision of the Future

• Michael's Revelation: Shows Adam visions of future suffering
  • Examples: Cain and Abel, tyrants, and the flood
• Hope in Noah's Survival: Offers a glimpse of hope among the suffering

Resolution

• Departure from Paradise: Adam and Eve accept their fate and leave Paradise.