Shahrukh Shaikh

Nabeel Syed
Andrew Hosogai
Shaan Chima
Nikhill Joshi
1. Read the invocation (1-55) carefully--observe the narrator's tone and the basic rhetorical
structure of the passage: "Hail. . .but thou. . .but not. . .So much the rather. . . ." What would you
say Milton is trying to achieve by making the narrator speak these lines?
Milton leads the invocation be providing the reader with what is going to be discussed in Paradise Lost.
Milton uses the invocation to sort of shine light on what the angels and God are doing while the fallen
angels are preparing to interfere with Gods plans. Milton is also trying to create a distinction where the
light is affiliated with God and how God has a son now. He also shows his dependence on how God will
assist him throughout this tale, by praising Him.

2. Examine lines 80-143. Characterize God's "personality," his manner of speaking. Also, describe
the theological argument that God makes in this speech. Moreover, what prediction does he make
about the future?
God throughout his speech has a personality that seems more disappointed and somber. He explains
how the fallen angels had their own choice of falling and that the angels themselves in heaven had the
choice of being obedient and that he didnt put full control over them. He also warns that man will fall and
society will be corrupted by Satans corruption. God is also quite realistic and states that Satan is
absolutely evil and is 100% ready to begin his invasion.

3. Follow the dialogue between Christ and God from lines 144-216 as well as the narrator's
characterization of the pause for a reply to God's question, lines 217-26. Find some clue or clues
in these lines as to why we are hearing this dialogue. (Lines 167-72 and 217-26 are especially
helpful.)
Christ believes that man will be taken advantage of by Satan and evil, and will ultimately fall. To counter
this, God replies with a powerful and optimistic outlook, one that reassures Christ with everything will be
okay. We are hearing this dialogue so that the reader can receive a first-hand point of view on what the
conversation is. This quote is revealed to the reader to show Gods plan and his Sons devotion to thwart
Satans plans and to make sure mankind will walk the right path.

4. "Meanwhile upon the firm opacous globe. . ./ Satan alighted walks" (418,422). Here, we pan back
to Satan, almost cinema-style. Observe lines 418-501--why do you think that Milton's narrator is
made to describe this "location" so carefully? What effect does it have on our perspective of
Satan's enterprise?
This context provides the reader with information as to how Satans reign will affect man. This once
desolate landscape will soon be filled with multiple hopeless lives. Satan finding the portal to the human
world is described as if one has just reached a tall height and is able to look down upon what he has just
rose all the way up from. The view is described to be that of something great for Satan and he quickly
enters the world.

Shahrukh Shaikh
Nabeel Syed
Andrew Hosogai
Shaan Chima
Nikhill Joshi

Book Four
5. Examine Satan's soliloquy from lines 32-113.
a) What is the basic dramatic purpose of such a speech--why should we hear all this? What impression
does it give us of Satan?
We all need to hear Satans speech because Satan starts to feel nervous and more and more unsure of
himself as he comes up to Earth for revenge and to take his anger out. He kept on thinking that he was
still in hell even when he was on Earth because Hell was within him. Then, he started talking to the Sun
and telling the Sun how envious and sad he was because he once used to be as powerful as the Sun and
even better back in his glorious days.

b) Follow Satan's logic through this passage. How well does Satan understand the nature of God's
rule, and why does he say that he would never be able to reconcile himself to that rule?
Satan recognizes that God is indeed a full omnipotent being. He also notices the fact that he does serve
as a foil towards God. As God is praised, Satan is praised in the same way on his throne in Hell. As god
ascends in sanctity, Satan can descend in sin and unholiness, adding to his joy.
6. Examine the narrator's "portraits" of Adam and Eve (lines 288-324).
a) How is each figure described? How is the language that describes Eve different from the
language that describes Adam? To answer this question, you really must read the descriptions
out loud to yourself.
While Adam is described as a noble rules and king of all men who watches over humanity, Eve is merely
seen as his gentle, coy servant. Miltons use to diction by including resolute words such honor and
truth suggests that Adam is essentially the very essence of power and knowledge, while Eves
description as modest and fair already suggests that she is lesser than him in both intellect and value.
b) What is the proper relationship of Adam and Eve to each other? to God?
The relationship between Adam and Eve is essentially master-servant. While Adam is seen as the
resolute truth-seeker whose main purpose is to watch over humanity, Eve is only described as his
companion whose only purpose is to keep Adam company and socialize with him. To God, Adam is a
mirror-image and Gods greatest creation while Eve is only a mirror-image of Adam. Adam is closer to and
more similar to God while Eve was created based off of Adam.

7. Read the fine account that Eve gives of her first day of life, lines 449-91. What is the
significance of her first act, that of seeing her reflection in a pool? What warning, however mild,
does this scene give us about Eve?
Eves act of seeing herself in a pool is significant in that she is curious about her surroundings and is not
used to what is going on around her. When she looks at her reflection, she is told that she is made from

Shahrukh Shaikh
Nabeel Syed
Andrew Hosogai
Shaan Chima
Nikhill Joshi
Adam and will be his accompaniment in this life. The warning this scene gives us is that Eve is incredibly
submissive and oblivious to her surroundings, easing her into temptation.

8. Read lines 634-58 and 659-88. Who has the higher "IQ"--Adam or Eve? Seriously, what is the
difference between them with respect to their way of treating language?
Based on the reading, it seems that Adam has the higher IQ in regards to his speaking and language
use. Throughout Eves monologue, it seems that her main focus on the world only revolves around the
beauty of the Earth and the resilience and awe that she exudes. However in Adams monologue, he
describes more complex, intricate details about the world and actually seems to comprehend the true
vastness and unknowing of the world. He seems much more practical in his way of thinking and language
use when compared to Eve.

9. Examine lines 720-36. What does this brief passage tell us about Adam and Eve's basic purpose
on earth? Also, why is it important that Adam and Eve speak this evening prayer in unison and
without rehearsal?
This passage describes that Adam and Eves basic purpose on Earth is to serve God. Since this passage
talks about all that God has created, it also shows how Adam and Eve will go about their appointed work
in this land, leading one to believe that Adam and Eve are essentially testing the world while serving God.
The significance behind Adam and Eve speaking the evening prayer in unison is that it shows Gods
grace and power, impressing faith upon those who have yet to rehearse certain prayers.

10. Examine lines 1006-15, the end of Book Four. What effect does the ending have on your
reaction to the long quarrel that has just taken place between Gabriel and the unmasked Satan?
The ending of Book Four is quite ominous and dramatic since Gabriel seems to respect Satans powers
and warns him to not engage in a fruitless battle with Heave. Up until now, Satan was seen as a nearly
omnipotent force whose power was rivaled only by God. However, the angel Gabriel essentially talks
down to Satan and warns him not to fight, as another fight would only result in the defeat of the Devils
again.