This is a presentation on Milton's Universe in Paradise Lost. All the places are described very well and images are also included for better comprehension and understanding. This work will sure help in easy learning and increasing your knowledge. All the facts presented here are keenly cross checked with the text.

1. “In the Name of GOD, the most Gracious, the Most
Merciful”
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2. MILTON’SUNIVERSE
In Paradise Lost
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3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Models of our universe
1- Geocentric Model
 Earth is placed at the centre of solar system and other
planets or objects are located around it.
2- Heliocentric Model
 Sun is placed at the centre of solar system and other
planets or objects are located around it.
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4. MODELS OF OUR UNIVERSE
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5. MILTON’S UNIVERSE
Milton’s universe
consist of:
1) Heaven
2) Hell
3) Chaos
4) Earth
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6. 1- HEAVEN
At the top of universe is Heaven. It is inhabited by GOD
and those angles who did not rebel against GOD.
Light
The primary quality of heaven is light, GOD is pure light
of such quality that the angles must observe him
through a cloud. The angles themselves are also a type
of stunning pure light but not comparable to the light
of GOD.
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7. DESCRIPTION OF HEAVEN
Light
Milton uses for this light of heaven “Empyrean” which for
classical authors was the permanent kingdom of light.
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8. DESCRIPTION OF HEAVEN
Within heaven GOD sits at the top of a mountain on his
everlasting Throne, the Son at his side, below GOD and
the Son are angles.
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9. 2- HELL
Hell is described as:
“Dismal situation waste and wild
A dungeon horrible, on all sides round
As one great furnace flamed, yet from those flames
No light but rather darkness visible” (1, 62 63)
The first description is very clear that hell is place of terror
and torment.
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10. DESCRIPTION OF HELL
“Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest can never dwell, hope never comes
That comes to all; but torture without end
Still urges…
Such place Eternal Justice had prepared
For those rebellious, here their prison ordained
In utter darkness, and their portion set
As far removed from GOD and the light of Heaven”
(65-73)
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11. DESCRIPTION OF HELL
i. Psychological Pain
i. “Doom” “Lost happiness” Dismay”
ii. Physical torment – fiery yet dark
iii. Eternal punishment
iv. Light and dark imagery
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12. DESCRIPTION OF HELL
First image of hell
Place of miserable torment, fallen angles wake lying on lake of
fire, surrounded by sulfurous fumes.
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13. DESCRIPTION OF HELL
Second image of hell
Demons build a capital, Pandemonium, with a palace and
throne for Satan.
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14. DESCRIPTION OF HELL
Third image of hell
An inner, psychological hell.
Satan Says in Book IV:
“Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell”
This inner Hell for Milton is as the physical lake of fire.
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15. 3- CHAOS
i. At the top of universe is Heaven, at the bottom is Hell
and in between the two is Chaos.
ii. Chaos was the formless void that existed before
creation, out of which GOD created first Heaven, and
later, Earth.
iii. Physically demonstrates the profound width of the
gap between Heaven and Hell.
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16. DESCRIPTION OF CHAOS
Milton describes Chaos as:
i. “Eternal Anarchy” (II 896)
ii. “Wild Abyss” (II 917)
iii. “The Womb of nature, and perhaps her grave, Of
neither sea, nor Shore, no Air, no Fire” (II 911-914)
iv. Great unorganized chasm
v. Limitless and unimaginably disordered place
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17. 4- EARTH
 Milton describes Earth as a creation by GOD after the
rebellion of Satan. GOD created Earth to keep the Satan
from feeling pride that he had “dispeopl’d Heav’n” (151).
i. The Earth depicted in paradise lost is different from the
Earth we know today.
ii. Earth was suspended from Heaven on a golden Chain.
iii. Heaven surrounds the Earth.
iv. A wide bridge across chaos connects Hell to Earth.
v. Adam is superior being on Earth.
vi. The Garden of Eden is the paramount place.
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18. DESCRIPTION OF EARTH
Position of Earth in Milton’s Universe:
Milton’s description of Earth does not reveal his views of
the geocentric/heliocentric controversy.
Question by Adam “Whether the chain connects to the
Earth with the sun and stars rotating around the planet
or whether the chain attaches in some other way so that
Earth rotates around the sun is never answered.
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19. DESCRIPTION OF EARTH
If Milton had explain exactly what GOD had done, and
then at some later date, that explanation shown to be
false, a serious flaw would exist in Paradise Lost – GOD
would be incorrect. Only GOD knows how He created
the Universe and how the solar system works.
The End.
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20. Thank you for attention.
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21. PREPARED BY:
 Name: Mutee Ur Rehman
 Roll No: bsf1704470
 Program: BS English
 Semester: 5th (Morning)
 Session: 2017-2021
 University of Education Lahore, Vehari Campus
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