The document provides a detailed summary of John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost in 12 books. It outlines the main characters and plots of each book. Book I introduces Satan and his rebellion against God in Heaven. Books II-IV follow Satan and the devils as they build Pandemonium and Satan volunteers to travel to Earth. Books V-VIII have the archangel Raphael visit Adam and Eve and warn them about Satan while recounting the story of creation. Books IX-X detail Satan tempting Eve and mankind's fall from grace. The last books continue with God's punishment and Michael revealing prophecies to Adam about the future of mankind.

1. By:
Katy, Melissa & Tisa

2. “Where Paradise Lost is not loved, it is deeply hated. As
Keats said more rightly than he knew, ‘there is death’ in
Milton. We have all skirted the Satanic island closely
enough to have motive for wishing to evade the full impact
of the poem. For the thing is possible; and after a certain
point it is prized…Satan want to go on being Satan, That is
the real meaning of his choice “Better to reign in Hell, than
serve in Heav’n.” Some, to the very end, will think this a
fine thing to say, other will think that it fails to be roaring
farce only because it spells agony. On the level of literary
criticism the matter cannot be argued further. Each to his
taste” (103).

3. CharactersCharacters
Satan
Adam & Eve
God the Father
God the Son
Beelzebub
Belial
Mammon
Mulciber
Moloch
Sin
Death
Gabriel
Raphael
Uriel
Abdiel
Michael

4. Book IBook I
Milton begins by stating is poem’s subject:
“humankind’s first act of disobedience toward
God, & the consequences that followed.”
That act was Adam & Eve’s eating of the forbidden fruit of the
Tree of Knowledge
Milton argues that this sin was the reason death was brought to
human beings, causing everyone to lose their home in paradise,
until Jesus came to restore humankind to its former position of
purity.
Milton’s speaker introduces his muse, a mystical source,
the Holy Spirit

5. Book IBook I
Milton discuses Adam & Eve’s actions were a cause of the
serpent’s (Satan’s) deceit
The poem then begins to follow Satan & his followers where they
were cast to Hell by God who defeated them in Heaven
Satan who is stunned by his defeat talks to Beelzebub about
gathering forces for another attack
Satan commands for the legion of
devils to start building a temple;
Pandemonium, where the debate
of another attack will be held

6. Book IIBook II
Satan begins the debate by stating that Heaven is not yet lost and they (the
devils) could have a chance to rise up stronger if they all work together
Moloch is the first to speak and is anxiously willing to have another war, but
this time with weapons from Hell. He believes nothing not even their own
death could be worse than Hell, so they have nothing to lose
Belial contradicts Moloch saying that God hasn’t punished them quite as bad
as he could have because after all they aren’t chained to the fiery lake like
they once were and God may one day forgive them, therefore it is better to
live how they are now. Peace is not his intentions but rather preventing
future wars
Mammon refuses to ever bow down to God again he peacefully asks the
devils to live in Hell and they can make it their own kingdom mimicking
Heaven. This argument is the one most well received by the devils

7. Book IIBook IIBeelzebub begins to state rumors of how God is going to create a new world
with a race called Man & God will favor them more than the angels. He
suggests that they find the place and destroy/corrupt the new race. This plan
is agreed upon and Satan volunteers himself to spy and find out what is
going on.
Satan reaches Hell’s gate (9 gates 3 of iron, brass, &
adamantine) guarded by his daughter Sin and son
Death
He then flies out and reaches Chaos, Night,
Confusion, & Discord
Sin & Death follow far behind building a bridge from
Hell to Earth so evil spirits can use to tempt mortals

8. Book IIIBook III
Book III opens up to Milton’s 2nd muse the “holy light”. He asks the light to
show him the divine knowledge inside his mind to help him show the readers
that knowledge.
The scene shifts to Heaven where God & his son has been watching all of
the events going on in Hell. He see’s Satan flying up to Earth and can see
everything that is about to unfold; past, present & future.
A sacrifice must be made to pay for man’s sin; the Son doesn’t hesitate and
offers himself
Satan arrives on Earth and see’s the stairs leading to Heaven, as he looks
up to the Heavens he can only feel jealously but he doesn’t stay put for long.
He spots the archangel Uriel over on top of a hill and transforms himself into
a cherub (a low ranking angel). Satan lies and says he just flew down from
Heaven and asks about God’s plan for Earth, Uriel not know it was Satan
directs him to Paradise.

9. Book IVBook IV
Satan arrives just north of the Garden of Eden &
contemplates what he’s doing. He sees the pure
innocence & beauty of Earth & it reminds him of what
he once used to be. He wonders if all would be
forgiven if he left & repented. He considers going to
Heaven & confessing to God but Hell follows him
where ever he goes, if he asked for forgiveness it
would be a false confession. He also realizes that he
is not yet able to bow down to God
While contemplating all of this Satan doesn’t realize that he has revealed
himself in his devilish nature. Uriel knows that all cheurbs have a look of
joy permanently on their face and concludes Satan cannot be a cherub
Satan sees Adam & Eve walking and working. He hears Adam tell Eve to
not complain about the work they have to do & be obedient to God
because of all the great things he has given them & only one rule; not to
eat the fruit from Tree of Knowledge. Eve agrees

10. Book IVBook IV
Eve tells Adam about her first awakening
Satan comes up with a plan. If God has given them a rule they might be
tempted to break it. He then leaves to go find out more from the other angels
Uriel meets with archangel Gabriel at the gate of Eden and tells him about
the shape changing figure he saw on the hill top. Gabriel suspects it’s one of
the fallen and will find it by morning
Gabriel sends search parties out to find Satan,
they find him disguised as a toad whispering into
Eve’s ear. They bring him before Gabriel, who
recognizes him, & asks what he is doing there.
Satan & Gabriel begin to fight but a sign from
Heaven in the sky shows Satan he could not
win so he flies off

11. Book VBook V
Adam wakes up from the night before and discovers Eve didn’t
sleep as well as he did. She describes her “dream” she had
about a creature telling her to eat the fruit from the Tree of
Knowledge and becoming like one of the gods. Adam troubled
by what he has just heard reassures Eve that it is not a
prediction of what will happen because she has the faculty of
reason to control herself.
God tells Archangel Raphael to go tell Adam
about the danger that is around so Adam and
Eve can not blame the devil taking them by
surprise.

12. Book VBook V
Raphael describes the composition of the things God created: 1st spirit, 2nd
humans, 3rd animals, 4th plants, 5th inanimate objects. Humans are the highest
beings on Earth because of their ability to reason. Raphael told Adam to no matter
what choose to be obedient to God. Adam wondered how disobedience came
about & Raphael describes Satan’s fall.
God told all the angels that he had a begotten son who was to rule as his right
hand. This pleased most of the angels except for one Satan. He felt he should
have all the powers that God did; erected his own throne inHeaven &convinced
one third of the angels to no be unjustly ruled. One of the followers disagreed,
Abdiel, after arguing with Satan he faithfully returned to God.

13. Book VIBook VI
Book VI continues with Raphael’s story;
God appoints Gabriel & Michael as the
leaders of Heaven’s army. Raphael continues
to tell of the big fight between Satan’s army
& Heaven’s army. Eventually Satan & his army
fall through the Gate of Heaven, through
Chaos for nine days before landing
in Hell.
Raphael tries to warn Adam about Satan’s plan to harm mankind. He
hypothesizes that Satan wishes mankind to commit sin again God & fears
Satan wants others to suffer the same fate. He tells Adam that they must
always fear Satan & never yield to his evilness.

14. Book VIIBook VII
Once more Milton introduces another muse, Urania the muse of Astronomy.
He asks her to insure his safe transition from relating the story of the war in
Heaven back to Raphael and Adam’s conversation on Earth. Again, Milton
asks that the muse inspire him through the rest of Raphael’s speech and
protect him from the troublesome beliefs of others who do not have access
to her wisdom.
Returning to Earth Adam asks Raphael about Earth’s creation as well as his
own. Raphael explains that shortly after the fall, the Father wished to forge a
new race, partly to erase the memory of the rebellion and partly to make up
for the rebels’ absence from the ranks of God’s loyal creations.
God decides to create Earth and humans, with the idea that Earth and
Heaven will eventually be joined together as one kingdom through
mankind’s obedience to God’s divine will.

15. Book VIIBook VII
God sends down his Son to create Earth, and is given night & day in equal
measure, land is separated from water; animals are created to populate land
& sea.
The creation takes 6 days & Adam &
Eve are created last. The entire Earth
was created by the Son; Adam & Eve
were given one command not to eat
the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge,
which gives knowledge to all good & evil.
When the son is finished he hangs Earth
from a chain from Heaven; the Son
reascends back to Heaven. Pleased with
his work God rested on the seventh day,
now known as the Sabbath.

16. Book VIIIBook VIII
After Raphael finishes the story of creation Adam asks about the sun, stars
& planets. Eve leaves because she would rather hear about the story from
Adam. Raphael tells Adam that some questions need no answers and that
he should be satisfied with the knowledge he has.
Adam begins to tell Raphael what he knows about his own creation & Eve’s
as well. He then goes on to tell Raphael what a hard time he has restraining
himself from Eve.
Raphael reiterates to Adam the danger that he faces with Eve and the need
for both of them to avoid Satan’s temptations. Later, Raphael takes his leave
to return to Heaven and Adam falls asleep.

17. Book IXBook IX
Milton explains how now the attention needs to go
back to Adam & Eve’s act of sin. He invokes Urania,
the “Celestial Patroness” (IX.21) and muse of
Christian inspiration, and asks for her to visit him in
his sleep and inspire his words, because he feels he
is not creative enough to do so.
8 days after being caught by the angels Satan the
night Raphael left sneaks past Gabriel over the wall
and tries to find the body of a serpent. Once again
Satan hesitates, not for the same reasons but
because he is so caught up in being jealous of how
beautiful Earth is; he is jealous Adam & Eve were
picked to maintain Paradise. He complains the beauty
of Earth makes him feel even more torment &
anguish.
Satan gathered his thoughts and found a serpent to
claim his body.

18. Book IXBook IX
The next morning Adam & Eve have a lot
of work to do so Eve suggests they work alone
to get more done. Adam is not to sure of the
idea & fear they will be more gullible to Satan’s
temptation.
Eve wants her strength tested & argues until
Adam gives in. Eve promises that she will
return soon & the two go off to do their work.

19. Book IXBook IX
Satan in the form of a serpent searches for the couple
& finds Eve alone. He begins to flatter her on her
beauty, grace etc. Eve is shocked to find an animal
that speaks. The serpent tells Eve how he got the gifts
of speech & intellect by eating on of the delicious fruits
from the tree & how it help him seek her out to admire
her beauty.
Eve is curious & follows the serpent until they reach
the Tree of Knowledge. Eve states that God
specifically told her not to eat the fruit from that tree
but Satan persists telling her God actually wants them
to eat from the tree.
Satan tries to tell Eve God wants them to show their
independence. Eve now is even more tempted. She
goes back and forth in her head deciding what to do &
eventually plucks the apple from the tree & takes a
bite. The Earth feels wounded & mankind has fallen.

20. Book IXBook IX
Eve’s first thought is to get Adam to eat the fruit also
so they can be equal. Adam cannot believe what she
has done. They both realize they are doomed; Adam
eats the fruit and they both run off into the woods and
fall into the woods for sexual play.
Adam & Eve fall asleep briefly but awake to see the
world in a new way. They think they will regain a
plethora of knowledge but the only knowledge they
receive is the good they lost and the sin that they
committed.
They see each other's nakedness & are ashamed &
cover themselves with leaves
Milton explain’s their appetite for knowledge is fulfilled & the hunger for God
is quenched. Both angry & confused both blame the other and the fight
continues for hours neither one admitting their wrongs.

21. Book XBook X
Book X begins in Heaven where God sees Adam & Eve sin. Gabriel &
Rafael explain they did all they could to keep Satan from re-entering the
Garden. God explains he allowed it himself without condoning it & takes any
blame away from the angels. God then sends his Son down to Earth to
“pass judgement” on the couple.
The Son calls the couple & asks if they have eaten the forbidden fruit. Adam
explains Eve gave him the apple after she bit from it & Eve blames the
serpent for convincing her.
The Son first condemns the serpent & says all snakes will crawl on their
bellies never to be upright again. He then tells the couple that their children
will bruise the serpents head, while serpents will forever bite the humans by
the heel. As punishment Eve & all women to follow will have to give birth in
pain & submit to their husbands.
Likewise Adam & all men following will have to labor & hunt and harvest
food in cursed ground. After passing these sentences, the Son returns to
Heaven.

22. Book XBook X
Meanwhile Sin & Death are still back at the gate of Hell where Satan left them.
Since have haven’t heard anything they continue to build the bridge from Hell to
Earth and fly up to meet him. They congratulate him on his success and
promise to infect the Earth. Death will corrupt all living things causing them to
die & Sin will corrupt the thoughts and deeds of humankind
Satan returns to Pandemonium boasting of his success, instead of applause
by all the other devils they only are able to hiss due to the fact they were all
transformed into snakes by the Son.
God instructs the angels on what changes must be made to the fallen Earth
Eve tries to console Adam and when he tries to refuse she ends up
persuading him to forgive her. She proposes they commit suicide, but Adam
reminds her of God's promise that her seed should wreak vengeance upon
the serpent. They must seek to make peace with their offended Lord.

23. Book XIBook XI
God hears the prayers of Adam & Eve & allows his Son to act as an
advocate for mankind to pay for man’s sins.
God sends Michael to ban the
sinning pair from Paradise, but first
to reveal to Adam future events,
resulting from his sin. Michael leads
Adam up a hill, where he sets
before him in visions what shall
happen till the Great Flood.

24. Book XIIBook XII
Michael continues the prophecy from the flood by degrees to explain who
the Seed of woman shall be; the Savior which was promised, who shall
redeem mankind. Adam is comforted by these last revelations and resolves
faithful obedience. He descends the hill with Michael and rejoins Eve.
A flaming sword is placed to bar the
gates of Paradise. Adam & Eve walk
with Michael tearfully into the new
world.

25. Lewis, C. S.. A preface to Paradise lost . London: Oxford
University Press, 1961. Print.
Bloom, Harold. John Milton's Paradise lost . New York: Chelsea
House Publishers, 1987. Print.
Kean, Margaret. John Milton's Paradise lost: a sourcebook. London:
Routledge, 2005. Print.
Waldock, A. J. A.. Paradise lost and its critics . Cambridge [Eng.:
Cambridge University Press, 1947. Print.
Works Cited