Epic Characteristics Of Paradise Lost Essay Research

Epic Characteristics Of Paradise Lost Essay, Research Paper

Eden Lost is one of the finest illustrations of heroic tradition in all of literature. In composing this work, John Milton was, for the most portion, following in the mode of heroic poets of past centuries. By cognizing the background of heroic poem features and conventions, it is easy to follow their presence in Book I of Paradise Lost.

One of the biggest inquiries that a reader must confront is that of the hero ; precisely who is the heroic poem hero in the verse form? While Satan may non be the & # 8220 ; hero & # 8221 ; of Paradise Lost, Milton rapidly establishes him as its chief character, and as the most complex and detailed of Milton & # 8217 ; s descriptions. Satan is given many traditional properties as an heroic poem hero. Although he may non be the classical hero, he does get the better of the animals that God had created. This is why I feel that Milton meant Satan to be the hero of Paradise Lost.

Another three features of the heroic poem are barely points of argument, as was the hero. The scene of the verse form is so huge in range. It ranged from Heaven to Hell and to the Earth. The action of the narrative besides consisted of workss of great heroism that required superhuman bravery. Although biblically, we may non see Satan to hold bravery, we know that he must hold shown it while contending the war in Eden against God. Harmonizing to the lexicon, bravery is & # 8220 ; that quality of head which shows itself in confronting danger without fright or shrinking. & # 8221 ; Satan most surely may be said to suit this description. There were besides supernatural forces at work throughout the verse form, such as Gods, angels, and devils.

In add-on to these four heroic poem features, Milton besides employees the alleged heroic poem conventions in his verse form. Milton decidedly begins by saying his subject: the full narrative of redemption is summarized in the gap 26 lines, and the intent of the heroic poem is stated, & # 8220 ; And warrant the ways of God to work forces & # 8221 ; ( line 26 ) . Milton besides opens his narrative & # 8220 ; in medias RESs & # 8221 ; ; he begins by inquiring how Adam and Eve could hold fallen. Who could hold caused it? And so we meet an already fallen Satan ; it is in Book VI that the War in Heaven which caused Satan & # 8217 ; s autumn is really described.

& lt ;< p>Milton besides invokes a Muse in his verse form. “Sing, Heavenly Muse, that on the secret top of Oreb, of Sinai, didst inspire” ( line 6 & 7 ) . This Muse’s occupation was to animate and teach him, as was traditional. Along with a Muse, Milton includes a catalog of the fallen angels for his readers in lines 376 through 505. He besides provided us with extended formal addresss by the chief characters: for illustration in lines 84-124 is a address directed to Heaven from Satan over how he refuses to accept licking. It is on the footing of the fluency and power of some of the addresss that much of the claim for Satan’s place as “hero” is based.

Finally, Milton makes frequent usage of the heroic poem simile. There are four major illustrations in Book I. The first is the simile of what seems to be a sea monster. & # 8220 ; Thus Satan speaking to his nearest mate with caput upheaval above the moving ridge? & # 8221 ; ( lines 192+ ) . The 2nd simile is the autumnal foliages. & # 8220 ; Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called His hosts, angel signifiers, who lay entranced, thick as autumnal foliages that strow the Brooks? & # 8221 ; ( lines 300+ ) The Sun makes up the 3rd simile. & # 8220 ; Of glorification obscured: as when the Sun new-risen looks through the horizontal misty air? & # 8221 ; ( lines 594+ ) . The concluding simile is the teeming bees. & # 8220 ; Brushed with the hushing of rustling wings. As bees in springtime, when the Sun with Taurus drives, pour forth their thickly settled young person about the hive? & # 8221 ; ( lines768+ ) . These similes are Milton & # 8217 ; s manner of assisting us to better associate the narrative to common things in our lives.

In malice of some changes and alterations, we can clearly see how Milton used the classical heroic poem features and conventions in his authorship. It was by using these methods in to an already good known narrative that Milton created a chef-d’oeuvre. Francis C. Blessington seems to sum it up the best. & # 8220 ; Milton built his heroic poem out of those of Homer and Virgil, like a cathedral erected out of the ruins of heathen temples whose remains can still me seen & # 8221 ; ( thirteen ) .

Blessington, Francis C. Paradise Lost and the Classical Epic. Boston: Routledge, 1979.

Milton, John. & # 8220 ; Paradise Lost. & # 8221 ; The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M. H.

Adams. New York: W. W. Norton & A ; Company, 1993. 1475-1495.