Essay on John Milton’s Paradise Lost - Defense for the Allegory of Sin and Death

Within the text of the epic poem, Beowulf, reader’s are given a story that follows the format of a “hero’s journey” to a T. Beowulf, the protagonist travels a great distance and defeats a supernatural beast against great odds. Reader’s can see this through

An epic is an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.   The main characteristics of an epic as a literary genre is that it is a long poem that tells a story, it contains an epic hero, its hero searches for immortality (but doesn't find it physically, only through fame), gods or other supernatural beings are interested and involved, and it delivers an historical message.  The Epic of Gilgamesh is classified as an epic because it fits all the characteristics of an epic as a literary genre.

In today’s society, a hero is viewed as someone who embodies the characteristics of selflessness, courage, honesty, and integrity. The same characteristics were essential to be thought of as a hero 3,000 years ago as well. Two of the most widely known epic poems of their time were Beowulf and The Epic of Gilgamesh. Both Beowulf and Gilgamesh embody traits known exclusively of a hero. The poem of Beowulf and The Epic Gilgamesh both showcase the characteristics required of being an epic, in that they include a hero on a quest performing valorous deeds in an elevated style, while being protected by supernatural forces.

An epic story is one that combines elements of supernatural powers and heroic deeds with plebeian troubles. In Beowulf , the unknown author paints a typical yet magnificent tale that is one of the great epic chronicles of the Middle Ages. Like the poems of Homer, Beowulf possesses terrible monsters, men with supernatural powers, the search for glory, and deadly defeats. However, this medieval account brings a new element into the folds: the association between established religious forces and personal choices. The concepts of predestination and fate intertwine in this work with the idea of free will.

The epic is a literary genre that typically begins its narratives in media res. The use of this poetic convention in classical literature is not arbitrary, to say the least. Its use is repeated due to its great efficacy as a technique, its presence emphasizing characters’ feats over what could be considered pedantic plot points in the context of the epic’s objective. If this literary convention is so effective, then, what does it mean when poets specifically choose not to use it? Though much isn’t known about Beowulf’s anonymous author, their specific decision to begin their story, not with their title character’s life, but with another character’s lifespan altogether, is a narrative choice that ultimately colors the audience’s perception of

Archetypes demonstrate both a constraint for difference beyond objectification as well as a characterized meaning that is devoid of anything beyond surface level appearance; From Milton’s standpoint, characterizations are purely derived from physical depictions and what is said and seen about archetypical character of ingiune-esque “the Lady.” The Lady, without a true name or purpose beyond her argument of “chastity” and “virginity” (530), serves as the primary comprehension to how archetypes are often deemed “characterized in the face” (Comus, 526-530). In comparison, the mythological opponent for whom she encounters in

"Epic traditionally been considered so monumental and grand a mode of poetic expression that literary authorities have dare make few official additions over the years to fix Homer-Virgin Milton pantheon" (Cowan, 1) Cowan believes to think that an epic story is to be thought as a cosmopoesis ,which means world making, and is so grand that even as the years have gone by the stories alone

According to Robert Harris’s Glossary of Literary Terms, he defines an epic as the following:

Continuing in the epic form, the opening lines of the poem, indeed follow the time-honoured epic tradition of announcing the theme and invoking divine assistance (Ovid). "Metamorphoses'" narrative method involves many of the devices of the epic manner: long extended similes, catalogues, famous heroic figures, quests and journeys, feasts, battles, heroic speeches, councils of war, and a supernatural plane to the action (Ovid). The range and precision of Ovid's references to the classical epic tradition in articulating the program of Metamorphoses establishes the poem's generic alignment with epos (Keith 239).

So, Milton’s theodicy in his epic poem, Paradise Lost, brings up the question of free will, along with asserting God as being all powerful and good. Milton wanted to show that God is not responsible for the fall of humans as he gave man all the necessary tools to resist evil in this epic poem. Paradise Lost, though, is perhaps the most famous epic poem ever written. Milton believed himself to be truly special in God’s eye, which is probably why he wanted to show God’s innocence in the fall of humanity. John Milton is truly one of the greatest and most influential writers in the history of the

John Milton is the greatest poet of all time. Oddly enough, he wanted to be as great as Homer or Virgil and be remembered like they were. Milton had this thing called Photographic Memory, so he remembered everything he had ever read. He even spends six straight years just reading every book he could get his hands on. However, he ended up becoming blind because when he did read the only lighting he had was candle light so he literally read his eyes out. Yet, this was before he could do something great, so he rounded up his daughters and he had him write down an epic poem he had written in his head. This poem his daughters penciled down for him is known as Paradise Lost, a poem about the story of Adam and Eve from the Bible. The

To start off, Milton’s theodicy works in Paradise Lost, because of where his idea originated. When Milton decided to write his epic, he knew that it would surpass Homer and Virgil, because his epic was for a divine purpose and it came from the highest inspiration there was. Milton took his inspiration from God and from the Bible. More specifically he decided to focus on the story of Genesis 3, the creation and fall of Adam and Eve. “Of Man’s First disobedience, and the Fruit of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal taste brought Death into the World, and all our woe, with loss of Eden…” (Paradise Lost Lines 1-4). Here, in the first lines of the poem, Milton is already stating his theodicy.

Henry Fielding felt great concern towards the embellished stylization of epic novels, and in order to relay his critiques of this popularized genre, he constructed an epic parody to reveal the turgid grandiose nature of such works through a sarcastic spoof. Commenced with his mordant invocation of a muse, Henry Fielding’s epic parody, Tom Jones emphasizes droll concern with the classical epic style by christening Homeric epithets and personifications with a satirical twist.

Milton is considered one of the most renowned English poets in the world of literature, as journalist and politician Joseph Devlin states, “... [T]he three greatest works are those of Homer, Dante and Shakespeare. These are closely followed by the works of Virgil and Milton.” Many make the misconception that Milton is part of the Romanticism movement along with Mary Shelly and William Blake but Milton’s career took place during the Late Renaissance and the Restoration Age. Paradise Lost and On His Blindness are two of Milton’s finest works; Milton incorporated the sacred telling’s of the Bible into these two poems by analyzing and elaborating on the teachings of Christianity to a depth that had not previously been reached. The reoccurring theme found in his work are disobedience, eternal providence and justification.

John Milton conveys his unique poetic strength through the smooth harmony of imagery and. “How Soon Hath Time” is a reflection of his forming years of his life; a mix of intense self-blame, unease in dignity, and true faith in God that present an intriguing glance of Milton and his heartfelt sense of duty. Milton’s use of parables and Biblical allusions serve as 2 of many ways he expands the sonnet’s valuable size and scope beyond the ordinary boundaries indicated by its length, tone, and fairly restricted topic. It is of great importance to investigate Milton’s life during the time he wrote “How Soon Hath Time,” for many of his writing choices reflect what he went through Milton’s interaction with the two parables intrigues the reader in a unique way to demonstrated his changing attitude and personal development.