Welcome to Paradise Lost!
Hi there! Welcome to your study guide for one of the most famous (and most dramatic) poems in the English language: John Milton’s Paradise Lost. We are focusing specifically on Books 9 and 10.
Don’t worry if the language looks a bit scary at first. Think of this not just as an "old poem," but as the ultimate psychological thriller. It’s got a charismatic villain, a high-stakes argument between a couple, and the literal end of the world as they know it. By the end of these notes, you’ll understand why Milton wrote it, how he uses language to manipulate us, and what it all means for your OCR A Level exam.
Section 1: The Big Picture (Context)
Before we dive into the story, we need to know why Milton wrote this. For the OCR exam, understanding context (AO3) is vital.
1. The Epic Tradition: Milton wasn't just writing a poem; he was writing an Epic. This is a long, serious poem about heroic events. He wanted to do for England what Homer did for Greece.
2. The English Civil War: Milton lived through a time when England executed its King (Charles I) and became a Republic. Milton was a Radical Puritan who supported the Republic. When the monarchy returned in 1660, Milton was on the losing side, went into hiding, and was even arrested.
3. Personal Blindness: By the time he wrote Books 9 and 10, Milton was completely blind. He dictated the poem to his daughters and friends. This is why the poem is so full of "sound" and "darkness" – he was "seeing" the world through his mind’s eye.
Analogy: The High-Stakes Movie
Imagine a director who has lost everything—their job, their house, and even their eyesight—and decides to make the biggest, most expensive blockbuster movie ever made, just to prove they are still the best. That is exactly what Milton was doing with Paradise Lost.
Quick Review: Milton wrote this to "justify the ways of God to men." He wanted to explain why, if God is good, there is suffering in the world.
Section 2: Book 9 – The Great Temptation
Book 9 is often called the "Domestic Drama" because it focuses on the relationship between Adam and Eve.
The Argument (The "Separation Scene")
The action starts with Eve suggesting they work separately to get more gardening done. Adam is worried because he knows Satan is lurking around.
Key Point: Eve wants autonomy (the right to make her own choices). She argues that if they stay together just because they are afraid, their "virtue" isn't real.
Common Mistake: Don't assume Eve is "evil" here. Milton gives her very strong, logical arguments. She sounds like a modern person wanting independence!
The Serpent’s Strategy
Satan finds Eve alone. He doesn't just attack her; he flatters her. He calls her a "Goddess among Gods."
The Logic: Satan tells Eve that he ate the fruit and now he can speak and reason like a human. He asks: If the fruit made a snake like a man, won't it make a woman like a God?
Key Term: Rhetoric. This is the art of persuasive speaking. Satan is a master of rhetoric; he uses beautiful words to hide a deadly lie.
The Fall
Eve eats the fruit. Then comes the most romantic (and tragic) part: Adam’s Choice.
Adam realizes Eve is lost. He isn't tricked by the snake; he chooses to eat the fruit because he loves Eve more than he loves God’s law. He says: "Link'd in love so dear, / To draw with thee one common lot."
Memory Aid: The "Three F's" of the Fall
• Flattery: How Satan gets Eve’s attention.
• Fruit: The physical object of the sin.
• Fellowship: Why Adam chooses to fall (he doesn't want to be alone).
Key Takeaway: The Fall happens because of a shift from Reason to Passion. They stop thinking with their heads and start acting on their feelings/desires.
Section 3: Book 10 – The Aftermath
If Book 9 is a drama, Book 10 is a horror/legal thriller. It deals with the consequences.
The Judgment
God sends "The Son" (Jesus) to Eden. Notice the Justice vs. Mercy balance. He punishes them (toil for Adam, pain in childbirth for Eve), but he also clothes them in animal skins. This shows God still cares for them even though they messed up.
Sin and Death
We meet two allegorical characters: Sin and Death. They are Satan’s offspring.
In Book 10, they build a bridge from Hell to Earth.
Visual Image: Think of this like a parasite invading a healthy body. Now that the "door" is open, Sin and Death can feed on the world forever.
Satan’s "Victory" (The Big Twist)
Satan goes back to Hell to brag. He expects a standing ovation. Instead, as he speaks, he and all the other fallen angels are turned into snakes.
Why it matters: This is Milton’s way of showing that evil is ultimately degrading. Satan thought he was a hero, but he ends up hissing in the dirt. It’s a moment of Anti-Climax.
Adam and Eve’s Reconciliation
The book ends with Adam and Eve arguing and blaming each other. Adam is particularly mean to Eve. However, Eve takes the first step toward healing. She falls at his feet and asks for forgiveness.
Key Point: Their contrition (feeling sorry) and their reconciliation (getting back together) is what allows the story to end with a tiny bit of hope.
Quick Review: Book 10 shows that while the Fall was a disaster, repentance (saying sorry) is the first step toward humanity’s future redemption.
Section 4: Important Themes for the Exam
1. Free Will
Milton is obsessed with the idea that God made humans "Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall."
Analogy: It’s like a parent teaching a child to ride a bike. If you never let go of the seat, they never truly "ride." God lets go of the seat, and Adam and Eve wobble and crash. But the "ride" only counts if there's a risk of falling.
2. Gender and Hierarchy
This is a "hot topic" for OCR essays.
The Traditional View: Milton suggests men are "for God only" and women are "for God in him." He seems to support a hierarchy where Adam is the leader.
The Modern View: Many critics argue Eve is the more interesting, adventurous character. She is the one who wants to learn and grow, whereas Adam is more passive.
3. Leadership and Tyranny
Because Milton was a rebel against the King, he explores what makes a leader.
• Satan: Acts like a dictator. He claims to want "freedom" but actually wants power.
• God: Presented as a "Monarch," which is ironic because Milton hated earthly monarchs. Some readers find Milton’s God a bit cold or "legalistic."
Key Takeaway: When writing your essay, always try to show two sides of a theme. For example: "While Milton presents a patriarchal hierarchy, he also gives Eve the most persuasive intellectual arguments."
Section 5: Different Interpretations (AO5)
To get the top marks, you need to show you know that people read this poem differently.
1. The "Satanic School" (Romantic Critics): Poets like Blake and Shelley thought Satan was the secret hero. Blake famously said Milton was "of the Devil's party without knowing it." They saw Satan as a rebel fighting against a boring, tyrannical God.
2. The Feminist Critique: Some see Milton as a "misogynist" (woman-hater) for making Eve the one who falls first. Others see Eve as a proto-feminist figure who is just trying to escape a restrictive environment.
3. The "Fortunate Fall" (Felix Culpa): This is the idea that the Fall was actually good in the long run, because it allowed humans to experience God’s mercy and for Jesus to become a hero by saving them.
Section 6: Style and Language (AO2)
Milton doesn't write like Shakespeare. He uses Blank Verse.
What is Blank Verse?
It is unrhymed iambic pentameter.
It sounds like this: da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM.
Milton called rhyme "the jingle of a trifling memory." He thought rhyme was a "bondage" (like a prison) and he wanted his poem to be free.
Step-by-Step: How to Analyze Milton’s Language
1. Look for Latinate Syntax: Milton often puts the verb at the end of the sentence (like Yoda from Star Wars). This makes the poem feel grand and ancient.
2. Look for Epic Similes: These are long, elaborate comparisons. He won't just say "Satan was big"; he will compare Satan to a giant sea monster that sailors mistake for an island.
3. Look for Enjambment: This is when a sentence spills over the end of one line into the next. It creates a sense of energy and unrestrained movement, fitting for a poem about breaking rules.
Quick Review: Milton’s style is "Grand." It is designed to make you feel the weight and importance of the story.
Final Tips for Success
• Don't ignore Book 10: Most students focus on the snake in Book 9. If you can talk confidently about Sin and Death or Adam and Eve's reconciliation in Book 10, you will stand out to the examiner!
• Compare the Arguments: Look at how Eve argues in Book 9 vs. how Adam argues in Book 10.
• Use the Terminology: Use words like "Prelapsarian" (before the Fall) and "Postlapsarian" (after the Fall). It makes your essay sound very professional!
You've got this! Paradise Lost is a mountain, but once you get to the top, the view is incredible. Happy studying!