Paradise Lost Books 1 and 2

by John Milton, Anna Baldwin (Editor)

This edition presents the text of Paradise Lost Books 1 and 2 followed by detailed notes. The Approaches section offers commentary and activities on key themes within the text, including its political context and its under-pinning religious ideas. Milton's poetic techniques and his treatments of the verse as an epic are also explored.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Adult, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1667

About the author

People best know John Milton, English scholar, for Paradise Lost , the epic poem of 1667 and an account of fall of humanity from grace.

Beelzebub, one fallen angel in Paradise Lost, of John Milton, lay in power next to Satan.

Belial, one fallen angel, rebelled against God in Paradise Lost of John Milton.


John Milton, polemicist, man of letters, served the civil Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. He wrote in blank verse at a time of religious flux and political upheaval.

Prose of John Milton reflects deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self-determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day. He wrote in Latin, Greek, and Italian and achieved international renown within his lifetime, and his celebrated Areopagitica (1644) in condemnation of censorship before publication among most influential and impassioned defenses of free speech and the press of history.

William Hayley in biography of 1796 called and generally regarded John Milton, the "greatest ... author," "as one of the preeminent writers in the ... language," though since his death, critical reception oscillated often on his republicanism in the centuries. Samuel Johnson praised, "with respect to design may claim the first place, and with respect to performance, the second, among the productions of the ... mind," though he, a Tory and recipient of royal patronage, described politics of Milton, an "acrimonious and surly republican."

Because of his republicanism, centuries of British partisanship subjected John Milton.

Reviews

[Lady Isabelle Jarvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

omg, it’s one of the founding fathers of the running sentence! books I and II actually were interesting; I do recommend the notes. bonus: this edition contains a speech by hitler, placed next to Marlowe’s Dr Faustus! and fun fact, Milton was anti-monarchy! - is he an icon?

[Na Bi Ha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely but most of it, has flown beyond the level of my core understanding as there are hell lot of allusions both biblical and related to greek mythology.

মেঘনাদবধ কাব্য has fascinated me for long. Michael Madhusudan Dutt was also an ardent admirer of John Milton. Even he named one of his sons 'Milton'! His influence of Milton can be easily traced in supporting the opposite party of Ram.
(And till now Ravana is worshipped in
Sri Lanka. জীবন যেখানে যেমন।)

The way of thinking differently in comparison with age-old conception is applaudable.

The medieval Bengali poet চন্দ্রাবতী has altered 𝙍𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙖 in her own way until it becomes 𝙎𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣.

Seeing things from hidden and unconventional point of view requires appreciation. Interesting literary pieces come out for the incessant readers beyond ages.


বি:দ্র:
- শুধু Book - 1, 2 পড়ে মাতলামি করলাম। একেই বলে "অল্পবিদ্যা ভয়ংকরী"... 

[Romy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was a school read nonetheless, but still, this is probably one of my favorite school reads thus far. I've always been interested in Satan and his crew and I definitely want to read the other books as well! I think I'm going to make this a life-goal :)

[S Weir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5*
Not going to lie, I found it quite hard to follow what was going on in this. I did think there were some nice quotes and descriptions though. I'll have to read the other books of the poem to get the full story and decide how I feel about it.

[brisingr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Class reading (only the first two books). Can't say I have an interest in continuing the poem.

[Victoria & David Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,
Said then the lost Arch-Angel, this the seat
That we must change for Heav’n, this mournful gloom
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he
Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid
What shall be right: fardest from him is best
Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supream
Above his equals. Farewel happy Fields
Where Joy for ever dwells: Hail horrours, hail
Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell
Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings
A mind not to be chang’d by Place or Time.
The mind is its own place, and in it self
Can make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n.
What matter where, if I be still the same,
And what I should be, all but less then he
Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least
We shall be free; th’ Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n.

My third time reading and it still retains the power.
This 1916 student edition contains only the first two books, but extensive notes cover (and convey the whole.)

[Sioned Raybould · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in volume 1 of the Norton Anthology of English literature for next weeks tutorial. All I can say is: Book 2 - Satan sleeps with his daughter (sin) who then proceeds to give birth to their son (death.) Death rapes sin (his mother) and she gives birth to a pack of barking dogs which hang around her waist and move in and out of her vagina/womb, eating her insides.

This is going to be awkward..and confusing.

Amazing read. But I have to say, compared to Paradise Lost, Shakespeare is easy. A lot of concentration is required. The constant allusions to Biblical matters combined with Greek matters makes this an extremely complex work, if not all the more interesting,

[Isa Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved every minute of this but i wish i could have read at a slower pace instead of for school💔

[Elizabeth Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satan

[char · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this whilst listening to the hamilton soundtrack. i’m sure there’s a metaphor somewhere

[viv megenhardt]

Thinking blasphemic thoughts

[Michael San Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece that was a difficult read 100% but one that when I thoroughly went through it before class and then analyzed the contents of it in class, was absolutely worth the time

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this epic poem. I don't think I could have read this without studying it in class because I'm sure I would have understood none of it. In close analysis the poem is interesting and I found Milton's use of similes and metaphors brilliant. As much as this text will haunt me because I had to remember quotes from it for my A2 exam, it was great.

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I love the story, it takes a lot of concentration to read this story. I recommend reading this story out load or listening to an audio version, it is in the public domain, there are abridged versions out there which is a version I listened to, but if you want the full story do not listened to and abridged version.

[Ioan Prydderch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! I can't talk for the other 10 books that complete the poem but the first two are absolute quality. Learnt so much while studying this book about epic style and also about it's themes.

[Soph Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning and absolutely unique reads. Should be studied -- not simply read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"words clothed in reason's garb".... amazing wording

[Lee Wainwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sympathy for the devil. Jehovah is vindictive dictator, Satan the good guy. The theme is change: God is unbending while Satan is all about flexible.

[Amber Wigginton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great!!