Paradise Lost, Book 1

by John Milton

An epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton, Paradise Lost follows the struggle for ascendancy between God and Satan across hell, heaven, and earth. This OCR-endorsed edition also contains textual notes and an OCR GCE-specific introduction.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, School, Academic, Read For School, Fiction, Literature

80 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

[فؤاد · Rating 4 out of 5]

آدم وحشت زده به حوا گفت: «چگونه به آن میوه ممنوعه تجاوز کردی؟ آخر چگونه یکی از نیرنگ های دشمن شومی که نمی شناختی، فریبت داد؟ و اینک، او مرا نیز در کنار تو به سقوط واداشت... زیرا تصمیم من این است که با تو جان سپارم، آخر چگونه می توانم بی تو زنده بمانم؟ چگونه می توانم در این جنگل وحشی تنها و بی کس باقی بمانم؟ حتی اگر خداوند حوّایی دیگر بیافریند، باز غم از دست رفتن تو هرگز از قلبم برون نخواهد رفت، نه نه! سرنوشت من هرگز از سرنوشت تو جدا نخواهد شد، در سعادت باشم یا در فلاکت!»

پس آدم با وجود همه آن چه در آن باره دانسته بود، حتی دمی در خوردن میوه درنگ ننمود! او هرگز فریب نخورد، بلکه به طرزی جنون آمیز مغلوب زیبایی زنانه گشت!

[Nikoleta]

Αυτή τη στιγμή νιώθω πολύ πολύ εξαπατημένη! Είναι γεγονός το πόσο ήθελα να διαβάσω τον “Aπολεσθέντα παράδεισο” του Μιλτωνος εδώ κ αρκετά χρόνια. Οι ελληνικές εκδόσεις που το έχουν εκδώσει είναι 2. Έτσι όταν έπιασα στα χέρια μου μια από τις δυο εκδόσεις στο βιβλιοπωλείο, δεν γινόταν να μην το αγοράσω, κ ήμουν πανευτυχής. Προχθές λοιπόν ήρθε η σειρά του στο αναγνωστικό μου πρόγραμμα. Ξεκινά με ενα προλογικό σημείωμα του μεταφραστή. Πολύ ενδιαφέρον, δεν είχα ιδέα ότι όταν το μετέφραζε ήταν φυλακή, βασικά δεν είχα ιδέα ποιος ήταν ο μεταφραστής... πάμε παρακάτω. Μια εισαγωγή της κλασικής έκδοσης, στην οποία για κάποιο λόγο συγκρίνουν τον Μίλτων με τον Σαίξπηρ, χμ... ενδιαφέρον... άντε πάμε παρακάτω... 80 σελίδες με την βιογραφία του Μίλτων... God!!! Άντε να τις διαβάσω, ίσως κατανοήσω καλύτερα το έργο του!!! Έχω φτάσει αισίως στην σελίδα 96, ανυπομονώ για τον χαμένο παράδεισο, όντως είναι ακριβοθώρητος! Φτάνω στο μέρος "Ανάλυση του έργου" Θεός φυλαξει!!! Πάμε πάλι... 50 σελιδουλες και ναι!!!! Βλέπω το κείμενο! Γραμμένο σε δεκαπεντασύλλαβο που δεν συμπαθώ, αλλά η μαγεία δεν έχει σβήσει... «φτιάχνομαι», καταπληκτικό, γυρνώ σελίδες και.... τέλος του πρώτου μέρους... μαντέψτε... δεν έχει άλλο!!! Πάμε σε σχόλια του μεταφραστή!!! Όχι άλλα σχολιααααααααααααααααααααααααα κοιτάζω το εξώφυλλο, το οπισθόφυλλο, τη ράχη, παντού γράφει Χαμένος Παράδεισος σκέτο! Πουθενά μέρος Α'. Ψάχνω στα βιβλιοπωλεία στο διαδίκτυο για μέρος Β. Δεν υπάρχει, αυτό ήταν!!! Στην τρίτη σελίδα του βιβλίου κάτω κάτω ανακαλύπτω ένα «μέρος Α», και εγώ έπρεπε αυτό να το ξέρω από μόνη μου πριν το αγοράσω;;;; Εεεε; Αυτό ήταν; Αίσχος... Ναι νιώθω ικανοποίηση, από τον αγαπημένο μου Μίλτων έχω διαβάσει πολλά βιογραφικά, πολλές αναλύσεις και ναι... το λέω με καμάρι, ένα μέρος Α' από το έργο του! :P Δεν βάζω βαθμολογία… τι να βάλω;;;;

[William Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I studied book 1 of Paradise Lost, and absolutely loved it!

"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven"

Milton's rhetoric is amongst the most wonderful I have ever read.

Within this epic poem, Milton manages to create a clear narrative that manages to not lose the reader, despite the archaic language and structure. I found it to be immersive and epic!

After reading book 1, it is easy to link it to The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne, as it served as a piece of inspiration.

When I manage to pave a way through my next few books and projects, I will return to read the rest of Paradise Lost, and look forward to doing so!

[Evoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uhm, I'm a changed and most definitely stunned woman... WOW.

"The mind is its own place, and it can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven..."

(I might add further quotes later on)

If you've read "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, I can definitely recommend you to read this because it's one of the texts that the creature referred to multiple times during the Frankenstein story.

P.S. Please, read a version with footnotes or do your own research of things you don't understand, since every single detail is important, even if one initially might assume that it is insignificant... what a masterpiece *sigh*

[Eesha Sajid · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hail! Horrors, Hail!"

i read this a long long time ago for the first time, childhood is an entirely other world & rereading it made me look at things in a different way.
Can we just please talk about satan?
Oh my God! if it weren't for our religious views, then i would say this, if there is a hero to be lusted after? its him!! Huh.. cant believe i actually said that, but then as Milton said, for someone who is capable enough to challenge God, he had to be this epic... so i would say this, him not being this grand would be a bigger blasphemy then him being this grand...
anyway, rereading classics, that are WORTH rereading is always good.
mythology lovers? GO for IT

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh boy, did I misunderstood Milton last year when I read On His Blindness. He's a saint.

4 stars.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels a little ridiculous to give goodreads stars to John Milton. So, my stars can be for the reader, Simon Vance. Without him I would be nowhere with this.

What to say in response to PL? I could go into womanist rant mode. But that would be boring and SO already done. Milton had a thing for child brides. Enough said.

Then there's my discomfort with his polemics, especially against the Catholic Church. But, a little historical perspective reminds me that's the way they rolled in those days. Especially J.M., who wrote more political/ecclesiastical tracts than poems.

So I am just going to state the obvious. John Milton was the Jack White of his day. I think Rolling Stone would call him "genre-bending," since he took blank verse (itself relatively new) and ran with it like a frickin' badass. He broke all the rules, but ended up sounding better than everyone else. I guess the rule breaking was part of the art.

Also, he had some really imaginative ideas, story-wise. Theologically correct? Weell... some yes, some no. But, imagine an angel eating, by way of "transubstantiation." Dorian March music in hell. A cave in heaven that contains light and darkness, so that the heavenly beings can have day and night. The earth being tilted, by angels, after the fall!

And a Satan who becomes "stupidly good" for a moment, upon seeing Eve's beauty. I'm told that Satan's character is controversial, because of these momentary lapses of evilness. I wouldn't call it heretical, myself. He does always end up choosing to do the evil thing, doomed forever by pride and despair.

Maybe the point, for Milton, was that he was afraid there was a little bit of the rebel Satan in himself -- or that others might think so? After all, Milton was allied with king-killers and Protestants. So he draws a careful distinction between rebellion against God, who is always just and good, and man, who can be tyrannical and corrupt.

In any case, Satan is nothing if not theatrical, and it does make the story pretty enjoyable. Thanks for a great rendering of The Great Story, J.M.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for university.

I actually own the full poem but I was only required to read the first book. After appreciating Milton's writing, I think I'll likely end up continuing through the poem. Very interesting!

[Emilie Minna · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really liked the writing but honestly im a bit stupid and didn’t get it all, also christianity?? idk her?? but it was very interesting

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots of name dropping

[Hannah Brandt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interessant nok præmis, hadede at læse den ahaha
unilæsning <3
loving the bees

[m_k_piorecka · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The mind is its own place, and it can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven..."

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A school book. Not my cup of tea, but it is a classic, right?

[Elise McGregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting start to the epic - a great few lectures in class about this

[Ifrah Fatima]

beelzebub is such a pookie name for an accomplice of satan

[Laura Petersen]

Paradise Lost? More like, I was Lost.

[mimi brown]

academic reading

[Marit]

now these were definitely words

[Zephren Milentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Response:
This poem was... extraordinary. I say this because it is massive. There are 12 books in it. Anyway, I enjoyed it. The poem is mostly in the old style of English, but it still is moderately easy to read. Overall, I did benefit from reading this poem.

Plot Summary:
The main character was Satan (I say “was” to make the tenses the same). Satan and others who were assisting him were sent to Hell after attacking God. Once in Hell, they needed a place to set up. There was this architect guy that fell out of the sky, and he helped build a base of operations for Satan. This is a pretty big feat, literally, because Satan is much larger than a human building. After the building is finished, Satan calls all his followers and has a big meeting, probably to discuss the next plan of attack to use against Satan.

Recommendation:
I would recommend this poem to an intelligent reader. An individual with below average intelligence attempting to read this poem would present them with a large chance of failure. English teachers and college students would most likely enjoy this poem, because they could brag and say, “I read Paradise Lost in less than one hour.”

[alessiaKosmos · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Lettura scolastica non integrale]

[V.K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heav'n."

[Luke Hannigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Cr...

Exquisite writing, eye-opening ideas despite their age

"Better to reign in hell, than to serve in heaven."

"Not all is lost"

"The mind is its own place and in itself
Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.
the fruit Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste Brought death into the world and all our woe With loss of Eden
loss of Eden till one greater Man Restore us and regain the blissful seat"

"The mind is its own place, and in itself
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 than he..."
"To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heav’n."

"Of alienated Judah [Judas]. Next came one
Who mourned in earnest when the captive ark
Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopped off
In his own temple on the grunsel [grunsel meaning threshold] edge
Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers:
Dagon his name, sea monster, upward man
And downward fish, yet had his temple high
Reared in Azotus, dreaded though the coast
Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon
And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds.
Him followed Rimmon whose delightful seat
Was fair Damascus on the fertile banks
Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams.
He also against the house of God was bold:
A Leper once he lost and gain'd a King,
Ahaz his sottish Conquerour, whom he drew
Gods Altar to disparage and displace
For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn
His odious offrings, and adore the Gods
Whom he had vanquisht. After these appear'd
A crew who under Names of old Renown,
Osiris, Isis, Orus and thir Train
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd
Fanatic Egypt and her Priests, to seek
Thir wandring Gods Disguis'd in brutish forms
Rather then human. Nor did Israel scape
Th' infection when thir borrow'd Gold compos'd
The Calf in Oreb: and the Rebel King
Doubl'd that sin in Bethel and in Dan,
Lik'ning his Maker to the Grazed Ox,
Jehovah, who in one Night when he pass'd
From Egypt marching, equal'd with one stroke
Both her first born and all her bleating Gods
Belial came last, then whom a Spirit more lewd
Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love
Vice for it self: To him no Temple stood
Or Altar smoak'd; yet who more oft then hee
In Temples and at Altars, when the Priest
Turns Atheist, as did Ely's Sons, who fill'd
With lust and violence the house of God.
In Courts and Palaces he also Reigns
And in luxurious Cities, where the noyse
Of riot ascends above thir loftiest Towrs,
And injury and outrage: And when Night
Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons
Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.
Witness the Streets of Sodom, and that night
In Gibeah, when the hospitable door
Expos'd a Matron to avoid worse rape.
These were the prime in order and in might;"

"He through the armed Files
Darts his experienc't eye, and soon traverse
The whole Battalion views, thir order due,
Thir visages and stature as of Gods,
Thir number last he summs. And now his heart
Distends with pride, and hardning in his strength"

"hi[Charlemagne']s form had yet not lost
All her Original brightness, nor appear'd
Less then Arch Angel ruind, and th' excess
Of Glory obscur'd...
Looks through the Horizontal misty Air
Shorn of his Beams, or from behind the Moon
In dim Eclips disastrous twilight sheds
On half the Nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes Monarch."

"Dark'n'd so, yet shon
Above them all th' Arch Angel; but his face
Deep scars of Thunder had intrencht, and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under Browes
Of dauntless courage, and considerate Pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
Signs of remorse and passion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
(Far other once beheld in bliss) condemn'd
For ever now to have thir lot in pain,
Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't
Of Heav'n, and from Eternal Splendors flung
For his revolt, yet faithfull how they stood,
Thir Glory witherd."

"As when Heavens Fire
Hath scath'd the Forrest Oaks, or Mountain Pines,
With singed top thir stately growth though bare
Stands on the blasted Heath."

"But He who reigns
Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure
Sat on His throne upheld by old repute,
Consent or custom, and His regal state
Put forth at full but still His strength concealed,
Which tempted our [humanity's] attempt and wrought our fall.
Henceforth His might we know, and know our own,
So as not either to provoke or dread
New war provoked. Our better part remains
To work in close design by fraud or guile
What force effected not, that He no less
At length from us may find who overcomes
By force hath overcome but half His foe!"

"Space may produce new worlds whereof so rife
There went a fame in Heav'n that He ere long
Intended to create and therein plant
A generation whom His choice regard
Should favour equal to the sons of Heav'n."

"Brusht with the hiss of russling wings.   As Bees
In spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides,
Pour forth thir populous youth about the Hive
In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers
Flie to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank,
The suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel,
New rub'd with Baum, expatiate and confer
Thir State affairs.   So thick the aerie crowd
Swarm'd and were straitn'd; till the Signal giv'n
Behold a wonder! they but now who seemd
In bigness to surpass Earths Giant Sons
Now less then smallest Dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberless, like that Pigmean Race"


"Paradise Lost" by John Milton is a seminal work in English literature, an epic poem that grapples with profound themes of free will, temptation, sin and punishment, the consequences of our actions and the fall of humanity. The narrative unfolds the biblical story of Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden, juxtaposing the grandeur of Heaven, the intrigue of Hell, and the human experience.

Milton's mastery of language and poetic imagery is undeniable, painting vivid landscapes of both the celestial and infernal realms. His use of free verse creates a powerful and rhythmic flow that carries the reader through the intricate and philosophical depths of the narrative. Most poems of Milton’s time followed strict paradigms dictated by rhyming, internal rhyming, assonance and syllable count so Paradise Lost was quite a progressive piece not only in its new ideas that didn’t necessarily agree with the typical views of the Bible which were commonplace, popular and accepted at the time but also in its free form. The vivid descriptions of Heaven's splendor, Lucifer's rebellion, and Eden's paradisiacal beauty captivate the imagination and evoke a sense of awe.

At the heart of the poem lies the exploration of complex moral and theological concepts, inviting readers to ponder the nature of good and evil, the consequences of disobedience, and the intricacies of human nature. Milton's portrayal of Satan as a compelling and tragic figure challenges traditional perceptions, offering a nuanced view of a character torn between pride, defiance, and a sense of lost glory. “Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heav’n”

While the language and dense theological discussions may pose a challenge to modern readers, the depth and richness of Milton's themes make "Paradise Lost" a timeless and thought-provoking masterpiece. The poem's enduring relevance lies in its exploration of the human condition, the pursuit of knowledge, and the consequences of our choices, inviting readers to contemplate the eternal struggle between light and darkness, freedom and obedience.

"Paradise Lost" stands as a monumental work that continues to resonate across generations, inviting readers to delve into its profound insights and wrestle with the complexities of morality, destiny, and the divine. Its enduring legacy cements its place as a cornerstone of English literature and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and philosophical inquiry. In a time where atheism is seeing a considerable rise in popularity, it is interesting to see Milton’s views especially given his perspective as a result of his cultural and temporal background.

[Emanuel F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic poetry on a grand scale. One mans approach to understand his universe, as he takes us on a journey following biblical characters. Not only does Satan lose paradise, but the struggle and loss of Eden by Adam and Eve. Showcasing the promise of redemption by Jesus and an intriguing approach to interpret these stories through such lyrical use of language. Stories not interred biblically nor found in any holy text. Uses of medieval language and referencing Greek and Egyptian points of interest, including greater notions of curiosities toward understanding the universe. Such as, Satan's attempted return to heaven from the void in parlay with outer, older beings.

An invaluable odyssey of narrative for study in congruence with the develoment of speculative fiction. A wealth of fantastical ideas from a mythological point of view and an excellent resource with a wide breadth of patriarchal opinion and world view toward Women. Giving an excellent insight as to the attitudes toward the roles of women, expectation, and presumed burdens within society as pertaining to woman, from within this microcosm of life parallel to celestial beings.

[Alissa]

I am surprised by how much I liked this work. Personally, I need to read the rest of it in order to develop an opinion on this epic overall, but Book 1 was did not upset me or bore me as much as I thought it would. I can understand why people view it as riveting and thought provoking, and for me, it was certainly thought provoking. If nothing else, Book 1 provided me more background on seventeenth century religious literature, which I'm glad for. Perhaps in the future, I will get through the books one by one like I did this one in order to gain a more full understanding of this work as a whole. If you have a hard time focusing, the audiobooks can be found on youtube, and reading along with the audiobooks really helped me focus in order to read this!

Not going to rate this, just because I don't know if I have a fully formulated opinion on it yet.

[Emma]

For now, I will not be rating this as I’d like to understand it better. It was so filled with grandiose images of Heaven and Hell along with dramatic recounts of Egypt that it was overwhelming at times. That being said, the premise of the Devil and Beelzebub plotting a war against heaven was an interesting concept.

This is definitely a book that requires research and exploration to get a wider context around the ideas of God and Satan. Some of the lines were particularly powerful, such as “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, or a hell of heaven.” Clearly, this huge poem deals with philosophical themes and the study of the human mind in relation to morality and sin.

[old crowley. · Rating 5 out of 5]

میلتون در جلد نخستِ “بهشت گمشده” با زبانی سترگ و تصویرهایی حماسی پهنه‌ی تقابلِ کیهانیِ خیر و شر را بی‌رحمانه می‌گشاید؛ شعری که در یک‌دم هم عظمت می‌طلبد و هم تکبّر می‌ورزد.
شیطان را چون قهرمانی ضدقهرمان می‌سازد: سخنور، اغواگر و خطرناک؛ نبوغی در معماری شخصیت، اما جذابیتی که خوانش اخلاقی را تیره می‌کند و گاه طعم تلخ تحسینِ ناخواسته به جا می‌گذارد.
آهنگِ بلاغی و وزنِ بیت‌ها نیرویی موسیقایی می‌سازند، امّا نحوِ انبوه و ارجاعاتِ متراکمِ کلاسیک خواننده‌ی امروز را پس می‌زنند و ریتمِ روایت بارها در کش‌آمدن حل می‌شود.
میلتون لحظه‌هایی زیر بارِ عظمتِ اندیشه‌اش له می‌شود: ایده‌ها به نمایشِ حماسی بدل می‌گردند و تجربه‌ی انسانی در پای پرگویی و تأملاتِ تئولوژیک قربانی می‌شود.

[Zia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Awake, arise, or be for ever fall'n"

"Better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven"

The contrast between God and Satan is composed beautifully, especially Satan. I fell in love with that character. It was fun analyzing all the nooks and cranies of the lines Milton has written. This man with a god-complex created a language of his own.

But would not be able to continue to the next book. I am too stupid to read it by myself. Maybe I will try it again a few years later when I am intellectually more mature.

[shreya · Rating 3 out of 5]

wanna give it a 3.5

i feel like the mediocrity of this rating is definitely due to my lack of understanding rather than the actual poem im just too dumb to get what’s going on but the parts i do understand are super interesting!! i really like reading the different analyses of this poem; the themes are so interesting to me so i feel like if i was actually good at reading i would rate it a lot higher but here we are

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

QUOTES


“It happens that neither in prose nor rhyme is anything said that hasn’t been said already”
“And justify the ways of God to men”
“The devil owes everything to Milton” - oscar wilde
IN MEDIAS RES
“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven”
“That He no less / At length from us may find, who overcomes / by force, hath overcome but half his foe”

[Nikhil Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satan and his army had been defeated in Heaven by God. They are pushed into Hell for eternal sufferings. The Fallen Prince along with his devils lay chained to molten lava. Their leader analyses the situation and plans for revenge. He is humiliated and declares it is better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. With this declaration he gathers his soldiers and plans for the grand revenge.