Paradise Lost
by
John Milton
(Questions & Answers)
Questions & Answers (Book 1 & Book 2)
1.
What is invocation in an epic?
-
The epic writer invokes to his deity to help
him in his plan of writing an epic. Here Milton invokes Heavenly Muse in the
tradition of epic writing.
2.
How did loss of Garden of Edam happen?
-
Adam & Eve ate the fruit of the forbidden
tree in the Garden of Eden. This was an act of disobedience to God. That
disobedience brought Death & misery into the world. The characters,
incidents & places have religious, allegorical meanings.
3.
What is the theme of Paradise Lost?
-
According to the author the theme of Paradise
Lost is to assert Eternal Providence and justify the ways of God to mankind.
4.
Who deceived Eve and why?
-
Satan in-form of a serpent deceived Eve in
order to take revenge against God. Satan was expelled from Heaven along with
his followers because he challenged the authority of God in Heaven.
5.
How is Beelzebub associated with Satan?
-
Beelzebub is the most powerful companion of
Satan who fought with Satan against God in Heaven. They and their followers are
thrown down into Hell by the Almighty. Beelzebub suffers with Satan in misery
& equal ruin in Hell also.
6.
Why does Satan consider the fallen
angels immortal?
-
Satan considers that the fallen angels are
immortal because they are made of ether which can’t be destroyed. Their
substance cannot fail. All this has allegorical meaning.
7.
What are the traits of Satan which are
not changed even after the fall?
-
Satan has unconquerable will, thought of
revenge, undying hatred towards God and the courage which never yields. His
speech has religious, allegorical interpretations.
8.
How does Satan justify living in Hell?
-
Satan justifies living in Hell on the ground
that it is far away from the authority in Heaven. Moreover, it is a strong mind
which can make Hell of Heaven and Heaven of Hell. The fallen angels will have
more freedom and security in Hell then in Heaven and it is better to rule in
Hell then to serve in Heaven.
9.
How does Satan compare and contrast
himself with God?
-
Satan considers that he is equal to God in
reason. Only His thunder has made God better than Satan in strength.
10.
What is the hint given at the end of
Satan’s speech?
-
Satan and his followers are going to wage war
against God in order to gain Heaven once again. It may be a direct or proxy
war. Satan is going to call a meeting in this regard.
11.
What according to Moloch should the
fallen angels do and why?
-
According to Moloch the fallen angels should
rage open war against God because if they spend time scheming the rest of the
angels would waste their energies in waiting inactively and suffer the
tyrannies of Hell.
12.
What is Moloch’s suggestion to the
fearful angels?
-
Moloch suggests to fearful angels that it is
natural for them to rise and unnatural to fall as they might have felt while
descending to Hell.
13.
What is Moloch’s answer to the angels
who fear that God might inflict greater punishment if they invoke him again?
-
Moloch’s answer to them is that nothing can
be worse than dwelling in Hell where they are condemned to everlasting misery
and agony. Here they are subject to His anger and inevitable torture. If he
still destroys them to annihilate them altogether – it would even be better
than living in Hell.
14.
What does Moloch suggest at last?
-
Moloch suggests that by past experience they
feel a power to disturb his throne. And by repeated attacks they can disturb
his throne if not achieve victory.
15.
What are the three main arguments of
Moloch?
-
Three main arguments of Moloch are
i.
It is natural for spirits to ascend.
ii.
It is better to be destroyed in struggle
than to suffer extreme agony passively. No further punishment can now be
expected.
iii.
If victory is impossible, revenge at
least is certain. Moloch is anxious to fight, for the sake of fighting. He must
have warlike action. Whatever the result.
16.
What does Beelzebub think about their
stay in Hell and Why?
-
Beelzebub thinks that the fallen angels
should not consider Hell as a place of hiding from the God’s wrath, start
thinking of growing an empire there. Rather it is a place where they are
serving as slaves under the rigorous control of God from which there is no
escape.
17.
Why is Beelzebub not in favour of war
against God?
-
Beelzebub is not in favor of war because war
has already lashed all their hopes and besides Heaven’s lofty walls make it a
safe place against attack or siege.
18.
What easier target does Beelzebub
suggest?
-
Beelzebub suggests the ‘new world’ as the new
target. This he says would be an easy attack for them since this place is away
from the influence of God and open for attack.
19.
Why, according to him, will an attack on
the new world be a better idea of Revenge?
-
According to Beelzebub an attack on the new
world will be a better idea of revenge since this way if they corrupt Man to
their party God will have to destroy and repent his own creation. And thus, he
would be most disturbed to see the downfall of his beloved Man.
20.
How difficult, according to Satan, is
the journey outside Hell?
-
Satan says that the way outside Hell is very
difficult. The way that leads out of Hell itself is very arduous- there are
gates of nine-fold strength spread over which are hot flames. Outside Hell is
an empty abyss of darkness threatening to make one feel lost.
21.
What reason does Satan give for his
attempting the dangerous flight?
-
Satan reasons that if he is sitting on the
throne, he should also be ready to sacrifice comfort. He says that he will be
unworthy of imperial supremacy if he does not accept this difficult task with
dignity.
22.
What suggestion does he give to the
angels?
-
He suggests and advises other angels to find
out ways to ease the agony of living in Hell. They should not relax their
watchfulness and should find means to charm the sufferings of Hell.
23.
Why does Satan rise all of a sudden,
after his speech?
-
Satan rises all of a sudden from his throne
and is ready to start the journey because he does not want to give anyone else
a chance to gain recognition by offering himself for the difficult task. He
wants to show his worth and thus establishes himself once again the leader of
the fallen angels.
24.
Who is the enemy of God and Man? Why?
-
Satan is the enemy of God and Man. He does
accept the authority of God in Heaven and thus is hurled down into Hell where
he conspires against God. He and his fallen angels have waged a war, direct or
proxy, against God. Satan is going to tempt Adam so that he may eat the fruit
of the forbidden tree of knowledge & invite God’s wrath.
25.
Why are the gates of Hell impenetrable?
-
The gates of Hell are impenetrable because
there are nine folds – three folds of brass, three of iron and three of
adamantine rock. They are fenced with circling fire where there is continuous
supply of Sulphur. The gates are guarded by Sin & Death.
26.
Describe Sin.
-
Sin personified is like a charming woman in
the upper part but the other part of her body is a serpent with a terrible
sting. Round the middle part of her body there is a pack of Hell hounds with
constant barking. Sin is further described with the help of an epic simile
concerning the fate of mythological Scylla. It has allegorical meaning leading
to religious connotations.
27.
Describe Death.
-
Death personified is described in allegorical
terms having religious meaning. Death spares none. She has no fixed form or
shape. She appears sometimes like a substance and sometimes like a shadow. She
is more dangerous & frightening than the ten Furies. She is blacker than
night itself.
28.
What does Satan see as he approaches the
new world?
-
Satan sees light coming out of Heaven’s walls
and falling downward. Heaven is undistinguishable in its size & shape but
is adorned with opal towers. Nearer to Heaven is the world hanging in a golden
chain.
29.
What difference does Satan feel in his
journey through the abyss and his journey, when he can see Heaven?
-
While his journey through the darkness and
abyss is tough and treacherous but it becomes very smooth as he reaches near
the new world. He can float easily without any effort and though he is tired,
he is enjoying the new found calm and light. He is compared with a
weather-beaten ship reaching near the shore gladly, though damaged and
shattered.
30.
What effect does the poet convey by
using similes?
- The similes, used to describe the shattered condition of Satan, are much appropriate. They are necessary for the epic style. Moreover, the objects compared are also taken from the world of this universe which makes them more heroic and heightens their effect.
Questions & Answers (Book 1 & Book 2)
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