Paradise Lost: B&N Classics | John Milton

The synopsis for John Milton's Paradise Lost describes a massive 17th-century epic poem that dramatizes the biblical Fall of Man, specifically the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan.

The work is famous for its ambitious goal to "justify the ways of God to men"

Key Plot Elements:

The Rebellion in Heaven: The story begins in medias res (in the middle of things), with Satan and his rebel angels waking up in Hell after being defeated and cast out of Heaven.

Satan's Revenge:

Refusing to submit, Satan plots to strike back at God by corrupting His newest and most cherished creation: humankind. He journeys from Hell to the newly created Earth.

The Temptation and Fall:

In the Garden of Eden, Satan (disguised as a serpent) convinces Eve to eat from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. Adam, out of love for Eve, chooses to share her fate and also eats the fruit.

Expulsion and Hope:

After their disobedience, Adam and Eve are judged and eventually expelled from Paradise by the angel Michael. However, the poem ends with a vision of future redemption through the sacrifice of the Son of God.