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Paradise Lost

210 pages, 2017

fiction

fiction

1382 books
arts & entertainment

arts & entertainment

401 books
Takeaways
Description
John Milton's Paradise Lost is one of the greatest epic poems in the English language. It tells the story of the Fall of Man, a tale of immense drama and excitement, of rebellion and treachery, of innocence pitted against corruption. At the center of the conflict are Adam and Eve, who are motivated by all too human temptations but whose ultimate downfall is unyielding love. Marked by Milton's characteristic erudition, Paradise Lost is a work epic both in scale and ambition. For nearly 350 years, it has held generation upon generation of audiences in rapt attention. Its profound influence can be seen in almost every corner of Western culture.
The Power of Free Will

In Paradise Lost, John Milton explores the concept of free will. He shows us that our choices, good or bad, shape our destiny. It's a reminder that we have the power to make decisions that can change our lives.

The Complexity of Good and Evil

Milton doesn't paint a black and white picture of good and evil. Instead, he shows us that these concepts can be complex and intertwined. It's a call to look beyond the surface and understand the deeper motivations behind actions.

The Importance of Repentance

Paradise Lost emphasizes the importance of repentance. Even when we make mistakes, it's never too late to seek forgiveness and make amends. This book encourages us to take responsibility for our actions and strive for personal growth.

The Struggle Between Pride and Humility

Milton's epic tale shows the destructive power of pride and the redeeming power of humility. It's a lesson in the importance of keeping our ego in check and embracing humility in our lives.

The Beauty of Perseverance

Despite the hardships and challenges, the characters in Paradise Lost never give up. They persevere, showing us the beauty of resilience. It's an inspiration to keep going, no matter how tough things get.

Quotes 5

The reason Milton wrote in fetters when he wrote of Angels & God, and at liberty when of Devils & Hell, is because he was a true Poet and of the Devil's party without knowing it.

William BlakeWilliam Blake - Romantic poet, painter

Milton's poetry could be either 'simple, sensuous and passionate' or complex, philosophical and dispassionate. He chose the latter, and chose rightly.

T.S. EliotT.S. Eliot - Modernist poet, critic

Paradise Lost is, to my perception, the greatest poem in the English language, and as varied, as original, as sublime as the Iliad or the Odyssey.

Harold BloomHarold Bloom - Literary critic, scholar

Every poem can be considered in two ways — as what the poet has to say, and as a thing which he makes. From the one point of view it is an expression of opinions and emotions; from the other, it is an organization of words which exists to produce a particular patterned experience in the readers. Now, looked at in the first way, the greatest poetry is always the most 'simple' — that is, it is about things that are important in themselves. Looked at in the second way, the greatest poetry is the most complex.

C.S. LewisC.S. Lewis - Novelist, theologian

Paradise Lost is one of the books which the reader admires and lays down, and forgets to take up again. None ever wished it longer than it is.

Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson - Writer, lexicographer
William BlakeT.S. EliotHarold BloomC.S. LewisSamuel Johnson

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