Classic
Paradise Lost
by John Milton
Summary
John Milton retells the biblical fall of man in blank verse, following Satan's rebellion against God and his temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. The poem gives Satan a commanding, almost sympathetic voice, which has fueled centuries of debate about where Milton's true sympathies lie. Its scope, from heaven to hell to earth, makes it one of the most ambitious poems ever written in English.
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Historical Context & Significance
Milton composed the poem after going blind and after the collapse of the republican government he had served, dictating its twelve books to assistants. It remains the central epic of English literature and a touchstone for later poets from Wordsworth to Blake.