1. Paradise Lost
Mrs. Beard

2. John Milton

3. Why write it? “justify the ways of God to man”
From an early age, Milton believed he was chosen to write God’s epic…his parents believed this, too.
He studied extensively and wrote a great deal, but he was in his 60’s, and blind, before he ever penned the great epic that is one of the most famous pieces in all of literature.

4. Artistic Portrayals

5. Problems with Milton’s text
Develops (enhances) the text of Genesis—many mistakenly assume Milton copies the Bible word for word.
Milton’s misogyny—real or perceived
God is presented as dull and “vanilla”
Satan is almost glorious, desirable, admirable