SHORT ANSWERS - PARADISE LOST BY MILTON

(i) What is an epic?

Ans. An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of
heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation narrated in elevated style. For example,
Homer's "Iliad" is an epic.

(ii) What is a blank verse?

Ans. Blank verse is a category of poetry based on unrhymed lines and a definite meter, usually of iambic
pentameter. Examples of blank verse can be found in Shakespeare, William Cullen Bryant, and Robert
Frost.

(iii) What is a free verse?

Ans. Free verse is an open form of poetry. It does not use consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any
other musical pattern. It thus tends to follow the rhythm of natural speech. Examples of free verse can
be found in Mathew Arnold, T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound.

(iv) What is a protagonist?

Ans. A protagonist is the central character or leading figure in poetry, drama, novel or any other literary
work. For example, Satan in Milton's "Paradise Lost", Hamlet in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and Elizabeth
Bennet in Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" are protagonists.

(v) What does the title of "Paradise Lost" refer to?

Ans. The title of "Paradise Lost" refers to the Biblical story of the Fall of Man: the temptation of Adam
and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

(vi) What is the setting of "Paradise Lost"?

Ans. The first two books are set in Hell. Heaven is the setting of Book III and VI. The Garden of Eden is,
for the most part, the setting of the rest of the poem. Time Setting is before the beginning of time.

(vii) What is the subject of "Paradise Lost"?

Ans. The subject of "Paradise Lost" is a lost paradise as the the central theme to explain, defend, and
vindicate God's action in dealing with succumbing to the temptation of Satan by Adam and Eve after
they eat the forbidden fruit.

(viii) Who are the main characters of "Paradise Lost"?

Ans. Satan, Adam, Eve, God, the Son, Devils (Beelzebub), and Angels (Michael) are the main characters
of "Paradise Lost".

(ix) For what does Milton invoke the Heavenly Muse?

Ans. Muses are nine goddesses who preside over the arts and sciences, Milton invokes his muse, whom
he identifies as the Holy Spirit, to fill his mind with divine knowledge and guidance in his great work of
singing about man's disobedience and the consequent loss of Paradise.

(x) Why Adam and Even were expelled from Paradise?

Ans. Satan, in the disguise of a serpent, convinced Eve to eat the Forbidden Fruit. She in turn convinced
Adam to have a taste. As a result of Adam and Eve's sin of eating the Forbidden Fruit, they were
expelled from Paradise.

(xi) Why does Eve eat the forbidden fruit?

Ans. Satan, in the disguise of a serpent, entered Paradise. Finding Eve alone, he flattered her beauty and
godliness. Eve was amazed to see a creature of the Garden speak. Satan told her that he had gained the
gift of speech by eating a particular fruit. Even was seriously tempted and ate the Forbidden Fruit.

(xii) Is Eve to blame for the fall?

Ans. It's hard to blame Eve alone for the fall. Both Eve and Adam were given free will. Eve ate first, but
Adam also ate the Forbidden Fruit. If Adam was not able to resist his wife, how could he resist Satan?

(xiii) For what sin was Satan cast out of Heaven?

Ans. Satan became vain about his beauty and position, and his heart became rebellious against God. As
a punishment, God cast him out of heaven and sent him to earth for his sin - the revolt against God.

(xiv) How long did it take Satan to fall from Heaven to Hell?

Ans. It took nine days and nine nights for Satan to fall from Heaven to Hell.

(xv) What demon is floating alongside Satan in the fiery lake at the beginning of the poem?

Ans. It was Beelzebub, Satan's second in command in the hierarchy of fallen angels who was floating
alongside Satan in the fiery lake at the beginning of the poem.