Paradise Lost Study Guide

Definition of anti-hero:

An anti-hero is a central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes.

What do the descriptive words Satan uses in lines 180-183 suggests about his attitude towards hell?

He has a negative attitude towards hell.

In lines 105-106, Satan introduces the ideas of the "unconquerable will" What does he suggest about God's will as compared to his own?

He suggests that his will is stronger than Gods.

Many people have suggested that Satan is the real hero of this epic. Which details from lines 94-124 support this argument?

Satan is very determined, strong-willed, and brave.

Describe the syntax of lines 159-160. b.) How does syntax emphasize the point that Satan is trying to make?

a.) He says the same thing twice, but in a different way. b.) He is saying the same thing.

In lines 78-81, whom does Satan discover lying next to him? B.) In Hebrew Beelzebub literally means "lord of the flies." according to your text, who is Beelzebub?

A.) Beelzebub B.) Satan's Chief Lieutenant. (right hand man)

A.) In lines 192-196, how does Milton shift the reader's visual vantage point in lines? B.) What epic simile does he use?

A.) The reader is able to view him from further away, and are able to see how big he is. B.) Big as fable monsters

In lines 159-168, what assumptions about the epic struggle between good and evil does Milton make?

It is ongoing, and it will never end.

Identify the instances of oxymoron and paradox in lines 62-64

The oxymoron is "darkness visible" The paradox is that there is no light from those flames.

In Line 26, what does the speaker suggest is the purpose of his epic poem?

To explain why God allows evil in the world

In lines 162-165, what does Satan tell Beeelzebub that their sole purpose will be?

To turn any good to evil, and defy God.

In lines 249-262, what does Satan say about the mind? In what ways is the attitude expressed in these lines fitting for both a hero and a poet?

Your mind can make a Heaven of a hell or a hell of a heaven. One decided how they react to something. Heroes are persistent.

What even takes place in lines 44-46? b.) What sound device is used to make the description of the event more vivid?

a.) God is sending Satan to hell. B.) Alliteration ("Him...hurled headlong...hideous.")

Lines 1-16 contain one long compound sentence. The first sentence introduces the second sentence using a colon. The first sentence is an mperative sentence, or a sentence that makes a request, and does not follow standard subject-verb-object order; it's inverted. a.) What is the implied subject of the first sentence? b.) To whom that is implied subject referring? c.) What is the verb of that subject? d.) How is the request consistent with the conventions of an epic poem?

a.) The implied subject of the first sentence is an understood you b.) the implied subject is referring to Urania C.) The verb is sing D.) There is an invocation to the muse

What is the effect of this lengthy sentence? b.) How is this consistent with the conventions of an epic poem?

a.) The syntax makes the language sound formal. b.) it uses formal language

Paradise Lost in written in blank verse. a.) What is Unusual, then, about lines 144-152? B.) What effect does this deviation have on Beelzebub's words?

a.) They rhyme B.) It emphasizes his point