‘Paradise Lost’ Books IX and X: Revision Bundle
‘Paradise Lost’ Books IX and X Detailed Revision Notes
Book IX
Lines 1-200
“no more talk where God or angel guest with man”-We see that there is a sense of
tragedy which is very clear from the beginning and makes it clear what mankind has lost.
We see that there is no longer this moral superiority. Furthermore, we see that it is
rather conversational in style and through the use of colloquial language thus it tells
everyone.
“venial discourse unblamed: I now must change those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and
breach”- We see some angry language and Milton makes it clear what man kind has lost.
There is now immediately a tragic tone as seen by the caesura which slows the pace
down, implying that there is a sense of tragedy.
“anger and just rebuke”-In book One, Milton notes that he is writing the epic to surpass
all epics.
“When Satan who late fled before the threats of Gabriel”- We see that at the start
Milton does not portray Satan as a hero. Satan flees before the angel Gabriel has a
chance to threaten him.
“bent on man’s destruction”-Satan’s plan is to bring down mankind. Furthermore, we
see that there is a clear purpose.
Two views of Satan at this point in the poem as Satan is richly portrayed and is a clever
and cunning character. He has been thinking about this for a while and he is determined
to get back at God by destroying his creation. In a previous book e see that Satan has
raised an army up against God and has connotations of Oliver Cromwell contextually as
he raised an army up against the monarchy.
“the space of seven continued nights he rode with darkness thrice the equinoctial line he
circled”-This parodies the creations story and is a binary comparison to God. Thus we
see that Satan has been described as “a righteous rebel” and he is the antithesis of
creation
“the space of seven continued nights he rode with darkness thrice the equinoctial line he
circled…from pole to pole”- The lengths to which Satan goes to rebel.
“Rose up a fountain by the tree of life”-Method by which Satan enters the garden. Irony
as a “fountain” typically represents hope and the water symbolises life. The DUCHESS
OF MALFI quote and it highly ironic as he brings destruction OR could be via the ascent
theory.
“At Darien, thence to the land where flows the Ganges and Indus: thus the orb he
roamed”- We see that the destruction of the Garden of Eden will be felt across the globe
as he “roamed” the “orb” and he’s expanding his horizons beyond the Greek and Roman
realms
“the serpent subtlest beast of all the field”- The only animal which will work as it is a
snake which he believes. Also we see negative sibilance.
, “Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom to enter”-Satan decides to incarnate himself as a
snake furthermore we see a lot of negative language used here such as “imp of fraud”
and the use of “imp”, implies that he is nothing compared to what it is. Furthermore we
see Satan is annoyed as he is no longer at the centre of the universe. An imp is either an
instrument of shoot and in the latter case we see that it implies that the GoE has a new
gardener. He cultivates unnatural strains by grafting the serpent
“O earth, how like to heaven, if not preferred more justly, seat worthier of Gods”- we see
Satan’s arrogance here and he’s going to make Earth his place
“God in heaven is centre yet extends to all, so thou centring receiv’st from all those
orbs”- We see that Satan has a tantrum and is having a whinge. He wants to destroy the
world as he can then get back at God who is the centre of this.
“the more I see pleasure about me, so much more I feel torment within me”- This
appeals to our human senses as we all have hubris and thus we do perhaps admire
Satan’s rebellion of God here. Furthermore, we see that through the use of singular
pronouns we see that Satan is self-centred and egocentric and is hubristic as it power for
power’s sake.
“For only in destroying I find ease to my relentless thoughts; and him destroyed”- All in
the present participle and we live this moment with him. We see that the rest of the
world has gone down and thus we see that he wants to destroy God so that he can
replace her.
“he to be avenged”- Satan never refers to God by name and thus this portrays God to
have done something wrong and shows God as tyrannical.
“exalted from so base original with heavenly spoils, our spoils”- We are all created from
dust and to dust we will return. It reminds us that we’re from nothing and this is rather
Puritanical.
“the serpent sleeping in whose mazy folds”-Sinister and deceptive nature of the serpent
and “mazy” implies getting lost and mazes were viewed as sinister.
“O foul descent!”- We see that Satan is arrogant as he feels that he is above them
“I who erst contended with Gods to sit the highest am no constrained into a beast and
mixed with bestial slime”- We see that Satan feels constrained yet he is forced into this
as he wants to get back at God and wants to bring humanity down here. As he was
already at the “height of deity”.
“I fall short on him who next provokes my envy, this new favourite of heaven, this man
of clay, son of despite whom us the more to spite his Maker”-This is all created for him
“Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den”- Dramatic tension and we anticipate what is
going to happen.
“The devil entered and his brutal sense, in heart or head, possessing soon inspired with
act intelligential”- Took over his reason and we see that Puritans believe that reason and
intelligence would control everything.
Lines 200-400
“sacred light”- We see that God is meant to be light and is symbolic of hope.
“From the earth’s great altar sent up silent praise to the creator and his nostrils fill”- We
see that Adam and Eve are the priests of creation and thank God for creating this perfect
Eden.
“In Eden on the humid flowers that breathed their morning incense”- We see the Beauty
of Eden
, “wanton growth”- Wanton refers to a sexually unrestrained woman and it also refers to
the natural tendency of things to over grow hence the need for human control. We see
that Eve is rather feisty and is not meek or mild like a woman at the time whom were at
the bottom of the Tudor Chain of Being.
“Let us divide our labours”- Eve wants to be on her own and this is the start of her
downfall. Also civil war.
“whether to wind the woodbine round this arbour or direct the clasping ivy where to
climb, while I in yonder spring of roses intermized with myrtle”- Eve tells Adam that they
should separate and that it will be far more efficient if they split.
“Thou therefore now advise or hear what to my mind first thought presents”-Eve seems
to be leading the conversation and she doesn’t even give Adam a chance to reply and
shows these women to be strong.
“what wonder if so near looks intervene and smiles, or object mew casually discourse
draw on which intermits our day’s work”- Eve says that she is a distraction of Adam so
they cannot work efficiently if she is there. Milton highlights that women are a
distraction and again plays to his Puritan beliefs.
“mild answer”- Adam seems inferior to Eve here and not as mentally as strong perhaps
Milton is criticising the Tudor Chain of Being
“to me beyond compare above all living creatures”- Agape love between Adam and Eve
and we see that Adam is deeply in love with her.
“for nothing lovlier can be found in woman than to study household good and good
works in her husband to promote”- Adam is very conformist and we see this conformist
structure here. Women were supposed to support their husband yet here we see a bit of
a role reversal.
“Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd / labour, as to debar us when we need /
Refreshment, whether food, or talk between"- Adam reasons that they do not have to
split up to get the work done as God told them to be together and the fact that he does
this “so strictly” highlights his tyrannical nature
“For smiles from reason flow to brute denied”- We see that Adam puts reason and
rationality before being “brute” and “wanton” and is conformist as this is the Puritan
doctrine whereas Eve is the opposite.
“for thou knows what malicious foe envying our happiness and of his own despairing
seeks to work us woe and shame by sly assault”-Adam reminds Eve that Satan is present
in the Garden of Eden.
“Hopeless to circumvent us joined”- If they stay together then Satan will not be able to
influence them and hurt them.
“whether his first design be to withdraw our fealty from God or to disturb conjugal love”-
We are presented with Satan’s motives that he will either convince them not to believe
in love or break them apart.
, “leave not the faithful side which gave thee being”- Reminds Eve that she was born from
Adam’s rib.
“the wife where danger or dishonour lurks, safest and seemliest by her Husband stays /
who guards her, or with her the worst endures"
“Offspring of heaven and earth, and all earth’s lord that such an enemy we have, who
seeks our ruin”- We see that they are both a part of God’s creation and this is pre
lapsarian
“Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid the attempt itself, intended by our foe”- Adam
knows that Eve could be seduced easily by Satan as she is a “virgin” morally. Thus we see
“If such affront I labour to avert from thee alone, which on us both at once the enemy,
though bold, will hardly dare or daring’- We see that they strengthen each other.
“who could seduce Angels.”- We see that Adam believes that he can tempt Angels so
they can easily tempt Adam and Eve.
“So spake domestic Adam in his care and matrimonial love”- We see that Adam is
“domestic” and is conformist also genuinely loves Eve.
“Eve, who thought less attributed to her faith sincere”- Eve believes that Adam thinks
that she is below him. Typical of TCoB so she wants to be raised up (ascent theory)
“If this be our condition, thus to dwell in narrow circuit straitened by a foe…how are we
happy still in fear or harm”- We see that Eve believes that they are confined by living in
fear of Satan and they cannot break free. It is important that Eve says this (ascent
theory).
“tempting affronts us with his foul esteem”-Very arrogant from eve as she believes that
she cannot be tricked by Satan yet does not realise the power which he holds. Hubristic
and is demonstrative of Eve’s overbearing pride.
“who rather double honour gain from his surmise proved false, find peace within, favour
from heaven”- Eve reasons that they will be respected more and honoured more if they
can resist Satan’s temptations.
“[Adam] from the influence of [Eve's] looks receive / Access in every Virtue, in thy sight /
More wise, more watchful, stronger”- Adam seems convinced that they will be targeted
if they are alone and that they are stronger together
