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Epic Characteristics of Paradise Lost

ng how Adam and Eve could have fallen. Who could have caused it? And then we meet an already fallen Satan; it is in Book VI that the War in Heaven which caused Satan's fall is actually described.Milton also invokes a Muse in his poem. "Sing, Heavenly Muse, that on the secret top of Oreb, of Sinai, didst inspire" (line 6 & 7). This Muse's job was to inspire and instruct him, as was traditional. Along with a Muse, Milton includes a catalog of the fallen angels for his readers in lines 376 through 505. He also provided us with extended formal speeches by the main characters: for example in lines 84-124 is a speech directed to Heaven from Satan over how he refuses to accept defeat. It is on the basis of the eloquence and power of some of the speeches that much of the claim for Satan's position as "hero" is based.Finally, Milton makes frequent use of the epic simile. There are four major examples in Book I. The first is the simile of what seems to be a sea monster. "Thus Satan talking to his nearest mate with head uplift above the wave" (lines 192+). The second simile is the autumnal leaves. "Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called His legions, angel forms, who lay entranced, thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks" (lines 300+) The sun makes up the third simile. "Of glory obscured: as when the sun new-risen looks through the horizontal misty air" (lines 594+). The final simile is the swarming bees. "Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees in springtime, when the sun with Taurus rides, pour forth their populous youth about the hive" (lines768+). These similes are Milton's way of helping us to better relate the story to common things in our lives.In spite of some alterations and modifications, we can clearly see how Milton used the classical epic characteristics and conventions in his writing. It was by employing these methods in to an already well known story that Milton created a masterpiece. Francis C...

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