Paradise Lost

John Milton wrote the epic poem "Paradise Lost". It recounts the biblical account of Satan's uprising and ultimate demise, as well as the tale of Adam and Eve's fall from grace. The poem opens with the exile of Satan and his companions to Hell and their scheme to deceive humanity. Adam and Eve are driven from the Garden of Eden as Satan makes his way to Earth and tempts them to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. The poem tells the story of an Angelic War for Heaven from several points of view and begins in medias res, as is customary in epic poetry. Large-scale conflict resulting from Satan's disobedience is resolved by the Son of God exiling the whole legion of rebellious angels from Heaven. After purging everything, God proceeds to build the world, which includes Adam and Eve. The tale of Adam and Eve's fall and temptation is told as a household epic. They are shown to be in a loving and sexual relationship while being sinless. They engage in lusty sexual activity after eating the fruit, but quickly feel guilty and ashamed. They are driven from Eden, but by prayer they are restored to God. Overall, "Paradise Lost" is a masterwork of English literature, noteworthy for its complex and tragic depiction of Satan, its use of lofty language and complicated grammar, and its invention of the epic form.