ENGLISH 45A Lecture 30: Milton Paradise Lost Book 1
Document Summary
English 45a lecture 30 paradise lost book 1. Adam and eve"s eating of the forbidden fruit was humankind"s first act of disobedience toward god, which cost us paradise. His muse appears to be the holy spirit. He thinks his poem will be greater than classical poetry because his source of inspiration is holier. He asks the holy spirit to fill him with knowledge to write his poems. Milton"s speaker wants to show man that the fall of humankind into sin and death was part of god"s justified greater plan. The prologue takes on the same sober tone as the book of genesis. Milton acknowledges his awareness of homer, virgil, and later poets, and wants to be. It begins with the story of the world"s creation which is also a religious theme part of their tradition while also wanting to be beyond them. Although this seems like a boastful goal, he also appears to be humble.
