Essay about John Miltons Paradise Lost as Christian Epic

Paradise Lost as Christian Epic John Miltons great epic poem, Paradise Lost, was written between the 1640s and 1665 in England, at a time of rapid change in the western world. Milton, a Puritan, clung to traditional Christian beliefs throughout his epic, but he also combined signs of the changing modern era with ancient epic style to craft a masterpiece. He chose as the subject of his great work the fall of man, from Genesis, which was a very popular story to discuss and retell at the time. His whole life had led up to the completion of this greatest work; he put over twenty years of time and almost as many years of study and travel to build a timeless classic. The success of his poem lies in the fact that he skillfully combined†¦show more content†¦Yet, at the same time, it also reflects one classic aspect of the epic; it is a love story within an adventure. Through this, Milton begins to reconcile strict Puritanism with a genre of literature that was created, strangely enough, by pagans. Milton also uses war, a very powerful and ever-present device of the epic, to chart the story of the creation and downfall of Adam and Eve. Very vibrantly, he describes the fight between Satans fallen angels and the angels of God in Heaven, culminating in the fall of Satan and his followers over Heavens wall. Books V and VI describe this battle, through the words of the angel Raphael. It is at this point that the intended hero of the story begins to emerge, revealing the true Puritan intentions of the epic. After a lengthy battle, it is finally the Son who, using only half of his power so as not to destroy Satan and his followers, drives the rebels from Heaven. Through the description of the war, which is charted in a very epic style, Milton reveals his hero to be the Son, the just and powerful warrior. Milton also chronicles Satans descent into Hell, using the classic epic convention of chronicling a single characters solitary and trouble-plagued voyage. He also lists and catalogues a number of warriors, also reflecting a clear sense of the epic. In Beowulf, the Illiad and the Odyssey, warriors are all listed as they are in Paradise Lost. There are also a hero and anShow MoreRelatedHeroic in Paradise Lost by John Lost Essay1637 Words   |  7 PagesThe theme of the heroic in John Miltons Paradise Lost is one that has often been the focus of critical debate, namely in the debate surrounding which character is the true hero of the poem. Most critics of the subject have, however, noted that the difficultly in defining the hero of Miltons work is mainly due to our â€Å"vague understanding of what constitutes heroism†1 and the fact that â€Å"the term itself is equivocal†2. The vague terming of what heroism can be defined as it what draws criticsRead MoreSimilarities Between Paradise Lost And Paradise Lost1239 Words   |  5 PagesParadise Lost comparison to three epics of antiquity There are many ways to compare and contrast Paradise Lost with the three other epics of antiquity. The epics are Paradise Lost, Aeneid, The Epic Gilgamesh, and The Iliad. The most obvious difference is era. Paradise Lost is an epic poem from the 17th century and is written in blank verse which is the most modern phrasing method. According to an article on Enotes, out of the other three epics, the Iliad and Aeneid came from the same dactyllicRead MoreMr. Milton’s â€Å"Paradise Lost†1935 Words   |  8 Pagespoem chronicles his reactions to the artistic merit of John Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667) in seven verse paragraphs of fifty-four rhymed iambic pentameter lines. The opening sentence forms a grammatical unit of ten lines. The remaining lines, marked with a grammatical pause at the end of each couplet, follow the poetic practice of end-stopped couplets. Initially, Marvell contrasts Milton’s â€Å"slender Book† with its â€Å"vast Design,† its Christian topic of salvation history and its cosmic scope of infiniteRead MoreRobert Hunter West s Milton And The Angels1572 Words   |  7 Pagessubject of John Milton’s propositions on angels. The final chapter of the work, reiterates and summarizes all nine previous chapters to reveal their larger purpose and significance within the book itself and within Milton’s entire career. Through the structure, West outlines that he â€Å"tried to give an orderly and proportioned, though elementary, statement of Christian angelology as it helped to shape men’s ideas in seventeenth-century England, and then to show how it shaped some of John Milton’s ideasRead More John Miltons Epic Poem, Lost Paradise Essays601 Words   |  3 PagesJohn Milton created an epic poem unlike any other. He created the poem while going blind, and recited it in its entirety, after he went completely blind, for his daughters to record. Paradise Lost is arguably the greatest epic poem ever written, though not the most well-known. It is so great because it is so modern. Other epics, such as The Iliad or The Odyssey written by Homer are poems of the past. They incorporate a religion that is no longer followed, and are something of science fiction todayRead MoreParadise Lost By John Milton1266 Words   |  6 Pages John Milton was said to be a devout Christian who took a broad and bold stance in many of his works in depicting the Bible in one way or the other. Some of these works are Samson Agonistes, Paradise Regained, On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity, and most famously known, Paradise Lost. Paradise Lost tells of the fall of mankind through Adam and Eve, ver y similar to the story that is in the Bible. This epic poem embodies many different stories and imagery taken from the Bible several times. John MiltonRead MoreThe Power And Lure Of Satan1365 Words   |  6 Pagesbible, no other author has thoroughly written thoughts which have resounded in the minds of those that have read John Milton’s â€Å"Paradise Lost†. Milton’s epic tale of Paradise Lost has become biblical folklore and even Christians who have not fully read the Bible rely upon the representations and indulgences that Milton presented through his embellishments of fact. Milton’s paradise lost is considered by critics to be one of the greatest literary cannons of all time and is undoubtedly a source ofRead MoreEvil in Disguise in John Milton ´s Paradise Lost793 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to the Christian religion the Devil, or Satan, is the source of sin and temptation. It is believed that there was a war in heaven against the rule of God and that Satan lead away many of the host of heaven to become fallen angels as God expelled the traitors from the heavens. John Milton wished to write a poem by which he could be remembered as the authors of the odyssey, Iliad, and the Aeneid. He did this in the form an epic poem about the story of Eden. Milton’s poem is written fromRead MoreBlending of Renaissance and Reformation in Paradise Lost2288 Words   |  10 PagesJohn Milton (1608-1674) is a religious person and a god fearing man. He is also a great writer who wrote in a grand style. As a god fearing man, Milton writes his Paradise Lost, on the basis of religion, Bible and as a great writer he advances his writing in a classical manner. The theme of Paradise Lost is Biblical as it shows the wrongdoing of Adam and Eve by the influence of Satan and the justice of God for sinners. Milton writes Paradise Lost in such a style which holds classical flavor. So,Read More Comparison of Odyssey, Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost Essay1089 Words   |  5 PagesA Comparison of Odyssey, Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost      Ã‚   Epics by definition are long narrative poems, that are grand in both theme and style (Webster 417).   They usually involve actions of great glory and are typically centered around historical or legendary events of universal significance.   Most epics deal with the deeds of a single individual, however, it is not uncommon to have more than one main character.   Epics embody several main features including: supernatural

Personal Narrative My Journey to Success Essay Example For Students

Personal Narrative My Journey to Success Essay The great Vince Lombardi once said, Its not whether you get knocked down; its whether you get up. Well, our team suffered defeat; and we were either going to feel sorry for ourselves, or we were going to man up and get back up. Our team, as well as me, learned a lot about ourselves that day that have stuck with us. In 2008, our baseball team, the Bayou Bombers, set foot on a mission. Our group of thirteen boys and four coaches traveled to Cooperstown, New York, to play in a baseball tournament of one hundred teams. Our team was the only Louisiana team playing in this tournament; however, we were the clear favorite to win it because of our talented players. Tournament announcers said things like, This team should have no problem winning the tournament   and This team is stacked with talent.   As a twelve-year-old adolescent, these words intimidated me. I felt like there was a huge knot in my stomach and was going to throw up. These words filled me with nervousness and pressure that I never thought of until our coach told us what the announcers were saying about our talented team. Then, our coach told us that we should block out all the distractions and play the same game that we have played our whole lives. The words just have fun   from our coach lightened up the mood of the team and eased our minds, and we were ready to destroy any team that walked in our way of the championship. August 1st, 2008, finally came around; and the Bayou Bombers boarded the plane for a direct flight to Cooperstown, New York. As we departed the plane, all of our families waited for us to wish us the best of luck in the tournament. This also lightened the mood up for some of us because our parents told us that no matter what happens out there, they were still going to be proud of us. As a young twelve-year-old, those words encouraged me to just play and have fun out there, no matter the outcome. After we left the airport, we finally arrived to our room where the whole team stayed. The room reeked of wet, dirty socks, while the smell of mildew lingered throughout the bathroom. However, it did not matter because our team knew we were here to win and not for vacation. We settled in, unpacked all our belongings, and prepared to go to sleep. We knew that it was going to be a long week. The night passed, and I can clearly remember the 7:00 a. m. sirens going off. The loud, piercing sound just about woke up the entire city of New York. After the two minutes of obnoxious sirens, our team got dressed in the bright, red Cooperstown shirt that the host handed out to us. Finally, it was game time, and we were about to face our first opponent. We arrived to the damp, fog-filled field anxious to face our opponent. The field was a marvelous sight but did not compare to the Championship Field. Each field contained a dark green, fifteen-foot wall that contrasted well with the bright green grass. The light brown dirt was spread even throughout the infield, while the white, chalky lines separated fair and foul play. The smell of cut grass and buttery popcorn covered the field. It was also very humid; droplets of water covered the bodies of all the players. Being the number one seed in the tournament, we faced the number one hundred seed, which was West Michigan Elite. We defeated them 17-2 while defeating the next four opponents as well. .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 , .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 .postImageUrl , .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 , .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11:hover , .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11:visited , .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11:active { border:0!important; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11:active , .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11 .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue70f9d01e1cf738f4d193a74c4d33b11:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Odyssey Argumentative EssayWe were all so pleased with the way we had been playing. However, things took a turn for the worst. During the final day of regular play, our team went into the game thinking that we were going to breeze by without any problems. Why wouldnt we think that? We just about destroyed every other team that we faced. However, we suffered our first loss, which dropped our seeding down. Not only did this affect us physically but also mentally. Physically, it hurt our seeding which meant that the path to the championship was going to be a lot tougher. On the other hand, our team was devastated. We had not lost a game all tournament, and we finally lost on the last regular game. We were crushed, saddened, distraught, etc. It was not until that night in which our coach delivered a message to us that changed our mindsets. The team and coaches gathered inside our small, dreary room. He delivered us the Vince Lombardi quote in a passionate way. He stared at each individual in that room with his big, dark brown eyes to make sure that we understood what he was saying. As he was delivering the message to get back up and fight through the troubles, tears, like those of gushing waterfalls, streamed down his cheeks. Our team had never seen our coach cry before, and we knew that we had to have a short memory and forget about the loss. After a few moments, he then said, Guys, play for your teammates. Play for each other and not for the number on your back. Do it for each other. But most importantly, just have fun out there and play your hearts out. It will all work itself out in the end. After hearing this, my body trembled with the chills as goose-bumps covered my body from head to toe. A strange, burning passion filled me, almost as if my insides were on fire. I, as well as my teammates, was ready again for any team who strayed in our path. We refused to lose and even came up with a saying that we started to say before every game. Before we sprinted onto the field, one person would say, Cant be beat   while the rest of the team followed with Wont be beat.   It was settled; we were not going to lose another game from then on. Playoffs started, and there was not a team more ready and prepared than we were. We were like angry lions that wanted revenge, and we were not going to stop ripping away until it was all over. Our once attitudes of crush and defeat were vanished. Instead, we developed a never give up   and fight til the end   attitude. We cruised by every game that we played in, and we were finally in the championship game. We knew what had to be done, and we were going to finish our business. On August 7, 2008, history was made for the Bayou Bombers. Upon arriving at the championship field, also known as The Dream Field, we were completely shocked and amazed with the features. The moment was so surreal. I can remember standing on the white, chalky foul line staring out at the thousands of fans surrounding the stadium. The bright lights gleamed on the freshly cut, green grass. Mountains surrounded the outer edges of the stadium. As we stood on the foul line for the National Anthem, three jets darted across the field. Shortly after, red, white, and blue fireworks exploded into the background of the mountains. A light drizzle sprinkled over the stadium, which made the grass glisten even more. Chills permeated through my body causing every single hair on my body to stick up. The moment was so picture perfect that it was almost like it was written for a script in a movie. I was in a daze that I never wanted to wake up from. It was truly a memorable feeling. Once I snapped out of the daze, it was time to play ball. The opponents on the other side of the foul line, the Katy Patriots from Texas, did not know what was coming at them. Wasting no time in the first inning, one of our players belted a two-run homerun to take the lead. .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe , .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe .postImageUrl , .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe , .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe:hover , .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe:visited , .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe:active { border:0!important; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe:active , .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u033ddb373d27bfc6960619e3663bf6fe:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Physical Punishment EssayTwo innings later, the same player once again ripped another two-run homerun to make the score 4-0. In the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and one last Katy Patriot batter up at the plate, our pitcher threw him a diving curveball that missed his bat, thus, ending the game. The crowd erupted with clapping, shouting, and even tears from our parents. I threw my glove as high as I could and sprinted to dog-pile on the pitchers mound. The rest of the players sprinted towards the dog-pile and leaped on top of each other. Although we almost killed each other by not being able to breathe in the dog-pile, we were ecstatic nonetheless and proud of ourselves. Our team lined up once again on the white, chalky foul line to receive our trophies and congratulations. Right before our team departed the field to go back to our room, I stared at the field once more for the last time. I can still imagine the light drizzle coming down across the scoreboard that read 4-0. I just stood there and took a moment. It finally hit me that we won it all and that we fought and battled through the adversity of ourselves and of others. This experience has taught me a lot about myself as an individual. I have learned, with the help of my teammates and coaches, that every human being is going to be knocked down or fail at one moment in their life. Success is about failing and getting back up and fighting harder. Every time an individual is knocked down, he has to work ten times harder to get back up; and that is where success happens. Ralph Waldo Emerson says it perfectly when he says that, Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.