, Research Paper
Thesis: In Paradise Lost, Milton creates a Hell that is easily imagined through
his use of concrete images, powerful diction, and serious tone. I. Paradise Lost
is a great epic A. "John Milton?.a dedicated figure, in the
seventeenth-century English literature" (Diaches 390). B. Paradise Lost is
considered to be "a triumph beyond which, in its own kind, the force of
English poetry could no farther go" (Hopkins 153). C. In Paradise Lost,
Milton creates a Hell that is easily imagined through his use of concrete
images, powerful diction, and serious tone. II. Concrete images are used by
Milton to create a Hell that is easily imagined. A. "With ? eyes / That
sparkling blazed"(Milton 283 193-4) B. Imagery is used to describe
Satan?s "scaly rind" (Milton 283 206) . C. "With hideous ruin
and combustion, down / To bottomless perdition, there to dwell / In adamantine
chains and penal fire" (Milton280 46-8). III. Powerful diction is used and
creates a image of Hell in Paradise Lost. A. "With floods and whirling
winds of tempest fire" (Milton 280 77). B. " Where peace and rest can
never dwell" (Milton 280 66-7). C. "Who durst defy the
Omnipotent" (Milton 280 49). IV. Tone is also a element that is used in
Paradise Lost. A. "To whom the Archenemy, / And thence in Heaven called
Satan, with bold words / Breaking the horrid silence, thus began" (Milton
280 81-3). B. "And justify the ways of God to men" (Milton 278 26). C.
"Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance poured" (Milton 283 220). V.
The epic, Paradise Lost, is known for being a Christian epic. A. " his long
narrative and dramatic poems all deal with disputes" (Wain 1657). B. Milton
creates a image of Hell through literary devices. C. In Paradise Lost, Milton
creates a Hell that is easily imagined through his use of concrete images,
powerful diction, and serious tone. Paradise Lost Critical Analysis Ed Truelove
March 25, 1999 London John Milton?s Paradise Lost is a narrative epic that was
written in the seventeenth century. John Milton was known as a "dedicated
figure in? English Literature" (Diaches 390). Paradise Lost is considered
to be "a triumph beyond which, in its own kind, the force of English poetry
could no farther go (Hopkins 153). In Paradise Lost, Milton creates a Hell that <
is easily imagined through his use of concrete images, powerful diction, and
serious tone. The literary device of imagery is used to create concrete images.
Milton creates an image of Satan that can be seen in the minds of his readers.
This can be shown a number of times throughout the epic. "With?eyes /
That sparkled and blazed" and his "scaly rind" help describe and
create an image of Satan (Milton 283 193-4, 283 206). He also creates a mental
picture of Hell for the readers. This can be shown when God casts Satan
"With hideous ruin and combustion, down / To bottomless perdition, there to
dwell / In adamantine chains and penal fire" out of Heaven (Milton 280
46-8). There are many literary devices that can be used to devise an image of
Hell. Milton also uses powerful diction to help create an image of Hell and
Satan in Paradise Lost. Hell is described as a place "with floods and
whirling winds of tempest fire" and "Where peace and rest can never
dwell" (Milton 280 77, 280 66-7). Milton wants the reader to know that Hell
is a evil and unhappy place to be. Satan is then referred to as the one
"Who durst defy the Omnipotent " (Milton 280 49). Diction is used by
Milton to convey a particular meaning and express what he wants the reader to
think. Milton also uses a serious tone to convey his meaning of Hell and Satan
to his audience. Tone is writers attitude toward their work. "To whom the
Archenemy, / And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words / Breaking
horrid silence, thus began" and as well as "Treble confusion, wrath,
and vengeance poured" is what Milton writes to let the reader know that the
tone has turned very serious. Paradise Lost is known for being a Christian epic
and Milton is known for "his long narrative and dramatic poems all deal
with disputes" (Wain 1657). In Paradise Lost, Milton creates a Hell that is
easily imagined through his use of concrete images, powerful diction, and
serious tone.
Diaches, David. A Critical History of English Literature. New York: The
Ronald Press Company. 1970. 390. Hopkins, Kennith .English Poetry:A Short Story.
Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company. 1962.153. Wain, John.The Critical
Perspective. New York: Chelsea House Publishers: 1986. 1657. Milton, John.
English Literature with World Masterpieces. New York: Glencoe.1989.278.