Paradise Regained by John Milton
The poem tells the story of Jesus Christ's temptation in the wilderness after his baptism and before he began his ministry. It explores themes of free will, morality, and the nature of God. Jesus is tempted by Satan to abandon his divine mission and indulge in worldly pleasures. The temptations are presented as a series of philosophical debates between Jesus and Satan, with each side presenting its arguments for and against the idea that Jesus should give up his mission. Throughout the poem, Milton portrays Jesus as a strong and confident figure who resists Satan's temptations and remains committed to his divine purpose. The poem also explores the nature of God and the relationship between God and humanity. The poem is written in blank verse, with a focus on the musicality of language and the use of classical allusions to create a sense of grandeur and majesty.
By John Milton · First published 1671 · Genre: Epic Poetry, Religious Literature, Philosophical Literature · 4 chapters · 18,878 words
First lines
I, who erewhile the happy Garden sung By one man's disobedience lost, now sing Recovered Paradise to all mankind, By one man's firm obedience fully tried Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed, And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness. Thou Spirit, who led'st this glorious Eremite Into the desert, his victorious field Against the spiritual foe, and brought'st him thence By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire, As thou art wont, my prompted song, else mute, And bear through highth or depth of Nature's bounds, With prosperous wing full summed, to tell of deeds Above heroic, though in secret done, And unrecorded left through many an age: Worthy to have not remained so long unsung.
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Paradise Regained is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Milton, dated 1671 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Milton
- Date: 1671 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Epic Poetry, Religious Literature, Philosophical Literature, Allegory, Literary Criticism
- Length: 18,878 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 91 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Epic Poetry — The work is a continuation of the epic tradition, employing elevated language and a grand theme.
- Religious Literature — It explores themes of faith, temptation, and redemption, central to Christian theology.
- Philosophical Literature — The text delves into moral and existential questions regarding free will and human nature.
- Allegory — The narrative serves as an allegorical representation of spiritual struggle and triumph.
Tags
Epic Poem · Christian Allegory · Miltonian Verse · 17th Century Literature · English Literature · Poetic Drama · Theological Themes · Biblical Allusions · Satire · Autobiographical Elements · Coming of Age Story · Hero's Journey