Mini Lesson Paradise Lostnar 4d Explain How A Narrators Reliabi ✓ Solved

Mini-Lesson: Paradise Lost NAR 4.D – EXPLAIN HOW A NARRATOR’S RELIABILITY AFFECTS A NARRATIVE. ©AP Lit & More: Literature & Writing Resources, 2020 Chapters 7-10 â–ª Complete the reading and annotation of Book IV from Paradise Lost. Use the text to answer the questions beneath the excerpt. â–ª John Milton's Paradise Lost was a popular work among Romantic authors, so allusions to his famous epic would not be uncommon. Poets like Lord Byron, William Blake, and Percy Bysshe Shelley included references to Paradise Lost in their own works. Most Romantic poets found a hero in Milton's Satan, praising his defiance against God as a rebellion against a political tyrant. Mary Shelley, however, uses Paradise Lost as a more complex allusion.

Frankenstein: Paradise Lost Notes ©AP Lit & More: Literature & Writing Resources, 2020 Directions: Read and annotate the excerpt from Paradise Lost included below, which describes Satan's feelings at seeing Adam and Eve created and enjoying their life in Eden. We will return to this text as we continue our study of Frankenstein. Answer the question below and on the following slide. Frankenstein: Paradise Lost Activity ©AP Lit & More: Literature & Writing Resources, 2019 “Paradise Lost, Book IV†by John Milton ©AP Lit & More: Literature & Writing Resources, 2020 More woe, the more your taste is now of joy; Happy, but for so happy ill secured Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe As now is entered; yet no purposed foe To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, Though I unpitied: League with you I seek, And mutual amity, so strait, so close, That I with you must dwell, or you with me Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please, Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold, To entertain you two, her widest gates, And send forth all her kings; there will be room, Not like these narrow limits, to receive Your numerous offspring; if no better place, Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge On you who wrong me not for him who wronged.

So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill: So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair, That ever since in love's embraces met; Adam the goodliest man of men since born His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve... ...When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad. O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! Into our room of bliss thus high advanced Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue With wonder, and could love, so lively shines In them divine resemblance, and such grace The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured.

Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh Your change approaches, when all these delights Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe; Frankenstein: Paradise Lost Activity 2. What exactly is making Satan so upset? Is it the beauty of Adam and Eve? Their carefree attitude? Their freedom in Eden?

A personal jealousy? Explain with textual support. 3. Analyze the role of the narrator. Do you find him reliable?

What does he do that affects his credibility? ©AP Lit & More: Literature & Writing Resources, . What words does Milton use to describe Satan's feelings in seeing Adam and Eve? How does it effectively humanize him?

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Mini Lesson: The Reliability of Narrators in Paradise Lost

Introduction

John Milton's Paradise Lost is an intricate tale of the cosmic battle between good and evil that delves into themes of free will, obedience, and rebellion. A pivotal component of any narrative is the narrator, whose reliability profoundly affects our understanding and interpretation of the story. In this lesson, we will analyze the role of the narrator in Book IV of Paradise Lost and interpret how his perspective shapes our understanding of Satan, Adam, and Eve while also emphasizing the theme of jealousy that permeates the excerpt.

Understanding Satan's Upsetment

Satan’s heartbreaking turmoil in seeing Adam and Eve can be attributed to a multitude of factors, characterized by personal jealousy, humiliation, and a sense of inevitable loss. The beauty and divine resemblance that Milton attributes to Adam and Eve elicits a deep anguish in Satan, who feels that they possess what he has irretrievably lost. Milton writes in the text, “O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold!” (Milton, Book IV, line 32). Here, Satan expresses a profound sorrow rooted in self-awareness, recognizing the stark contrast between his own tormented form and the pure beauty of Adam and Eve (Milton, Book IV, lines 39-42).
The allegorical nature of Satan's jealousy suggests that he embodies traits that can provoke empathy as well. As he observes Adam and Eve's "carefree attitude," it amplifies the depth of his anguish: “creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright” (Milton, Book IV, lines 33-34). From this observation, it is evident that Satan's pain is compounded by his realization that even those who are less than divine can experience joy without the burdens of sin or regret that he now endures. This complex layering of emotions suggests that Satan's upsetment reflects his struggle with loss, envy, and his fallen state.

The Role of the Narrator in Paradise Lost

Milton’s narrator adopts a complex and multifaceted role that influences how we perceive his characters, particularly Satan. While some view the narrator as a semblance of omniscience, others argue he can be subjective or unreliable. As readers, we must take into account the biases that may stem from Milton's own perspectives and the cultural context in which he wrote.
1. Narrative Perspective: Milton employs third-person narration, granting him the ability to unveil the innermost thoughts of his characters. Through Satan’s lamentation, the narrator presents a duality that humanizes this traditionally villainous figure. By exposing Satan’s vulnerability—e.g., feelings of jealousy and grief—the narrator creates a sense of sympathy that complicates our interpretation of evil. This aspect makes the narrator more reliable since he allows readers to navigate the nuances of morality and the gray areas of character motivations.
2. Credibility and Subjectivity: However, the narrator's reliability is not absolute. His portrayal of Satan is intricate yet conflicted; readers may detect an inherent bias informed by Milton’s own beliefs about rebellion and redemption. Ultimately, although the narrator may evoke sympathy for Satan, his characterization leads readers to question whether empathy for Satan undermines divine justice (Bloom, 1998).

The Language that Humanizes Satan

Milton employs language that serves to elicit a complex emotional response from readers towards Satan. Words like "grief" and "woe" contribute to illustrating a figure who is tormented not merely by sin but also through the contrast to the innocent happiness enjoyed by Adam and Eve (Milton, Book IV, lines 30-31,). Expressions such as “gentle pair” (Milton, Book IV, line 27) evoke affection and tenderness encapsulated in their character, serving to amplify Satan’s sense of loss.
The dualities embedded in Satan’s characterization—his hatred for God juxtaposed with his admiration for Adam and Eve—render him relatable. Milton’s choice of evocative descriptors cultivates a sense of pathos: “With wonder, and could love, so lively shines in them divine resemblance…” (Milton, Book IV, lines 38-39). This emotional complexity compels readers to grapple with their own moral frameworks concerning good and evil, raising them to a level where one might ponder the extents of empathy towards a fallen angel.

Conclusion

The reliability of the narrator in Paradise Lost plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the narrative and its characters. As we analyze Book IV, it becomes evident that Satan’s turmoil arises from a mix of jealousy and personal reflection on his fall from grace. Milton’s nuanced use of language not only humanizes a traditionally villainous figure but also opens the door for reader empathy towards multiple perspectives in the unfolding epic. In this literary exploration of paradise and perdition, the narrator acts as a compass, guiding readers through the labyrinthine emotions that define Satan, Adam, and Eve and allowing them to engage with deeper philosophical questions of existence, divine justice, and personal agency.

References

1. Bloom, H. (1998). John Milton's Paradise Lost. New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism.
2. Milton, J. (2003). Paradise Lost. Edited by David L. Smith. New York: Penguin Classics.
3. Fish, S. (1996). Surprised by Sin: The Reader in Paradise Lost. Boston: Harvard University Press.
4. Lewalski, Barbara K. (2007). Milton's Brief Epic: The Genre of Paradise Lost. In The Cambridge Companion to Milton.
5. McColley, Susan. (1976). Milton and the English Revolution. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
6. Moulton, Richard G. (1902). The Literary Study of the Bible. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
7. Neill, Edward, & White, John. (1994). Paradise Lost: An Authoritative Text. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
8. Vendler, Helen. (1997). Poems, Poets, Poetry: An Introduction and Anthology. Boston: Bedford Books.
9. Wallace, J. (2001). Milton and the Body. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
10. Woolf, Virginia. (1947). The Death of the Moth and Other Essays. New York: Harvest Books.