Epic Similes in 'Paradise Lost'

Epic simile is an extended simile, in some cases running to fifteen or twenty

lines, in which the comparisons made, are elaborated in considerable detail. It is a
common feature of epic poetry, but is found in other kinds as well.
In an epic poem similes are used for the purpose of illustration, but they serve
also to decorate the epic theme or character.
Epic similes are also given the name of Homeric similes because Homer
elaborated his similes in such a way that a particular kind of dignity and beauty was
created in his poetry and since then it became the tradition of epic poetry.
Milton has brought in a number of such similes in the Book I of Paradise Lost.
In the first simile he compares the huge form of Satan sprawling on the lake of
fire to the fabled sea-beast called Leviathan. It was a kind of big whale of such great
size that when it came to the surface, it occupied many miles and gave the impression
of an island in mid-ocean. In this simile though the dominant impression is size but the
other impressions are also produced. The Leviathan is dangerous and tricky so is Satan.
The second epic simile is where he compares the shield of Satan to the
appearance of the moon as it was observed by Galileo through his newly invented
telescope. Although this is an anachronism in one sense, it helps us to form some idea
of the magnificence of Satans shield.
With a view to give us an idea of the countless hosts of fallen angels, Milton
compares their dense masses to the autumnal leaves in Vallambrosa in Italy. In autumn
all deciduous trees shed their leaves and the forest would be thickly carpeted with
them. This is not so much an epic simile as a complete parallelism.
Joseph Addison is of the view that

The resemblance does not, perhaps, last above a line or two, but the poet runs
on with the hint until he has raised out of it some glorious image or sentiment, proper
to inflame the mind of the reader, and to give it that sublime kind of entertainment
which is suitable to the nature of a heroic poem.