Epic Convention of Paradise lost

The epic is centered on a hero who determines or is majorly involved in shaping the destiny of a
group of people or a community. Epic conventions are basically characteristics of such
narratives and they include:

 A hero or an ideal individual within the community

 The narrative covers a wide geographical scope and takes the reader from one region to
another
 The narrative will concentrate on actions by the hero that are beneficial to the community
 The narrative may also blend in some supernatural forces
 The protagonist may be introduced at a lower level in order to be elevated during the
course of the story

Paradise Lost is predominantly centered on the supernatural and tells the story of Adam and
Eve and how they “lost paradise”. There are arguments about who the hero in the story is with
some supporting Satan while others siding with Adam. In my opinion Adam is the hero because
he fulfils most of the epic conventions. Adam is first portrayed as weak when tempted by Satan
through Eve. He however emerges as the hero of mankind when he prevents Eve from
committing suicide. In the story he is in constant communication with angels such as Raphael
and Michael. He is also portrayed as a wise man who understands Satan’s eventual defeat by
the Son who will be born as a man. The epic also takes the reader to heaven, hell, paradise and
earth which are geographically distant realms.