Submitted To:Maam Sadia Tahir

Submitted By:Nida Shaukat

Section :3B
Subject :Classical Poetry
Topic :Paradise Lost Book 1,Lines (531-566)
 Explanation
 Critical analysis
 Summary
 conclusion
Lines (531-566)

Explanation:

In these lines , the speaker explains the reaction to Satan’s speech from the rejects of
Heaven. After seeing Satan in a state of joy instead of depression, the rejects
assembled themselves into a battalion excited to join Satan’s army. The speaker
describes Azazel as baby angel, “Cherube” alluding to Azazel’s grandeur and
importance. The speaker is explaining Satan’s army almost as if it is beautiful and
godly (although it is quite the opposite). Basically the entire section is explaining all
of Satan’s army: confident in Satan, excitement and awaiting His command to go
forth and fight against Heaven.In these lines Milton describes the construction of
Satan`s army after in lines 527-28 we see his wonted pride soon recollecting .He
gently raised their fainting courage and dispelled their fears.This lead to him making
straight command and taking control over the other fallen angels.we also see him
declaring the Azazel as his right .After this the author describes what seems to be a
great celebration in the underworld , with ten thousand banners ,orient colors
waving .when satan army is formed they are a strong ,unified group.They move in
perfect phalanx and become a united force with fixed thought .This army great in
number is described as a horrid front of dreadful length and dazzling arms. “awaiting
what command their mighty chief had to impose”. The most important part of this
section is that it shows us that Satan isn`t a quitter .He knows that although he no
longer sits at the right hand of God ,he can still have power .It is evident that he is
going to take full advantage of this fact. Further in the scene Satan describes how he
and a bunch of other angels fought with God and lost. Although they've been beaten,
all is not lost.

Beelzebub responds, saying that he's upset and worried about the current state of
affairs.

He suggests that the only reason they still feel strong and courageous – still feel alive
– is so that they can completely experience their punishment and satisfy God's
"vengeful ire."
 Satan responds, saying that their goal from now on is to be evil "To do ought good
never will be our task, / But ever to do ill our sole delight" . If God does something
good, they will try to screw it up.

Satan suggests that he and Beelzebub move to a nearby plain and think about how to
war against God, deal with the horrors of their circumstances, and repair their losses.

As Satan moves towards the plain, the narrator describes him: he is much bigger than
any of the famous giants of classical mythology or the bible. He is so big, a sailor
might mistake him for an island and attempt to moor his boat there.

Analysis:
Satan knows that he could not be happy if Eve were banished, and his desire to stay with Eve
overwhelms his desire to obey God. Adam’s sin of temptation is choosing Eve over God,
letting physical and emotional impulses overtake reason. The wreath of flowers he makes for
Eve symbolizes his love for her. When he sees that she has eaten from the Tree of
Knowledge, he drops the wreath, symbolizing her fallen state. The dropping of the wreath
may also hint at Adam’s disappointment in Eve as a spiritual lover and companion, and even
his falling out of pure love with her. After Adam eats from the apple, his attraction to Eve
changes subtly, and he looks at her more like a connoisseur, eager to indulge.

Summary:
This ambivalent merit of Satan has incurred heated controversy among the critics. The radical
Satanists, of
course, seize every chance to applaud the rebel leader as a true revolutionary hero who dares
to defy the
“tyranny” of God; even the more conservative Christian critics.inshort the Milton raises the
question of how Adam and Eve’s disobedience occurred and explains that their actions were
partly due to a serpent’s deception. This serpent is Satan, and the poem joins him and his
followers in Hell, where they have just been cast after being defeated by God in Heaven.

Conclusion:
Concluding, we can say that Satan felt glorified when he met his ends, when the fallen angels
joined him. He felt powerful even if he wasn’t beside God.