Paradise Lost is an epic poem written by John Milton in the seventeenth century and it is based on the concept of epic conventions such as epic similes, invocation, catalogue or beginning in medias res. ... Since hero is mostly someone who achieves something positive, it is questionable whether Satan is hero. This essay will discuss whether Satan, which is main character, is indeed a hero or actually anti-hero. As already mentioned, epic poems usually start in the middle. ... Milton in his poem also uses epic simile and compares the Satan to Titans or Leviathan, which also makes reader think o...

• Word Count: 659
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Paradise Lost by John Milton is an epic that talks about a married couple named Adam and Eve that lives in a garden. John Milton wanted to make them as sort of hero types and not referring to the original Adam and Eve. This epic deals with temptations and making choices under pressure. Epics deal with the supernatural elements, warfare, and trips to the underworld. The climax of the epic is when Eve eats the fruit and things start to turn around. ...

• Word Count: 403
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Milton intended Paradise Lost to be an epic poem; this meant the poem had to meet specific requirements. One of these requirements was that there had to be a hero in the poem, following the epic style of Homer and Virgil. There has been much debate on the hero of Paradise Lost, and one of the possibilities that is discussed is weather Milton intended Satan to be the hero. ... From Satan's speech we can see some admirable qualities such as ambition, and pride; however, as these qualities are closely examined in the context of book IX it is not difficult to prove that Satan is more closely...

• Word Count: 955
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

These exterior influences and pressures, combined with Milton's amazing ability and the mirror his writings seem to hold up to society, are the key to understanding Milton's confusing ambiguity in making Satan the epic hero in "Paradise Lost". The critical readings and commentaries on "Paradise Lost" seem to be overwhelmed by the epic poem itself. ... He writes in his "Second Defence" that the epic poet is not able to focus on anything more than a particular event. He says, Moreover, just as an epic poet, if he is scrupulous and disinclined to break the rules, undertakes to ext...

• Word Count: 1188
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In Books 1 and 2 of John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost, the action focuses firmly on the fallen angels and, specifically, Satan. ... But is he the true hero of Paradise Lost? ... He then almost calls himself a hero, outlining why. ... This would indeed be true, and it does make him a hero of sorts, but the reason it is true is all his own fault, and nobody is made a hero for enduring what they deserve. ... So, is Satan the true hero? ...

• Word Count: 992
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The epic represents what can be accomplished with the English language as sounds and syntax are carefully crafted. ... The real hero of Paradise Lost is the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan is anything but a hero. ... The Son of God is everything that a true hero ought to be. ... In short, Pound's hero, Satan, is no hero at all. ...

• Word Count: 854
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The overall poem itself is labeled as epic. The main question that was asked from readers was if Satan was considered the hero of the story. Of course when you think of a hero, you may think of someone that saves the day or being a positive role model. So a lot of people wonder how could Satan be considered a hero if he had none of these qualities. Whether Satan is or is not a hero in this poem is debatable. ...

• Word Count: 1227
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School