Milton’s goal, clearly stated in Book 1, is to write an epic that befits his own society. Consider Milton’s purpose in writing Paradise Lost and analyze his epic. How does Paradise Lost follow the rules of the epic genre? How does it subvert the rules, and why would Milton do this?

Analyze Paradise Lost through a biographical lens. What signs of Milton’s life and society are embedded in his long-form poem, and how do they inform the poem’s message and structure?

Complete a character study of Satan. Is he truly evil, or is he misunderstood? In what way is Satan the protagonist of his own story?