Discuss Paradise Lost 1 as a epic poetry.

Here is a list of the most common characteristics of an
epic.  Milton clearly follows the conventions of this form of
literature.

1. Long narrative poem,
   usually written in blank verse.  Paradise Lost
   certainly is a long story -- not only a retelling of the Adam and Eve story,
   but establishing the back-story of Satan's loss of heaven and his plans for revenge.  It
   also has several sections of text discussing the future of man's place in the world and
   a flash-forward of sorts of events up to the Christ's coming into the world.  The epic
   is written in blank verse which is unrhymed iambic
   pentameter.


2. Starts "in medias res"
   which means 'in the middle of the action."  While the epic is ultimately
   the story of Adam and Eve, it starts in the middle of Satan being thrown out of heaven
   along with his band of rebel angels. 
   


3. Starts with an address to a
   muse.  In this Christian poem, the muse is not a traditional Greek diety,
   but the "Heavenly Muse."


4. Uses an elevated
   style.  This long poem has very challenging language and the sheet number
   of allusions on the first page illustrate the difficulty and majesty of the subject
   matter that Milton is undertaking.  He claims to be explaining "the ways of God to
   man."  To make such a claim requires the language and sophistication to back it up.
   Another element of the elevated style is the use of epic similes -- long, extended
   similies.  An example from book 9 compares Satan's movement as the snake in the garden
   to a ship that is being very carefully navigated through the water to reach its ultimate
   goal.


5. Tells the story of a cultural
   hero.  While the story starts with Satan, the heroes of the story are
   Adam and Eve.  Even though they have the tragic fall from grace and are banished from
   Paradise, it is through them and their actions and attitudes that man is to learn about
   God's love.


6. Reflects the society in which
   it was written.  Milton is writing in a time of great change in the
   Christian world.  England has separated from the Roman Catholic Church and the
   Protestant religion has taken a firm hold throughout Europe. Book 12 in particular
   addresses some of the issues of the Christian church, but the ultimate message is that
   Christians live with God's forgiveness and guidance through prayer.  This clearly
   reflects Milton's society in mid 1600's.