Second, the introduction of the work:
Paradise Lost is an epic written by john milton, a British politician and scholar.
Paradise Lost tells the story of Satan, the rebellious god in the poem, who was sent to hell for resisting the authority of God, but never gave in and sought revenge in Eden. Adam and Eve were lured by Satan's possessed snake and stole the fruit of the tree of knowledge forbidden by God. Finally, Satan and his companions were turned into snakes, and Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden.
This book shows that human beings must rely on knowledge and labor to enter the civilized society of productive labor from the ignorant primitive society. At the same time, there are two opposing and contradictory forces in the universe itself, and bloody changes and struggles have occurred again and again in human history, resulting in a neglected paradise tragedy.
Paradise Lost, Homer's epic Homer and Dante's Divine Comedy are also called the three major western poems.
Third, the creative background:
/kloc-Great progress has been made in the development of British capitalism in the 0/7th century. However, the feudal monarchy in this period seriously hindered the development of British capitalism. Milton, as a Puritan, is in such a period of drastic social changes and changes of the times. As a revolutionary, he is willing to dedicate his happiness and experience to his beloved motherland. He opposed absolute monarchy and made full preparations for the success of epic works. /kloc-after the restoration of the 0/660 dynasty, Milton was blind and old, hoping that his poems would show his long-cherished ambition. He wrote Paradise Lost with secret allegory and full revolutionary passion under extremely harsh environment and under the close surveillance of the enemy.
The theme chosen in Paradise Lost comes from the Bible, which is the basis of British and American literary thoughts. Most of the creation of Paradise Lost was completed after the restoration of feudal monarchy. But Milton began to think about the choice of theme and the content of epic from the age of 19. The theme of Paradise Lost is selected from Genesis of the Old Testament.
Four. About the author:
John Milton (John Milton,1608 65438+February 9th ~1674 65438+1October 8th) is an English poet, political commentator, democracy fighter and one of the six great poets in the history of English literature. His representative poems include Paradise Lost, paradise regained and Samson.
1625, Milton entered Cambridge University and began to write poems. After graduating from college, I studied literature for another six years. 1638, Milton went to Europe. 1640 When the British Revolution broke out, Milton resolutely joined the revolutionary movement and published five pamphlets on religious freedom. 1644, Milton wrote On Freedom of the Press to fight for freedom of speech. 1649, Britain was founded after the victory of the revolution, and Milton published On the Authority of Kings and Officials to consolidate the revolutionary regime. 1660, the British feudal dynasty was restored, Milton was arrested and imprisoned, and was released soon. Since then, he has devoted himself to writing poems.