n came in 1663. It was not published until 1667. Paradise Lost begins just after the revolt of Satan against God. It then follows Satan's actions against Adam and Eve, leading to the fall. During the work's ten books of blank verse, back-story, including a narrative of the battle between the loyal and rebellious angels, is provided. One common criticism of the work is that it creates Satan to be too heroic. Milton finished his life with a few miscellaneous prose works, including a history of Britain and a discussion of the logic of Peter Ramus, a French Philosopher. He died of gout in 1674 and was buried next to his father in St. Giles Church, in Cripplegate, London.
             Paradise Lost, one of the greatest poems in the English language, was first published in 1667. Milton for a long while had wanted to write the definitive English epic, just as Homer and Virgil had done for the Greek and Latin and what Dante had done for the Italians. He first decided to write an epic on the Arthurian legends, but later decided on focus on the foundational myth of humanity itself, the Genesis account of the creation and the fall. His success of this epic is indicated by the esteem in which the poem is held today. The epic poem takes place before the beginning of time. Its settings are in Hell, Chaos and Night, Heaven, and Earth, which is Paradise, the Garden of Eden.
             The characters in this epic poem include Satan, Adam, Eve, God the father, and God the son. Satan is head of the rebellious angels who have just fallen from Heaven. As the poem's antagonist, Satan is the originator of sin-the first to be ungrateful for God the Father's blessings. He embarks on a mission to Earth that eventually leads to the fall of Adam and Eve but also worsens his eternal punishment. His character changes throughout the poem. Satan often appears to speak rationally and persuasively, but later in the poem, we see the inconsistency and irrationality of his thoughts. Ad...