Satan here is arguably likened to the barbaric heroes of traditional epics, portrayed as a pioneering leader, rallying his troops of angels in the same way that a supreme commander spurs on his men in battle. Is this the first piece of evidence for Satan being Milton's hero?

Although the content of his epic is unconventional in the way it deviates from the glorification of great warriors (as is typical of the epics of Greek and Latin) and instead gravitates towards the glorification of morality, Milton incorporates lexis associated with war and battle - 'legions' - to maintain a connection to the origins of epic poetry.