This portion starts off with the descriptions of how Adam and Eve’s actions will forever change earth and how death and sin are now on earth. Death starts to kill things off, plants, animals, while evil will target mankind. It talks about the opportunity for forgiveness and redemption for mankind, to make it back into God’s glory and light. Again, Milton showcases Satan as a sympathetic character when he states that he was remorseful after Adam and Eve ate from the tree. God sacrifices his only Son to redeem mankind. It was quite bothersome for me to read Milton’s irony in his reference to the Pope and how he was the bridge to hell and the quickest way there, pretty much, was through the Roman Catholic Church. I feel like Adam and Eve are seen better in the eye’s of God after their fall. After the fall they are more willing to choose good, when they can also choose evil. They have a love for God that may not have been the same kind of love had they not fallen. Was the fall predestined? God told his Son that man would fall before it happened. It was a sad image for me when at the end it describes Adam and Eve walking away from the garden hand in hand. Paradise Lost was the hardest assignment this semester but definitely worth the read.

Ok, so this portion starts with Adam’s questioning to Raphael. He is curious to know how he came to be, how this marvel of a place he is in came to be and the big question, why. Raphael tells him of Satan’s fall and how God wanted to populate heaven. He wanted to create a creature that was given free will and have them earn their way to Him. Milton wrote how God created man, earth, all living things in seven days. I’m not too familiar with Genesis, but I read on a site that Milton recounted the story in the same order as the Genesis story of the Hebrew Bible. Maybe he learned the Hebrew language because, at such an early age, he was considering going into the clergy, and maybe at this point, he started questioning things and what to better understand them, what better way to do so than to learn the language. That way nothing gets lost in translation. Raphael is telling Adam how man has free will and he is to do well, and do God’s will, and in the end be welcomed into heaven and be in His Glory. Adam tells Raphael what he remembers about the time he was created, Raphael does not know anything since he was guarding hell at the time. Adam talks about his feelings towards Eve. Adam says he knows she is the weaker of the two but at times he is the weak one when thinking of her and her beauty. When God was talking to Adam and told him no to eat from the tree of knowledge, I wonder why he told him that everything else he had created was Adam’s to own and name? That is a lot of power/control given to Adam. Adam asks God for a mate and makes his argument by stating how all the animals have mates, God was reluctant at first but ends up creating Eve for Adam from one of Adam’s own ribs. Milton writes how man is superior to women, best in everything. I wonder if he treated his wives as such, would that be why he was married several times? Milton has a recurring theme of failure, Satan falls, Adam falls to temptation, seduction, and Eve because of her vanity when she falls for Satan’s flattery. Eve and Adam eat from the tree of knowledge and have lustful sex. The morning after they both feel shameful. Milton believed that their relationship now was not good, since it went against God’s law. Their physical appearance is showcased differently now, less full of light.

Ok, well I definitely found myself being more sympathetic to Satan. Sympathetic character for sure in these books. Boy was he relentless, taking shape of all sort of animals just to accomplish his task. Milton's writing is extremely amazing. From the use of similes to correlating language. Example, when Milton wrote of Satan's retreating army to a flock of sheep that will be driven to a cliff and fall, and Eve, mother of mankind, that could be to Mary, Mother of God.<br> On a side note, I read on quizlet that the word "all" was used 612 times in book 6, don't have time to go back and count them, I'll take their word, lol.

Wow, yes, finally something soooooo interesting it is unreal! I enjoyed this so much. I enjoy reading narratives with interesting characters and plots so much better than letters and poems. I read the beginning twice, lol, threw me off just a tiny bit with the changing of past tense then present tense. It was 1am when I started reading. I love this so much because of the imagery I can apply to the reading. I’ve said this before, I do not like to read summaries or hints about what I am reading ahead of time. This story definitely surprised me, what a unique and interesting way to recount the story told in Genesis about the Fall of Adam and the lose of the Garden of Eden. Having done the biography on John Milton, I can clearly see him in the story, from religious messages, political themes, social themes and theology. I like the mirrored images between Heaven and Hell. I was wondering, if the disfigurement of the falling angels, was because they are now creatures of Hell, or is that symbolic of their lost soul? I am all about writing that makes me have a verbal or physical reaction, and boy did I have one when I read hell being described as a body whose whom would have to be torn open to expose the ribs of metal ore that are necessary to build Satan's temple. Lol, after my initial reaction I pictured that scene from Scrooged, when the ghost of Christmas future appears and his rib cage is housing trapped souls that look ugly and disformed. It was interesting to learn about the parallel trinities. I’ve always been familiar with The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, but never would have thought of the opposite being Satan, Sin and Death. I like how how Sin and Death have personas. Very disturbing to read of the rapes Sin endures from her father and son, gross. I’m excited to continue reading.

Ok that took me way tooooo long to get through and I am still left confused. I am not a fan of the separate readings, they tend to throw me off and I lose focus. So King Charles was selfish and wanted all the power. Parliament was put in place but he was not seeking council with them or listening to the people. One part said how God chose the King, but another referred to the people choosing the King, and one day they were going to be unhappy and God would not come to their aid. Definitely gets a bit confusing when religion is thrown in the mix. One minute I feel like the reading is making a great case when just applying reason and common sense then it takes a different approach when applying religious arguments. I feel like King Charles was gracious in the way he went out. He spoke of how God knew the truth and he asked that they kill him quickly, I wonder how frightened he was, or was he now looking forward to meeting his creator. That whole first reading reminded me of the movie The Other Boleyn girl, I've mentioned it before in my annotations, exact part when queen Anne spoke before parliament of how God knew the truth and she was still executed. I wonder how different every thing during the civil war would have played out if John Milton was not around to publish all his information. The people demanded a voice and unfortunately King Charles was not open to change.

Exodus 12:22-27

God of Heaven and Earth.

She is saying here is a writing by a woman for a woman. She is also saying if the Queen were to grace it, it will be more divine.

To be willing

I'm guessing she had sons.

Sounds interesting already.

He didn't want to miss any excitement. The line "while night told her tale", describing the happenings at night.

a sleeveless coat of mail or scale armor

Well I know that the ram is the sign for Aries, so I'm assuming that Chaucer is interested in astrology. I never read the Canterbury Tales in high school like most students do now, so this is my first time learning of Chaucer and getting to know him and his work.

Ok, let me just say wow, I love this opening, it's so beautiful, excited to continue reading.

Was Arthur the only one who would not eat? Or is it saying that he would hold off on feeding everyone until something interesting happened?