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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to Satan's face when he speaks to Uriel?

2. What is the story meant to explore?

3. What does Satan say they can use against heaven instead of violence?

4. What is Raphael's natural shape?

5. What do the spirits find in Hell when they explore?

Short Essay Questions

1. How will the Son of God be rewarded for making himself a sacrifice?

2. What does Mammon suggest?

3. Why has God chosen knowledge as the forbidden fruit?

4. How do the spirits of Hell amuse themselves while Satan is away?

5. How did Satan rebel against God?

6. What theme does the Son of God's sacrifice introduce?

7. How do you think Satan has attracted followers onto his side?

8. Why can Satan not be redeemed?

9. What does Beezlebub advise?

10. Why does Satan think it is best to stay in Hell?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the characters from the poem.

1) What is the character's background.

2) What are the character's motivation and goals?

3) What do you think the character adds to the story? How would the poem change if the character were taken away?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the main themes of the poem. Why do you think these themes are so important? How does Milton use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 3

Paradise lost is made up of 12 books. Examine the structure of the poem.

1) How does Milton develop the theme of good and evil?

2) Why do Milton actually mention that the story is changing into a tragedy?

3) How does the structure subvert what we already know about the story of the Fall of Man?

(see the answer keys)

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