John Milton 
Paradise Lost 

First published in 1667, ‘Paradise Lost’ is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. 



‘Paradise Lost’ is about Adam and Eve and how they came to be created and how they came to lose their place in the Garden of Eden, also called Paradise. It’s the same story found in the first pages of Genesis, expanded by Milton into a very long, detailed, narrative poem. It also includes the story of the origin of Satan. Originally, he was called Lucifer, an angel in heaven who led his followers in a war against God, and was ultimately sent with them to hell. Thirst for revenge led him to cause man’s downfall by turning into a serpent and tempting Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.