Nature- Adam and Eve are in charge of the whole natural world, they farm the land and look after animals. Nature can be dangerous too, Satan appears as different animals and it is a tree that condemns them.
Gender- Woman comes from man and therefore man is superior to women, she was made for him so he could have a companion. Eve is portrayed as dangerous, sexual and easily persuaded as well as beautiful and loving.
Knowledge- eating the forbidden fruit gives Adam and Eve knowledge of good and evil which causes chaos in their simple, innocent minds and causes them to be thrown out of Eden.
Work- In Eden work is not a chore it is part of their relationship with nature, God and each other.
Relationships- Adam and Eve’s argument shows how protective Adam is of Eve and how independent she would like to be. Their argument allows Milton to explore the relationship of a leader to his people.
Satan- Satan watches Adam and Eve working and arguing before he singles out Eve. He is jealous of their love and life together and their closeness to God.
Perspective- In this book we hear the narrator, Satan and Adam and Eve, the use of multiple perspectives builds tension as we know what Satan is plotting.
Sin- Once they eat from the tree of life their love turns to lust and their minds are filled with thoughts of good and evil, they become ashamed of their bodies and are cut off from God.
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Test It!
- How does Milton differentiate between Adam and Eve in their argument?
- How does Milton contrast life for Adam and Eve before and after the fall?
- How does Milton build tension leading up to Eve’s fall?
- How do the descriptions of Eden compare with other descriptive passages in pastoral literature you have read? (you could and should do this with other key themes such as knowledge, women or nature)
- Try and find an example of each ‘concept’ and each language device, write a paragraph about the effect of the quotation on the reader or how it demonstrates the theme.
Remember to learn quotations, the more you learn, the easier it is to come up with ideas and examples in an exam.
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Some top tips!
- Print out the Test It! Questions – it will allow you to replicate exam conditions and also allows you to give your eyes a rest from the computer screen whilst doing your crucial revision.
- Make a copy of the Remember It! Section and put in a place that you often look at. i.e. front of a journal, next to a mirror, on a kitchen cupboard door, etc. That way you can do some cheeky revision whilst doing those things you have to do!
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