Dante’s Inferno in Milton´s Paradise Lost - 1326 Words

Many arguments have been made that Dante’s Inferno glimmers through here and there in Milton’s Paradise Lost. While at first glance the two poems seem quite drastically different in their portrayal of Hell, but scholars have made arguments that influence from Dante shines through Milton’s work as well as arguments refuting these claims. All of these arguments have their own merit and while there are instances where a Dantean influence can be seen throughout Paradise Lost, Milton’s progression of evil and Satan are quite different from Dante. Dante’s influence on Milton is noted by many scholars and is very apparent in several instances throughout Paradise Lost, however, Milton shows a progression of evil through his own vision of Satan and†¦show more content†¦In his article, he discusses many of the authors previously mentioned such as Samuel, Hollander, and Gurteen, and develops his own ideas about Milton’s use of Dante’s fo rm of punishments. He makes note of the fact that â€Å"when Satan returns to Hell after successfully tempting Eve†¦he hears a â€Å"universal hiss† as he and his crew transform into serpents† which â€Å"is clearly an allusion to that which the thieves undergo in Cantos 24 and 25 of Dante’s Inferno.† Other scholars agree that there is some flicker of Dante through Paradise Lost but argue that, although there are instances where it seems clear of the influence, Milton and Dante’s versions of Hell and Satan are quite different. In S. Humphreys Gurteen The Epic of The Fall of Man: A Comparative Study of Caedmon, Dante and Milton he says, â€Å"the influence of Dante’s strong imagination, however, is evident throughout Paradise Lost. It is not plagiarism, it is not imitation, it is the effect that must necessarily follow from the contact of one powerful imagination, strong intellect, and deeply erudite mind, on that of another, in many respects, his equal.† (Gurteen, 383) While he exploresShow MoreRelatedDantes Inferno vs. Miltons Paradise Lost901 Words   |  4 PagesDante s Inferno Vs. Milton s Paradise Lost The two stories, Inferno by Dante and Paradise Lost by Milton, were written about the biblical hell and its keeper: Satan. Both of these authors had different views about the hell and Satan. In Paradis Lost, Milton wrote that Satan used to be an angel of God. The devil believed that he was equal to the Lord and he wanted to be greater than him. For this, God banished him to hell. Milton s physical description of Satan is interesting. Since heRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1071 Words   |  5 Pages Writing AP Exam Essays Advanced Placement English Literature Composition Name Juan Linares Major Work Data Page Paradise Lost Writer/Nationality John Milton/ UK 1608-1674 Theme/Meanings of the work as a whole Disobedience plays a key role in the unfolding of Milton’s poem. Satan disobeys God because God gave him free will, and causes Eve to disobey Adam, to disobey God. Justification of God. Death must happen to the world but because of the Son, DeathRead MoreEssay on The True Appearance and Purpose of Angels1367 Words   |  6 PagesManikas-Foster). In Paradise Lost, a notorious angel, Lucifer, is said to transform into a toad and whisper into Eve`s ear (Jance). The world and the Bible have contrasting perspectives on what angels look like or what is an angel`s purpose. Angels are seen as mystical creatures with halos and beautiful wings, yet, also seen as beings that glorify God endlessly. So, what does an angel really look like? Do angels even exist? Are they made up creatures in movies? The world`s perspective and the Bible`s perspectiveRead MoreAnalysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost 1852 Words   |  8 Pagesnot merely summarize the plot. (2010 AP Literature and Composition) Disobedience and Exile an Analysis of Satan from Milton’s Paradise Lost John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost, has been the subject of criticism and interpretation through many years; these interpretations concur in that Adam and Eve are the sufferers of the poem, and it is their blight to lose Paradise because of their disobedience; however, their exile is merely a plight brought by Satan, and it is he who suffers exile beforeRead MoreFall from Grace: Satan as a Spiritually Corrupt Hero in Miltons Paradise Lost2859 Words   |  12 PagesFall From Grace: Satan as a Spiritually Corrupt Hero in Miltons Paradise Lost Can Satan -- a being, so evil that even as an Ethereal being of Heaven, who was cast out of Gods grace - be a hero? John Miltons Satan in Paradise Lost is very much a romanticized character within the epic poem, and there has been much debate since the poems publishing in 1667 over Miltons sentiments and whether Satan is the protagonist or a hero. As an angel in God the Fathers Heaven, Satan rose up with a group