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Literature

Paradise Lost

9 lessons

5h total length

Explore Milton’s beautiful depiction of the Fall and God’s promise of redemption.

Paradise Lost is the great long, English poem. It is a beautiful, penetrating, and challenging look at human nature, the relationship between God, man, and the angels, and the relationship between men and women. John Milton’s poetry evokes the powerful temptation contained in Satan’s rhetoric to make the reader experience the Fall within himself as Adam eats of the fruit. The poem reveals the stark contrast between Satan’s lies and God’s truth. We face God’s hard justice but rejoice in His mercy. We are reminded that in the midst of decay and turmoil there is hope.

Join Stephen Smith, Temple Family Professor in English Literature, on this flight from the depths of Hell to the heights of Heaven to better understand the limits of our human perspective. In this course, you will contemplate the power of providence, experience life in Paradise, dread the impending Fall, imagine the war in Heaven, discover true liberty, and feel the extent of God’s love.

The course includes nine lectures, each about 40 minutes long. Complete the course and receive a certificate by watching the lectures, and taking the short quizzes that follow. Study guides are provided to supplement each lecture. You can engage in conversations with other students on the dedicated discussion board. Take the course at your own pace and in the manner that best fits your schedule.

Enroll in “Paradise Lost today to explore Milton’s beautiful depiction of the Fall and God’s promise of redemption.

Taught by:

Stephen Smith, Temple Family Professor in English Literature 

Lessons in this course

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48:46

lesson 1

Book 1: Hell

Satan is the first character introduced in Paradise Lost. In Hell, he discovers the changed state of the fallen angels and resolves to continue his war against Heaven by other means. 

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47:36

lesson 2

Book 2: The Infernal Council

The fallen angels gather and hear proposals for how they might best pervert God’s judgment against them and corrupt His happiness. They settle on a plan to seduce man into disobedience. 

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36:21

lesson 3

Book 3: Christ

God observes Satan escaping Hell and journeying toward Paradise. He foretells that Satan will succeed in tempting man. Christ volunteers to take the punishment of death so that man might be reconciled to God. 

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42:06

lesson 4

Book 4: Eden

Adam and Eve enjoy their blissful labors cultivating God’s creation while Satan watches them, filled with envy and hate. He learns that God’s sole command to Adam and Eve was not to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. 

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34:48

lesson 5

Book 5: Raphael's Warning

God sends Raphael to warn Adam of the danger they face. He reminds Adam that God created man and angels alike sufficient to stand but free to fall.

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39:25

lesson 6

Books 6-8: The War in Heaven

Adam successfully entreats Raphael to tell the history of Heaven and how Satan and his legions fell. Raphael agrees to tell, but also cautions Adam not to seek knowledge beyond his station. 

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49:34

lesson 7

Book 9: The Fall

Despite the warnings, Eve is seduced by the Serpent to eat of the fruit. Adam chooses to partake as well, lest he survive but lose his wife. 

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23:40

lesson 8

Book 10: Punishment and Repentance

Adam and Eve face the full weight of knowing good and evil. After their punishment is pronounced, they acknowledge their fault and repent.

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26:42

lesson 9

Books 11-12: The Beginning

Although man has fallen, God promises to work good through it. Adam is shown the scriptural history to come and wonders at the good God can bring from evil.

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What Current Students Are Saying

Takes the student through the full context of the course subject matter. Wonderful insight into how we strayed and its consequences and offers a solution.

Don from Nevada

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