Discussion Questions from Journal Entries, Book II of "Paradise Lost"
From UCSB English Department Knowledge Base
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Issues of good and evil How could angels created by God become evil and fall? Are all his creations fallible? Who's responsible for Satan's evil qualities and that of his followers? Are some characters more evil than others? Is there something titillating for us as readers to read about the evil things characters have done/will do?
Are we as readers torn between how we know we should feel about these characters (Satan-evil, God-good) and how we experience them in the narrative (if we didn't know the characters were Satan and the devils in hell, would we feel differently about them?)
Is the hell of Book 2 democratic or monarchical? Is Milton supporting one over the other, and how do such views connect with his own political ideas (The debate seems a democratic decision of what to do, yet Satan seems very kingly in this book.)
The military images of Heaven Why is it a place to be guarded with watchtowers, why is it within high walls?
How does Satan seem in this book? Heroic (volunteers for the mission), tyrannical, sympathetic (displays human emotions), courageous, presumptive, persevering?
The army of devils are afraid to volunteer for the mission to leave Hell--what purpose does this serve in Book 2?
Why is Book 2 still dwelling on Satan, instead of God, or even Adam and Eve?
Sin's role in Book II (Satan's daughter/lover) Why is Sin female? Why does she guard the gate, and why can't she close it after she opens it for Satan? represented as a particularly disgusting character, why is she so loathsome in Hell, yet so attractive in Heaven?
Her son Death Can he really hurt Satan? Why would Satan, an immortal being, be afraid of Death?
