Paradise Lost Lesson Plan

Milton's Satan starts out with gigantic stature, then assumes the form of a lowly stature, then goes and hides in the Garden of Eden in a most animal-like fashion. What is the significance of this?

Some students may see this as a metaphor for Satan's debasement of himself. Others may point out that there is a certain degree of poetic justice at play here – though once exalted among his peers, Satan's attempt to increase his status at the expense of God and humankind ironically diminishes him. Equally, as Satan seeks vengeance against Heaven, he must also stoop to lower and lower means.

Why does Satan continue down the dark path that he's on? What prevents him from...