Book 8
When Adam gains consciousness for the first time, what question does he ask?
He asks, "How came I thus, how here? Not of myself; by some great Maker then..."
How does Satan enter the Garden of Eden the second time?
He slips into a river. The river leads into the garden and rises into a fountain by the Tree of Life. Having traveled through the river, Satan comes up through the fountain as mist.
Why does Satan find Eve alone?
Eve wanted to split up the work that she and Adam did in the garden. She thought they could be more efficient if they worked separately.
Where is Adam when Eve eats the fruit?
He is away from her, waiting for her return.
After God instructs Adam to name all of the creatures, what question does Adam ask?
Adam asks for a companion who he can fellowship with and who he can reason and talk with.
Once in the garden, what does Satan do?
He considers every creature, and chooses to hide within the snake because he "found the serpent subtlest beast of all the field."
What approach does Satan use with Eve when he first speaks to her? Give an example of this approach.
Satan employs the use of FLATTERY.
For example, he tells her, "You shouldst be seen as a goddess among gods, adored and served by angels."
What does Adam think when Eve tells him what she has done?
How are you lost so suddenly? How are you now devoted to death?
(How did this happen?)
How is Eve fashioned?
God puts Adam in a light sleep and removes a rib from his body.
"The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands; under his forming hands a creature grew, manlike, but different... so lovely fair..."
Satan says, "The more I see pleasures about me, so much more I feel torment within me." What does this mean?
He sees the beauty of creation and it makes him inwardly miserable. He knows paradise is lost for him.
What is the serpent's response when Eve asks him how he can speak?
The serpent says that he ate a piece of fruit from a random tree and that it gave him the ability to think deeply, reason intellectually, and speak eloquently.
Satan is lying and hiding his identity.
What is Adam's resolve, or decision, when Eve tells him what she's done?
Adam resolves to die with her because he can't live without her. "To lose thee were to lose myself."
How does Adam describe his surroundings and how he felt when he "woke" for the very first time?
He recalls looking toward the sky with wondering eyes. He looks around at the beautiful landscape and the active creatures. He says, "All things smiled... with joy my heart o'erflowed."
What is the only thing that brings Satan any comfort or peace?
Bringing destruction, especially to humans.
"Only in destroying I find ease to my relentless thoughts, and him [Adam] destroyed"
"Her rash hand in evil hour forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she ate; Earth felt the wound..."
What does this quote tell us about Eve's sin?
Milton says Eve is deceived by the serpent but Adam is not deceived. What is Adam's fault?
He depends too much on Eve and prioritizes her over his relationship with God. He is willing to die and be separated from God rather than be separated from Eve.
How is Eve described?
What is Satan talking about?
He is complaining that he used to be fighting for God's throne in heaven and now he's taking the shape of a lowly snake. However, he realizes he'll do anything to get revenge on God.
What are at least three points Satan makes to convince Eve to eat the fruit?
1. "Queen of this universe, do not believe those rigid threats of death, ye shall not die. How should ye? by the fruit? it gives you life..."
2. Will God rage at you for such a petty trespass?
3.You shall be as gods, knowing both good and evil as they know. What's wrong with wanting knowledge?
At the end of book 9, what do Adam and Eve spend "fruitless" hours doing?
They bicker with each other, casting accusations without accepting responsibly for what they have done.