Book X

Milton starts the book with a reminder that God was watching all that happened in Book IX-so why didn't He do anything about it?

How does the Christian Doctrine chapter on "Of the Divine Decrees" help explain what God says to the Angels?

Who does God send to judge mankind, and why?

How has the appearance of Adam and Eve changed?

Is there anything weasel-like in the way Adam responds to the question about whether he has eaten of the tree? Does he lie?

How does the "sovran Presence" answer Adam's attempt at evasion of responsibility?

How is Eve's response different from Adam's?

Compare/contrast the judgment passed on Adam and Eve to the passage in Genesis from which it is drawn.

How does Milton explain the meaning of the first part of the judgment (lines 182-92)?

How are Adam and Eve clothed (literally and figuratively)?

Meanwhile, what are Sin and Death doing? What does their creation look like?

Who do they meet along the way, and what does he look like?

How does Sin react to Satan's story? What does she expect will happen next?

Describe Satan's entrance in front of his followers.

What claims does he make in his speech of triumph?

How do the devils respond, and how is it different from what Satan expected?

What happens to the devils?

In what way does what happens to them mirror what Satan brought to Adam and Eve? Why is this appropriate?

What happens when Sin and Death get to earth?

Who called the hell-hounds?

How does God restructure his creation?

What is Adam's reaction?

In his soliloquy, what does Adam wish for? Why doesn't he pursue this option?

What problem is Adam having with his sentence of death?

At what point does Adam recognize that he must take responsibility for his sin?

How does Adam react to Eve's first attempt at reconciliation?

What shows that Adam has yet to achieve full awareness of his responsibility for his sin?

The four steps of repentance are 1)conviction 2)contrition 3)confession 4) turn from evil to good. Compare/contrast Adam's progression toward repentance to Eve's progression toward repentance.

What offer does Adam make to Eve that shows he's trying to reconcile?

Eve has a plan about how to mitigate their suffering. What's wrong with it?

Adam suggests another alternative. What is it?

What do they decide they must do before going any further?