Book IX: The Temptation and Fall
For the first section of book 9, go here.
What attitude does the "serpent" have in the first speech he makes to Eve?
What surprises her most about the serpent?
How does he describe what happened to him?
What is her response when she discovers what fruit he is talking about?
Why is her statement, "our Reason is our Law," key to Satan's approach to tempting her?
An epic simile precedes Satan's major temptation speech. What is he compared to, and why is this appropriate?
What is the first claim he makes about the nature of the fruit? (Lines 679-683)
What is the first claim he makes about why Eve should disregard the command? What empirical evidence does he claim supports this reasoning? What is the flaw in his evidence? (Lines 684-692)
What alternative interpretation does Satan offer for how God will react to Eve's decision to eat the fruit? (Lines 692-697)
On Lines 698-703, Satan provides the reasoning behind why God would have to approve of Eve's action. What is that reasoning?
The alternative to that reasoning is presented on lines 203-717. What does Satan argue God's nature would have to be, if he hurt Eve for eating the fruit? What does he say the fruit will actually do to her?
Satan then tries to further weaken Eve's idea of God by asking her to use her discursive reason to examine one of her assumptions about God. What is it he suggests, lines 718-725?
In the next section (lines 725-732), Satan poses a basic dilemma for Eve. What is the dilemma, and what is the flaw in Satan's argument that Eve does not perceive?
As she looks at the fruit, after Satan's speech, what is motivating her to take the fruit? (Lines 733-744)
When is her decision made?
Eve goes over Satan's logic and looks for flaws. What flaw does she miss? What false assumptions does she make?
What is her first reaction once she bites into the fruit?
When she speaks to the Tree, how does she treat it? (Lines 795-810)
How does she now see God?
Why does she consider withholding the fruit from Adam, and why does she decide not to hold it back?
What is Adam doing in the meantime? Compare this description to what it says in Genesis.
What argument does Eve use to tempt Adam?
Is Adam deceived by Eve's logic, the way Eve was deceived by Satan? How can you tell?
Adam's soliloquy begins on line 896. In the course of the soliloquy, he reveals that he has made his decision. Why has he made that decision?
When he actually talks directly to Eve, does he reveal his inner thoughts and his real reasons for his decision?
How does Adam rationalize his decision?
How does Eve respond to Adam's decision? What lie does she tell him?
What is the difference between Adam's fall and Eve's fall? Who is more culpable, do you think?
How does Adam respond to the effects of the fruit?
What is the "of their mutial guilt the seal"?
How do they feel when they wake up the next morning?
What is Adam's first reaction when he wakes up?
What IS the nature of the knowledge gained from eating the fruit?
What do they do next, and why?
What sort of emotions do they experience?
Who does Adam blame for the fall? Is he justified?
Who does Eve blame? Is she justified?
How does Adam respond to Eve's self-justification?
What clearly shows that misogyny is an element of fallen man?