Book I

Milton invokes the Heavenly Muse to help him sing of humanity's fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, caused by eating the forbidden fruit of knowledge.

Satan and his rebel angels have been defeated by God's forces in Heaven and cast down into Hell, where they lie stunned and defeated upon the burning lake.

Satan regains consciousness and surveys the hellish landscape and his surviving forces, recognizing the catastrophic extent of their defeat and loss.

Despite his defeat, Satan resolves to continue his rebellion against God, declaring that he and his forces will pursue their hatred rather than submit.

Satan devises a new strategy: rather than face God directly, he will corrupt God's newest creation, mankind, by exploiting their free will to turn them against their Creator.