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   scarletpimpernel Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   The invocation serves a couple of purposes in Paradise Lost. Because Milton sets out to write Lost as an epic poem, he follows the traditions of epic poetry.  One major element is a call upon the muses to help the poet tell his story.  In this case, Milton invokes the Muse's help since he was not present when the infamous battle occurred between God and Satan or the creation of the earth.  Thus, Milton's main purpose for including an invocation is a stylistic one--he simply follows the format of all great epic poems (The Odyssey, Beowulf, etc.).

   Secondly, in Book One, Milton enunciates his goal in writing the poem and presents a disclaimer of sorts.  He wants readers to know the complexity and difficulty of his attempt to write not only an epic poem but also to write on the subject of man's fall.

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   http://www.enotes.com/paradise-lost/summary

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   Posted by scarletpimpernel on Friday October 30, 2009 at 7:48 PM