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At a glance:
- Author: John Milton
- First Published: 1671
- Type of Work: Brief Epic Poetry
- Genres: Poetry, Epic, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Sin or Original sin, Religion, God, Christianity, Good and evil, Bible, biblical imagery, or biblical symbolism, Jesus Christ, Devils or demons, Middle East, Resurrection, Theology, Heaven, Satan or Satanism, First century, Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint
- Locales: Holy Land
As the poem opens, neither Christ nor his followers understand his messianic role. Having fasted in the desert for 40 days, he is approached by his adversary Satan in disguise. Satan has heard the voice of God proclaiming Jesus His son and seeks to discover the meaning of the declaration.
Satan tempts Christ to assuage hunger, first by seeking to have him turn stones into bread and then by presenting an elaborate banquet. Recognizing his adversary, Christ refuses the blandishments.
In a second sequence, Satan tempts Christ by offering him wealth, power, and imperial sway....
(The entire page is 500 words.)
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