John Milton's poem Paradise Lost is an extremely long blank verse poem. In this poem, Milton describes the fall of man. The poem has two main storylines: one about Adam and Eve and their departure from the Garden of Eden and one about Satan and his banishment to Hell. Milton writes about the fall of mankind and disobedience to superiors to warn those who read his story about the hierarchies of the world.

Satan's story is developed as his rebellion against God is discussed and a type of civil war breaks out between Heaven and Hell. He and his other fallen angels strive to demolish mankind.

Adam and Eve live happily in the Garden of Eden until Satan, a serpent, convinces Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. After guilt and shame enter their lives for the first time, they are sent out of the garden.

The settings in Paradise Lost include Hell, Heaven, and Earth—home to the Garden of Eden and paradise. In this story, Earth is attached to Heaven by a heavy chain. The Garden of Eden itself sits on a plateau. It has a high wall around it and only one entrance, which is guarded by angels. In the actual Garden of Eden, everything is lush, natural, and beautiful. The trees are a large distinction between the Garden of Eden and the rest of Earth. There are beautiful and fruit-laden trees throughout the garden and two main trees in the center of the garden: the tree of life and the tree of knowledge.