lines 1-49 Invocation of Muse

1-13Historical setting from Old Testament leading to salvation 14-26 States the argument or thesis of epic -to justify the ways of God to man 27-49 Epic Question and Answer: what caused Adam & Eve to fall? Background of Satan's fall -- battle in heaven over Satan's claim to equal God. God's victory over Satan. Satan & rebel angels thrown out of heaven.

lines 50-83 Setting of stage for opening scene in Hell

50-77 Satan peruses his surroundings. Satan tormented by loss of happiness and by everlasting pain. Description of Hell -dungeon with flames that give off no light, only sights of woe -- hopeless, and so unlike Heaven 78-83 Satan turns to Beelzebub, beside him

lines 84-124 Satan speaks to Beelzebub

84-99 Satan decries Beelzebub's altered appearance. 100-24 Satan proclaims that even though the battle has been lost to God, he will not submit or yield to God. Satan commits himself to eternal war with God.

lines 125-56 Beelzebub replies

127-33 Beelzebub calls Satan Prince, acknowledges superiority. 134-55 Beelzebub admits God's strength and superiority and questions if battle was worth the outcome: eternal punishment.

lines 157-91 Satan replies to Beelzebub

156-68 Satan claims fallen angels will never do good, only evil. 169-91 Satan takes stock of situation, noting that God has called back pursuing angels to the gates of Heaven. The storm that sent them out of Heaven has ceased. Satan looks around Hell and assesses what he finds.

lines 192-238 Description of Satan -epic simile

192-208 Satan is huge, long, snakelike. Compared to mythological and ancient Biblical creatures, Typhon and Leviathan. Yet Satan lies chained on burning lake under God's control. 220-38 Satan rises and flies to dry land. Many classical references. 239-42 Beelzebub follows.

lines 243-70 Satan speaks for third time

243-50 Satan says farewell to Heaven. 251-64 Satan greets the horrors of Hell and claims Hell as his kingdom. Hell is state of mind, place of freedom: "Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven." 265-70 Satan remembers other fallen angels.

 lines 271-83 Beelzebub assures Satan that other angels will revive once they hear Satan's voice. lines 283-330 Satan moves to shore, calls his legions from burning lake

 283-300 Satan's shield and sword described in Epic Simile: shield = massive as moon as viewed thru Galileo's telescope; spear = massive as Norwegian Pine that serves as ship's mast. 300-13 Description of multitude of fallen angels as they lay strewn on lake (biblical reference to Egyptians destroyed at Red Sea, and Epic Simile). 314-30 Satan calls, cajoles rebel angels to rise or be forever fallen.

 lines 331-506 Rebel angels rise; their 12 leaders named: Epic Catalog331-58 Angels fly up off the lake and hover until Satan directs them down to plain where they stand in multitude and majesty

 358-60 Rebel angels described as godlike.36175 Milton notes that their names have been blotted out of book of Heaven, and they have not yet been renamed. Their new names will come as they perform evil on coming human race. 376-506 Naming of most powerful 12 rebel angels; parallels Jesus' naming of 12 apostles, 12 tribes of Israel.

376-91 Milton invokes muse again to give us these names. They are named as gods of nations that opposed Israelites
. 392 Moloch - worshiped by Ammonites. 406 Chemos - worshiped by Moab's sons. 422 Baalim and Ashtaroth - Egyptian gods. 438 Astoreth/Astarte - Phoenician goddess. 446 Thammuz - Syrian god. 462 Dagon - worshiped along coast of Palestine. 467 Rimmon - worshiped in Damascus. 478 Osiris, Isis, Orus - worshiped in Egypt. 490 Belial - most lewd; has no one temple, but infected all temples and altars of God, as in Sodom.

lines 507-621 Fallen angels assemble before Satan in military review

507-30 As fallen angels come before Satan, his words and visage raise their courage and dispel their fears. 531-41 Satan raises standard and names Azazel as standard bearer. 542-67 Hosts raise standards in reply and stand armed before Satan awaiting command. 568-89 Satan reviews army with pride -- none finer in any legend. 589-615 Epic Simile: Satan stands above rest, tall as tower, with brilliance remaining. Satan described as sympathetic leader. 615-21 Satan prepares to speak, sheds tears.

lines 622-669 Satan addresses rebel angels as their leader

622-62 Satan incites fallen angels to eternal war with God, perhaps against rumored new creation. 663-69 Fallen angels reply by hurling defiance to Heaven.

 670-79 Led by Mammon, fallen angels go to nearby hill and tear it open, removing ribs of gold. 700-705 Second multitude removes more gold. 705-709 Third group prepares the mold. 710-722 Pandemonium rises out of earth to sound of music -- built like temple. 722-730 Interior of Pandemonium described. .

lines 670-798 Building of Pandemonium and assembly of hosts inside

 730-751 The multitude enters and praises the architect, Mulciber, who was sent to build in hell. 752-761 The call to council 761-776 The gates are thronged by the multitude, swarming like bees -- epic simile.777-789 The fallen angels are transformed to small size to enter the hall. 790-798 The fallen angels assemble in secret conclave in their own dimensions.