Book 1 Summary

The narrator invokes the Heavenly Muse to assist him in telling the story of the fall of man. The story is meant to explain God's will to men. Satan was cast out of Heaven for stirring up rebel angels to make war on God. Having lost the war, he was hurled down from Heaven and imprisoned. The prison was, Hell, a place of fire that gave no light, and the farthest place from Heaven. Satan's second in command, Beelzebub, languished by his side in a sea of fire. After nine days passed, Satan broke the silence and spoke to him.

Satan reminds Beelzebub of how they were once the brightest angels in Heaven, and now they are equal in misery. Although God has defeated them, Satan says that he will not repent or change, because he was able to threaten God's might. Satan...