Teachers' Resource Web

Outline of Paradise Lost, Book Nine

Richard Kroll, UCI

The Poet's introduction: 1-47

(1) SATAN ARRIVES IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN (PROLOGUE)

Satan's arrival and choice of the serpent--48-96

His soliloquy--97-178

He "possesses" the serpent--179-191

(2) ADAM AND EVE AGREE TO WORK SEPARATELY (ACT 1)

Adam and Eve arise in the morning--192-204

Eve's suggestion--205-225

Adam's objection--226-269

Eve--270-289; Adam--291-317; Eve--322-341

Adam's consent--342-375

Eve's last word--376-384

Eve goes off to work alone--385-411

(3) SERPENT PERSUADES EVE TO EAT THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT (ACT 2)

The Serpent finds eve--412-472

His soliloquy--473-493

He shows himself--494-531

His flattery--532-548

Eve's surprise--549-566

The Serpent's account of the Tree of Knowledge--567-612

Eve's question--613-624

The Serpent's answer--625-630

He leads her to the tree--631-646

Her reaction--647-654

His sarcasm--655-658

Her answer--659-663

Description of the Serpent--664-678

His speech--679-732

Eve is impressed--733-744

She speaks--745-779

She eats--780-794

Her soliloquy--795-833

(4) ADAM EATS THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT (ACT 3)

Adam meets Eve--834-855

Her speech--856-885

His reaction--885-895

His speech--896-959

Her speech--960-989

He eats, "against his better knowledge, not deceived"--990-1016

(5) THE EFFECTS OF SIN ON ADAM AND EVE (ACT 4 OR EPILOGUE)

Adam speaks--1017-1033

The immediate effect--1034-1045

The after-effect--1046-1066

Adam speaks--1067-1098

The fig-leaves and the passions--1099-1133

Adam's reproof--1134-1142

Eve's retort--1143-1161

Adam's recrimination--1162-1186

Conclusion--1187-1189