We’ve all heard about the classics and assume they’re

For Reflection or Discussion 

The function of the opening invocation is to pro-

vide a preview of things that will characterize 

the poem to follow. The opening invocation gives 

us the equivalent of a series of billboards along 

an interstate. The best way to approach Milton’s 

opening invocation is to treat it as an entry into 

Paradise Lost. We can proceed sequentially and 

piecemeal through the invocation, spinning out a 

series of generalizations about things we now know 

about the poem that is to follow. For example, it 

is obvious that Milton will give us a biblical and 

Christian version of what epic poets in the classical 

tradition gave us. If we look carefully, we can iden-

tify a dozen or more things that we know about 

the poem to follow (e.g., it will be a partly tragic 

Paradise Lost.526206.i03.indd   17

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