Satan as the hero of Paradise Lost

master's thesis

• Author: Mak Tvrtković
• Mentor: Tomislav Brlek (mentor)
• Committee member: Tomislav Brlek (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Iva Polak (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Vanja Polić Jurković (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2019-10-11, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

The thesis focuses on the analysis of the character of Satan in Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost, and attempts to define it and contextualize the character’s heroism both in structural and post-structural terms while juxtaposing him with other, more traditional heroes. After giving the brief biography of John Milton, the author of the said epic poem, the essay touches upon the similarity between this unlikely hero, his stances and causes he fights for, and Milton, along with the details from his own life which prove the similarity that Paradise Lost has with the narrative of the Great Chain of being, was Milton's way of subverting the King's rule in 17th century England. The thesis also explores Satan's characteristics, his flaws and attributes, while comparing him to heroes and antiheroes of some of the other works, which in turn helps corroborate the claim that Satan is a hero of Paradise Lost. The thesis comes to the conclusion of why the incarnation of evil banished from heaven could be viewed as a main contributor to the action of the story and plot itself, and therefore a hero of this epic poem.

• Keywords: Satan; Paradise Lost; John Milton; hero; antihero; epic poem Great Chain of Being; characteristics
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:756766
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (single major); specializations in: TEFL, Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation; Course: Literature and Culture; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2019-10-15 13:48:28