Blogging question on Book V: What is the nature of redemption available to angels within Paradise Lost?

In the end of Book V, we see Abdiel change sides from that of Satan back to that of God. This raises a serious question regarding the nature of redemption for angels. Before this incident we are under the belief that angels, once fallen, cannot be forgiven or repent. In lines 903-905 we read, "From amidst them forth he passed, Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained Superior, nor of violence feared aught;" Here, Abdiel steps out of the camp of fallen angels back to God, and is received. We also see the question of redemption come up in Satan's self reflective speech in Book IV when he states, "But say I could repent and could obtain By act of grace my former state; how soon Would heighth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay What feigned submission swore... This knows my punisher; therefore as far From granting he, as I from begging peace:"(93-96;103-104) Satan is saying here that if he were redeemed from his actions, he would forget what he has done and rebel against God again. In this, God not redeeming him is a form of grace for him. Now, if we look back at Abdiel, we read he was, "...faithful found, Among the faithless, faithful only he; Among innumerable false, unmoved, unshaken, unseduced, unterrified His loyalty kept, his love, his zeal:"(Book V Lines 896-900) Abdiel did not fall like the other angels, but instead stood against them all, and because of that he was welcomed back into Heaven. We see that angels who fall, fall on their own accord and own choice, and would fall again if redeemed, and because they have fallen on their own devices, they are not allowed redemption, because they will fall again.

Weekly Literary Terms: Beat writers, Bombast, and Bowdlerize.

Beat Writers:
The Beat Generation was a literary movement started by a group of authors whose work explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-World War II era. The bulk of their work was published and popularized throughout the 1950s.

Examples:
Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Carl Solomon, Gary Snyder, and Neal Cassady



Bombast:
Bombast language is high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.

Example:
Just about any politician.



Bowdlerize:
To bowdlerize something is to remove material that is considered improper or offensive from (a text or account), especially with the result that it becomes weaker or less effective.

Example:
In the drafting of early U.S documents, people would often refer to blacks as "certain persons" rather than naming them blacks in order to keep it less derogatory.

Blogging: According to Book IV, what would you say is the nature (essence) of prelapsarian Eden, Adam, and Eve?

I would have to say that according to book IV, the nature of prelapsarian Eden is lush and full.Within the initial description of Eden, there are lines that describe the plants as, "...a circling row of goodliest trees loaden with fairest fruit, Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue Appeared, with gay enameled colors mixed."(Book IV, L. 146-149) Milton continues, describing Eden as this kind of dense nature, full and intense with life. Adam and Eve, as they work in the garden, seem to be strongly innocent, having freedom to wander and enjoy the Garden in a pure form. This is a beautiful image in which Milton paints for us and is truly a paradise to admire.

Literary Terms and Vocab: Define the poetic device, "Apostrophe," and give an example from Paradise Lost. Define the word "Subversive" and put it into a meaningful sentence.

In poetry, an apostrophe is a term used when a speaker directly addresses someone or something that isn't present in the poem. The speaker could be addressing an abstract concept like love, a person (dead or alive), a place, or even a thing, like the sun or the sea.

"Hail holy Light, offspring of Heav'n firstborn,
Or of th' Eternal coeternal beam
May I express thee unblamed?"(PL Book III, Ln. 1-3)



Something that is subversive is something that creates trouble or tries to overthrow the ruling power.

Satan's subversive intent cannot allow him to do anything but corrupt God's creating and try to overthrow His power.

Weekly Literary Terms: Anaphora, Bathos and Anti-climax, and Blank Verse

Anaphora:
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Example:
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.



Bathos and Anti-climax:
Bathos is anti-climax. An anti-climax is the usually sudden transition in discourse from a significant idea to a trivial or ludicrous idea

Example:




Blank Verse:
Blank Verse is a verse that has a meter, but does not have a rhyming scheme.

Example:
Paradise Lost