John Milton was born on 9th December, 1608 in London. Milton very nicely blends the Renaissance and Reformation movement in his great literary works. Some of his literary contributions are "Ode on The Morning of Christ's Nativity," Paradise Lost," "L'Allegro" and "II Penseroso" (1633), "Comus " (1634), "Lycidus" (1637), "Paradise Regained," "Samson Agonisttes."
Milton's "Paradise Lost" is a great epic. It is one of the greatest English epic of all ages. It brings out the poet's strong intellectual and creative energy. "Paradise Lost" mainly deals with God, Satan, Adam, Eve, battle for heaven between God and Satan, creation of our first man and woman - Adam and Eve, their happy hours in the Garden of Eden.
We get a very vivid and accurate description of Garden of Eden in Book 4 of "Paradise Lost". Milton very nicely shows the beauties of Paradise. We get to know that Milton's Garden of Eden and earthly Paradise are planted by the Almighty God in East of Eden. He writes:
Garden
"Eden stretched her line
From Auran eastward to the royal town
Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings,
Or where the sons of Eden long before
Dwelt in Telessar"
Ever single object of the Garden of Eden is nice, full of freshness and natural. Every trees of Eden is full of fruits and flowers. There are very beautiful. We get to know about TREE of KNOWLEDGE and TREE OF LIFE. Different kinds of trees like cedar, pine fir create a very nice picture. These trees form a natural boundary for the Garden of Eden. Each and every tree is fruit laden. Every trees of the Garden carry fruits and flowers which are shinning brightly as sun's rays' fall on them.
The trees of the Garden are full of fruits which are really tasty and full of richness. These trees are not planted artificially. They are full of natural richness and qualities. Eden is full of natural treasures. There are lawns, glades, valleys, where cattle are grazing freely and happily. The whole nature has given all are treasures to decorate the Paradise. There are various flowers of different colors and smells. Adam and Eve often take rest in the shady caves of the Garden.
Even the caves are decorated with fruit laden trees and grape vines. The water-falls provide a soft and murmuring sound. The water is clear like mirror. The birds are singing very sweetly from trees. The air of the Paradise is pure and full of sweet fragrance. In the lap of such beautiful nature God's two most beautiful creation are nurturing their relationship. They are unaware of every odd plans of Satan.
Milton has given a vast description of the world of flora and fauna. The whole world of flora contributed in the decoration of the Paradise. There are different species of roses and jasmines are peeping from here and there in the Garden. These flowers are of different smell and color. Crocus, hyacinth decorate the floor of the Garden. Even the animal kingdom is very described by Milton. There are bears, tigers, elephants and other species of animals. As a whole it is very difficult top describe such a nice atmosphere.
The sky, the land, the horizon, the river, the waterfall are full of sweet smell and sound. It is really difficult to find the counterpart of such a great garden like Garden of Eden. The sounds of the bird are delightful to the ears of the human. The sunrise and sunsets of the Garden are really one of the most wanted and most beautiful scenes.
Thus Milton very accurately gives us the detailed description of the Garden of Eden. Milton is the second great poet of England stands next only to Shakespeare in bringing the nature in the words and sentences before the readers. Milton is the lover of Nature. In Book 4 he narrates a glowering description of nature and also the charms of Adam and Eve. Milton always deals with stately and majestic themes. Milton's concepts are high and grand. "Paradise Lost "is born out of his pure imaginative mind. He blends both modernity and ancient and mythological themes, incidents and character which are larger than, life.
Paradise Lost - The Garden Of Eden
Pushpita Ghosh