Epic Similes in Paradise Lost Book I

S. P. Dutta, M.A.
(English), ACIB (London)

395 Ramakrishna Palli (MissionPalli), Sonarpur,Kolkata 700 150
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Epic Similes in Paradise Lost (Book I )
Unlike ordinary similes which are just explicit statements pointing out similarities between
two dissimilar objects, epic similes are grand, ornate, decorative, digressive and detached.
They form an integral part of the epic style and enrich the epic grandeur. Milton’ s
similes which resemble the similes used by Homer, Virgil and Dante, are remarkable for
their pictorial quality and suggestiveness. They are vivid, elaborate and long-tailed,
besides being ornate, decorative, digressive and detached. As they paint the scenes and
incidents in detail, they are impressive. As they contribute to the richness of the narrative
by adding colour to the scenes, characters, events , ideas or sentiments, they may be
called ‘ transposed descriptions’ . They strengthen the imaginative splendour and
reinforce the style with sublimity. Hence Milton’ s similes not only illustrate, but also
ennoble the mind of the reader by transporting it to a lofty region. While the tale is cosmic,
the images used in the similes are drawn from the world of experience, often from ordinary
life and widely-sighted nature. This enables the reader to capture what the poet seems to
suggest and his mind slowly soars into the field of action. Similes drawn from the
everyday life include a pilot starting off his voyage at night, a ploughman anxious about
his harvest and a drunken peasant intruding on first fairy revels and such like. The similes
provide amusement and entertainment to the readers breaking their monotony and giving
relief to their tension and suspense. The charge that they are digressive does not hold
good, as the images created enhance the interest of the readers in the narrative. The
poem deals with the history of mankind from the day of creation to last judgment, and this
vast sweep would miss much of the glory and pomp, had the similes raising images,
literary, mythological, geographical and cosmological had not found their place in the
poem.
Thus in lines 200 – 210 of Book I , Milton uses a Biblical simile by comparing Satan lying
out-stretched in the burning lake of hell to the huge, fabulous and transnormal creature,
the fearful sea- monster, Leviathan. The simile is splendid, and there can be none better,
but its tail is so long that it seems to shift our attention from the real object which is Satan.
But this is an unjust criticism as the simile enkindles and reinforces our vision of the
immensity of stature and the presence of the terrific evil in him, and this impression of
ours, deeply etched in our mind , lasts till the end. This creature is not only gigantic in
frame, but also a deceiver, who deceives the sailors, and hints at the role of a deceiver that
Satan is soon going to play. Such similes are called anticipatory.
Lines 768 – 775 present another grand simile which is used to describe the host of
gigantic devils thronging the Pandemonium to expatiate and confer on their state affairs.
They, as they fill the ground as well the air space are compared to swarms of bees on the
hives. In spite of Milton’ s supposed indebtedness to Homer and Virgil in this simile, he
has masterly handled it Milton is very gracious here ; he does not vilify the devils. He only
focuses on their intriguing nature that like a hive draws then together.
Milton describes the fallen angels lying entranced in the fiery dungeon as autumnal
leaves that lie scattered on the rivulets. The simile brings out the numerical strength of the
angels as well as the condition in which they live in the lake. Moreover, the comparison
with the faded and yellow leaves of autumn brings into light the loss of their celestial
brilliance. The angels are also compared to the sea-weeds that are scattered over the red
sea by fierce tempests. This simile does more than pointing out the countless number of
Satan’ s army, but conjures up the picture of the drowned army of Pharaoh , a Biblical
incident.
In this way the similes in Paradise Lost ( Book I ) play a vital role by adding beauty and
grandeur to the poem. They intensify the epic atmosphere. Milton is not imitative although
he closely follows the established tradition, but a genius as he was, he has handled the
convention in a way that is absolutely unique.
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S. P. Dutta, M.A.

(English), ACIB (London)

Epic Similes in Paradise Lost (Book I )

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