摘 要

各国文人学者对《失乐园》中撒旦这一主要角色的研究由来已久，三百多年以来，这位虚构的史诗人物分别被不同的评论家们阐释成罪恶的化身或史诗英雄，典型的清教徒革命家或是对被处以绞刑的英国国王查理一世的影射。在绝大多数论述弥尔顿《失乐园》的论著和论文中，撒旦几乎都被公认为是整部史诗情节发展所环绕的中心人物，而且是弥尔顿塑造最成功的一个角色。如今，相关的评论专著和文章早已是浩如烟海，汗牛充栋，焦点几乎都集中在这部史诗的一位主人公撒旦身上。对撒旦的研究，特别是撒旦英雄形象的研究直接影响了读者对其他角色的看法，以及对于作品中心思想的理解。这篇论文旨在从认知观点的角度研究英国文学影响下弥尔顿笔下的撒旦的英雄形象与反抗精神。同时本文认为对于撒旦这一人物性格的正确理解对于如何欣赏弥尔顿这部伟大的史诗杰作具有至关重要的影响。
  
关键词： 失乐园；撒旦；史诗
 
Abstract

The scholars all over the world have studied Satan- the main character of Paradise Lost for a long time. Over three hundred years, different critics have explained the imaginary epic man as the embodiment of sin or the hero of epic poetry，typical puritan revolutionist or insinuation of the King CharlesⅠwho was death by judicial hanging. In most of the works and thesises on Milton’s Paradise Lost, Satan was almost considered as the key character rounding by the whole epic's developing plot, and was also the most successful character shaped by Milton. Nowadays, there are tremendous amount of vast and an immense number of related works and articles, most of which focus on one character of the epic--Satan. The study of Satan, especially its heroic spirit has directly influenced readers' views to other characters, and the understanding of work’s main idea. This thesis aims to study Satan's heroic spirit and spirit of resistance under the influence of English literature from the cognitive perspective. At the same time, this thesis holds the view that the right analysis of Satan's personality has the crucial adjective influence on how to appreciate this great epic of Milton.

Keywords:   Paradise Lost; Satan; epic

Chapter 1  Introduction
1.1. Milton and “Paradise Lost”
The Paradise Lost is one of the poems of John Milton. To know the poetry of John Milton is to have a liberal education. John Milton was born in London in 1608. His father, a scrivener, was also a radical Puritan and a lover of music and literature. His mother was a woman of refinement and social grace, with a deep interest in religion and local charities. From boyhood Milton was a hard-working student, and at twelve he was already a scholar in spirit. He used to study at the famous St.Paul’s School in London and Christ’s College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge he wrote a few poems in Latin, Italian and English. He wrote his first important work On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity. L’Allegro and Ⅱ Penseroso, the twin lyrical poems, were probably written during his years at Horton. His parents expected him to take orders in the Church of England, but he was opposed to the trend of civil and religious affairs in his country. After his graduation he devoted himself to study and to the writing of poetry.