Alternative Representation of Hell

When first reading through Book 1 of Paradise Lost and Milton's many descriptions of Hell's landscape and its inhabitants, the image that repeatedly came to mind based on the imagery bore a striking similarity to that of Mordor in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. In order to best present the comparison here, I have opted to embed clips from Peter Jackson's film version based strictly off of Tolkien's text.
The first clip shows the battle between the Gandalf and the Balrog of Morgoth as they fall from the Bridge of Khazad-Dum toward the lake at the heart of the Misty Mountains. The reason I am including this piece is because it is visually very much like what I pictured the subteranean lake in Hell to resemble, perhaps at the moment when Satan fell. He would be represented here by both the Balrog and Gandalf: a fiery demon and a falling angel.

"Forthwith outright he rears from off the pool
His mighty stature. On each hand the flames
Driv'n backward slope their pointing spires and, rolled
In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrible vale.
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight
Aloft incumbent on the dusky air
That felt unusual weight till on dry land
He lights- if it were land that ever burned
With solid as the lake with liquid fire,
And such appeared in hue. As when the force
Of subterranean wind transports a hill
Torn from Pelorus or the shattered side
Of thund'ring Etna whose combustible
And fueled entrails thence conceiving fire
Sublimed with mineral fury aid the winds
And leave a singed bottom all involved
With stench and smoke: such resting found the sole
Of unblest feet. (1.221-238)"

Another instance of a compared image comes in the form of "flaming swords" which is evident in this next clip. The Witch-King of Angmar, shone here on a fell beast (which could be seen as a perversion of angel's wings), raises his flaming sword in defiance towards Gandalf, an agent of the the Valar (who, in Tolkein's universe, are the powers entrusted with Middle-Earth by the Almighty Creator).

"He spake, and to confirm his words out flew
Millions of flaming swords drawn from the thighs
Of mighty cherubim. The sudden blaze
Far round illumined Hell. Highly they raged
Against the High'st and fierce with grasped arms
Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n. (1.663-669)"

Finally, I will now present the clip which shows the most striking comparisons, three in the same scene. Because the three comparisons are drawn from three parts of the text, I will list here first the three things to look for in the video, and afterwards I will present the three quotes:

1. the hordes of a dark army
2. they fight on the slopes of an erupting Mount Doom
3. the emergence and visage of the Dark Lord Sauron

" All in a moment through the gloom were seen
Ten thousand banners rise into the air
With orient colors waving. With them rose
A forest huge of spears; and the thronging helms
Appeared and serried shields in thick array
Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of flutes and soft recorders, such as raised
To the heighth of noblest temper heroes old
Arming to battle, and instead of rage
Deliberate valor breathed, firm and unmoved
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat,
Nor wanting pow'r to mitigate or swage
With solemn touches, troubled thoughts, and chase
Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they
Breathing united force fixed thought
Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed
Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil. And now
Advanced in view they stand a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazzling arms in guise
Of warriors old with ordered spear and shield
Awaiting what command their mighty chief
Had to impose. He through the armed files
Darts his experienced eye and soon traverse
The whole battalion views, their order due,
Their visages and stature as of gods,
Their number last he sums. And now his heart
Distends with pride and, hard'ning in his strength,
Glories. (1.544-573)"

" There stood a hill not far whose grisly top
Belched fire and rolling smoke. The rest entire
Shone with a glossy scurf, undoubted sign
That in his womb was hid metallic ore,
The work of sulphur. Thither winged with speed
A num'rous brigade hastened, as when bands
Of pioneers with spade and pickaxe armed
Forerun the royal camp to trench a field
Or cast a rampart. (1. 670-678)"

" Thus far these beyond
Compare of mortal prowess yet observed
Their dread commander. He above the rest
In shape and gesture proudly eminent
Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost
All her original brightness nor appeared
Less than archangel ruined and th' excess
Of glory obscured, as when the sun, new ris'n,
Looks through the horizontal misty air
Shorn of his beams or from behind the moon
In dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds
On half the nations and with fear of change
Perplexes monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone
Above them all th' archangel, but his face
Deep scars of thunder had entrenched and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntless courage and consid'rate pride
Waiting revenge. (1.587-604)"

I think it's really quite fascinating to imagine how Milton's vision of Hell and Satan may have had a direct impact on the beloved works of Tolkien, now made into films which are benchmarks of popular culture. I will admit that not all the quotes fit exactly, but the images that come to mind are remarkably similar, as with the defiant flaming sword and the towering commander. When I read about the eruption of the volcano in Paradise Lost the first thing that came to mind was that panning shot of Mount Doom erupting over the battlefield. Based on my limited knowledge of Tolkien, I don't think it far-fetched to consider that the land of Mordor was meant to be considered a Hell for the purposes of his story, the heroes having to journey into Hell in order to complete their quest and vanquish the ultimate evil (Sauron being equated with Satan). It will be interesting to see, as we continue to delve into Paradise Lost, what other images may have similarities with more modern interpretations of the same basic premises.