I think it very interesting that the main character of the work is the Devil. It seems incredibly out of the norm to focus on a darker, more accepted evil figure such as the Devil. I think Milton definitely broke a lot of rules with this piece and stepped into his own light, and most definitely needs to be preserved. 

It seems interesting to use "The Iliad" as a prototype for the poem, as there seems to be much more of an epic involved, as opposed to a morality tale. If Milton could go back and pick a different work for his prototype, what else do you think it would be?