Final answer:
The terms "adventurous" and "unattempted" in Paradise Lost suggest Milton's awareness of the boldness of his poetic project, reflecting the idea that his effort to create an epic poem on a divine theme may be seen as sinful audacity. These terms, aligned with Aristotelian ideas about poetic art, underline the thematic concern with human endeavor versus divine limits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms "adventurous" and "unattempted" in the opening proem of John Milton's Paradise Lost convey the poet's awareness of the enormity and novelty of the task he has undertaken. These words suggest that Milton's venture into epic poetry, particularly on such a grand theological theme, might be seen as an act of hubris, akin to entering uncharted territories. This could be interpreted as an act of sinful audacity because he is venturing where no poet has gone before, tackling divine subjects that are both vast and sacred.
Milton's self-reflective questioning of his own artistic ambition is reminiscent of the Aristotelian principles outlined in the provided reference text. According to Aristotle, a poet must balance the impossible with the probable, and the rhetorically effective approach is to render the impossible believable. It reflects a thematic concern with the limits of human endeavor in the face of divine providence, an aspect that underpins Milton's epic.