John Milton

John Milton1608 1674John MiltonDecided at an early age, with the support of his parents, that he wanted to become a great poetHis parents sent him to St. Pauls private school, Cambridge University, then allowed him to spend eight more years after college studying on his own.

Milton & English PoliticsIn the 1640s, an ongoing struggle between King Charles and Parliament came to a head.Milton felt it was his duty as a poet to speak out in favor of the Parliamentary Party.

Miltons Personal Life Influences His WritingWhen 34, Milton married the 17 year old daughter of a Royalist family. They did not get along, and she went back to her family. He wrote many pamphlets advocating for divorce; Parliament burned all of these, which prompted him to write more pamphlets on the necessity for free speech.During their marriage, Milton and his first wife had four children. His infant son died in 1652. He remarried, but his 2nd wife died in childbirth, and the child died shortly after as well.

Rebellion!The Parliamentary Party, led by Oliver Cromwell, rebelled against King Charles and had him beheaded.After the rebellion, Milton was given the position of Latin Secretary to the Council of State. He was in charge of translating all Latin correspondence between Cromwell and world leaders.The RestorationIn 1660, after eleven years of Parliamentary rule, the English rule decided to recall their dead kings son from exile and crown him King Charles II.Cromwell was stripped of his possessions and placed under arrest as a traitor.

Milton Forced into RetirementAlthough Milton was arrested, he did not have to go to jail.Powerful friends stepped in on his behalf, and he was allowed to retire to his home.By this time his eyesight had failed and he was completely blind, probably from glaucoma.He lived the rest of his life with his third wife (his first two died) and his daughters.His daughters read to him to help him carry on the studies he thought necessary for a poet.On His BlindnessWhen I consider how my light is spentEre half my days in this dark world and wide,And that one talent which is death to hideLodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bentTo serve therewith my Maker, and presentMy true account, lest he returning chide,"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"I fondly ask. But Patience, to preventThat murmur, soon replies: "God doth not needEither man's work or his own gifts: who bestBear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His stateIs kingly; thousands at his bidding speedAnd post o'er land and ocean without rest:They also serve who only stand and wait."--John MiltonHow I use my days or how I am blindHe was blind by age 44Allusion to Matt. 254. Unused5. By that talent6. worth; accomplishments7. demand; require8. foolishly; patience personified9-10. God is sufficient unto Himself; he doesnt need man11. burden; workload14. We are all valued in the sight of God when we serve Him, regardless of our limitations.On His BlindnessItalian (Petrarchan) sonnet

Rhyme scheme - abba abba cde cde

Meter iambic pentameter (stressed syllables in yellow and caps)

When I conSIDer HOW my LIGHT is SPENT

octavesestetMiltons WorkMilton thought the best way to write poetry was to imitate ancient writers.He was especially drawn to the ancient poetry of the Bible, and it was from the Bible that he takes his subject for Paradise Lost.

Paradise LostIn Paradise Lost, Milton took just a few verses from the Bible, mainly from Genesis, and developed them into a 10,565-line poem.He used the conventions and devices of the classical epic to make the poem a work of art; he used his great learning and wide experience of human affairs to make them profound.Paradise LostAlthough the poem ranges back and forth between Hell and Heaven, the most important action takes place on Earth, where the first human beings, Adam and Eve, are given the choice of obeying or disobeying God. They choose to disobey, and having done so, they accept their punishment and make the best of the life that is left to them. They are the heroes of Miltons epic, and they represent us all.Paradise Lost = Epic PoemMilton literally worked on this epic poem his entire life.It was published as twelve books in 1674, the year that he died.An epic poem is a long narrative poem (tells a story) in an elevated style that presents characters of high position in adventures that prove important to the history of a nation or race.Characteristics of Epic PoemsThe hero is a VIP (usually of great historical significance).The setting is vast, covering great nations, the world, or the universe.The action consists of deeds requiring great courage or superhuman strength.Characteristics of Epic PoemsThere are supernatural elements at work (gods, angels, demons)The writing is of an elevated style.The poet does not usually interject personal opinions.Elevated StyleMilton followed the epic tradition by giving his poem an elevated style suited to the grand events he is describing, using ornate language, complex syntax, multiple allusions, and elaborate comparisons called epic similes.He wrote in English; however, the syntax or sentence structure is very much like Latin, making the poem difficult to read.Beginning an EpicThere is a formal, set way to begin an epic. The poet does two things:Calls on the Muse (one of the nine Greek goddesses who inspire artists) to speak or sing through the poetStates the subject of the poemIn Paradise Lost, Milton does both of these things.Miltons muse = the Holy Spirit, not one of the nine classical muses He says his poem will fly above those of the Classical poets (l. 14-15) and accomplish things never attempted before (l. 16), because his source of inspiration is greater than theirs. Miltons subject = the fall of humankind into sin and death was part of Gods greater plan, and that Gods plan is justified.Line 26: justify the ways of God to men

Miltons Great ArgumentThe Question: If God is good and He is in control, then why do bad things happen?Miltons Answer: In Paradise Lost, Milton argues that God is not responsible for these evils; instead, Adam and Eves disobedience to God brought death into the world, and all our woe (line 3). God gave Adam and Eve the freedom to choose between good and evil, and the strength to resist evil; yet they chose evil, and their offspringall of ushave suffered the effects of their choice ever since.Miltons Ideas on SatanIn Paradise Lost, Milton asserts that God purposely let Satan escape from Hell and establish himself on Earth so that human beings would have something to fight againstand with Gods help triumph over.Does this sound cruel to you? Milton said this plan is for mans own good. How?The Great RaceMilton describes life as a race in which good must compete with bad. Virtue, he says, is not virtue unless it is won in the dust and heat of the conflict with evil. And so, when Adam & Eve lose Paradise, they gain the opportunity to prove themselves in the real world. The Archangel Michael, who comes to turn them out of their perfect garden, tells them how to live in the new, imperfect world. Practice good deeds, he says, and patience, temperance, faith and love, and then wilt thou not be loathe / To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess/ A paradise within thee, happier far. Outline of Paradise Lost by John MiltonBOOK I - Satan and the fallen angels in Hell Introduction to the poem, and first invocation [1-49]Satan and his lieutenant awaken in the lake of fire [50-282] 1. Satan's speech, refusing to accept defeat [84-]2. Beelzebub's speech, fearing eternal slavery in Hell [128-]3. Satan's speech, vowing to resist [156-] 4. They rise off the lake and light on solid ground [192-]5. Satan's speech, accepting Hell as his new capital [242-]6. Beelzebub urges Satan to speak to the fallen angels [271-]

Outline (cont.)BOOK II - The Council; Satan's odyssey to Earth BOOK III - God's prophecies; Satan reaches Earth BOOK IV - Satan in Eden BOOK V - Raphael descends to warn the human couple of Satan BOOK VI - Raphael continues to relate the war in Heaven Outline (cont.)BOOK VII - Creation of the world BOOK VIII - The creation of Adam and Eve BOOK IX - The Fall BOOK X - God's judgment; Adam and Eve's reconciliation BOOK XI - Michael's prophecies till the Flood BOOK XII - From the Flood to Jesus; Expulsion from Eden