John MiltonJohn Milton1608-16741608-1674

BiographyBiography Name: John MiltonName: John Milton

Born in 1608 in London, England.Born in 1608 in London, England.

Best known for writing Best known for writing Paradise Lost..Paradise Lost..

John Milton was an English poet and author.John Milton was an English poet and author.

Died in 1674 peacefully of gout (Jokinen).Died in 1674 peacefully of gout (Jokinen).

Early LifeEarly Life Attended St. Paul as a boy.Attended St. Paul as a boy.

By the age of 12 he never By the age of 12 he never stopped reading before midnight.stopped reading before midnight.

Milton learned Greek, Latin, and Milton learned Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.Hebrew.

In 1625 at the age of 17, Milton In 1625 at the age of 17, Milton enrolled at Christ’s College, enrolled at Christ’s College, Cambridge (Rowan).Cambridge (Rowan).

StudiesStudies

Milton received his M.A in 1632 at Milton received his M.A in 1632 at Cambridge.Cambridge.

Milton undertook 5 years of self-Milton undertook 5 years of self-directed private study after receiving directed private study after receiving his M.A degree.his M.A degree.

Milton composed his famous poem Milton composed his famous poem “Oh Shakespeare”, during this time.“Oh Shakespeare”, during this time.

Milton was almost done with his Milton was almost done with his studies in April 1637, when his mother studies in April 1637, when his mother died (Jokinen).died (Jokinen).

Early WorksEarly Works Milton wrote his first poem at the Milton wrote his first poem at the

age of 21, entitled “On the morning age of 21, entitled “On the morning of Christ's Nativity.”of Christ's Nativity.”

A few years later, Milton wrote a A few years later, Milton wrote a masque, which he presented in masque, which he presented in 1634 at Ludlow Castle.1634 at Ludlow Castle.

In 1637, Milton’s good friend, In 1637, Milton’s good friend, Edward King, drowned. Milton was Edward King, drowned. Milton was asked to contribute and write a asked to contribute and write a poem in his memory. Milton wrote poem in his memory. Milton wrote a famous poem entitled “Lycidas” a famous poem entitled “Lycidas” (Rowan).(Rowan).

Milton’s Milton’s comuscomus

In Greek mythology, Comus or Komos is the god of festivity, revels and In Greek mythology, Comus or Komos is the god of festivity, revels and nocturnal dalliances. He is a son and a cup-bearer of the god Bacchus. Comus nocturnal dalliances. He is a son and a cup-bearer of the god Bacchus. Comus represents anarchy and chaos. His mythology occurs in the later times of represents anarchy and chaos. His mythology occurs in the later times of antiquity. During his festivals in Ancient Greece, men and women exchanged antiquity. During his festivals in Ancient Greece, men and women exchanged clothes. He was depicted as a young man on the point of unconsciousness from clothes. He was depicted as a young man on the point of unconsciousness from drink. He had a wreath of flowers on his head and carried a torch that was in the drink. He had a wreath of flowers on his head and carried a torch that was in the process of being dropped. Unlike the purely carnal Panor purely intoxicated process of being dropped. Unlike the purely carnal Panor purely intoxicated Bacchus, Comus was a god of excess.Bacchus, Comus was a god of excess.

““On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity”On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity”

Milton’s first major work Milton’s first major work in English.in English.

Displays elements that are Displays elements that are constant in Milton’s constant in Milton’s poetry: allusiveness, poetry: allusiveness, revisionism, mixture of revisionism, mixture of genres, stunning genres, stunning originality, cosmic scope, originality, cosmic scope, and prophetic voice.”and prophetic voice.”

Demonstrates a conflation Demonstrates a conflation of different genres of different genres (Luxon).(Luxon).

LycidasLycidas Lycidas first appeared in a 1638 Lycidas first appeared in a 1638

collection of elegies entitled collection of elegies entitled “Justa Edouardo King Naufrago.”“Justa Edouardo King Naufrago.”

Commemorated Edward King, a Commemorated Edward King, a friend of Milton from the friend of Milton from the University of Cambridge.University of Cambridge.

The body of Lycidas is composed The body of Lycidas is composed of three movements that run in of three movements that run in parallel pattern. This means that parallel pattern. This means that each movement begins with an each movement begins with an invocation, and ends with a invocation, and ends with a conclusion to Milton’s conclusion to Milton’s “emotional problem” (Luxon).“emotional problem” (Luxon).

Samson AgonistesSamson Agonistes "Samson the Athlete“: a Tragedy "Samson the Athlete“: a Tragedy by John Milton, published in the by John Milton, published in the same volume as his epic Paradise same volume as his epic Paradise Regained in 1671. It is considered Regained in 1671. It is considered the greatest English drama based the greatest English drama based on the Greek model and is known on the Greek model and is known as a closet tragedy (one more as a closet tragedy (one more suited for reading than suited for reading than performance). The work deals performance). The work deals with the final phase of Samson's with the final phase of Samson's life and recounts the story as told life and recounts the story as told in the Old Testament Book of in the Old Testament Book of Judges. Himself blind when he Judges. Himself blind when he wrote Samson Agonistes, Milton wrote Samson Agonistes, Milton depicts Samson, the once mighty depicts Samson, the once mighty warrior, as blinded and a prisoner warrior, as blinded and a prisoner of the Philistines ("eyeless in Gaza of the Philistines ("eyeless in Gaza at the mill with slaves"). Samson at the mill with slaves"). Samson conquers self-pity and despair, conquers self-pity and despair, however, and is granted a return of however, and is granted a return of his old strength. He pulls down the his old strength. He pulls down the pillars that support the temple of pillars that support the temple of the Philistine god Dagon, crushing the Philistine god Dagon, crushing himself along with his captors. himself along with his captors.

Paradise LostParadise Lost: Milton’s Long Epic: Milton’s Long Epic First published in 1667.First published in 1667. Paradise LostParadise Lost is an epic poem in is an epic poem in

blank verse. It is considered by blank verse. It is considered by scholars as one of the greatest poems scholars as one of the greatest poems of the English language.of the English language.

Tells the biblical story of the fall Tells the biblical story of the fall from grace of Adam and Eve.from grace of Adam and Eve.

Main characters in the poem are: Main characters in the poem are: God, Lucifer, Adam, and Eve God, Lucifer, Adam, and Eve (Napierkowski).(Napierkowski).

Paradise LostParadise Lost: Adam and Eve: Adam and Eve

This famous poem is about Adam This famous poem is about Adam and Eve, and how they came to be and Eve, and how they came to be created, and how they came to lose created, and how they came to lose their place in the garden of Eden, their place in the garden of Eden, which is also called Paradise.which is also called Paradise.

The poem also includes the origin The poem also includes the origin of Satan. Originally he was called of Satan. Originally he was called Lucifer, who was an Angel in Lucifer, who was an Angel in heaven who led his followers in a heaven who led his followers in a war against God, and was sent to war against God, and was sent to hell (Napierkowski).hell (Napierkowski).

Adam and Adam and EveEve

This engraving is one of Dürer's most This engraving is one of Dürer's most famous engraved works. It draws on the famous engraved works. It draws on the sum of his four-year study of the ideal sum of his four-year study of the ideal proportions of the human body. His proportions of the human body. His interest in the biblical narrative is interest in the biblical narrative is subordinate to his depiction of Adam subordinate to his depiction of Adam and Eve as ideal female and male nudes and Eve as ideal female and male nudes in imitation of classical sculptures. The in imitation of classical sculptures. The elk, hare, cat and ox symbolize the four elk, hare, cat and ox symbolize the four humours into which the human soul humours into which the human soul divided after the Fall of Man. The divided after the Fall of Man. The contrasting cat and mouse embody the contrasting cat and mouse embody the tense relationship between the genders, tense relationship between the genders, the parrot represents Mary as a second the parrot represents Mary as a second Eve and the ibex in the background Eve and the ibex in the background represents the infidels.represents the infidels.

Milton’s SatanMilton’s SatanMilton uses language to Milton uses language to create the character of create the character of Satan as a gallant figure Satan as a gallant figure that inspires and that inspires and commands the legion of commands the legion of angels at his requisition. angels at his requisition. Satan’s dark, and Satan’s dark, and ultimately evil façade, is ultimately evil façade, is overshadowed by his overshadowed by his charismatic, dominant charismatic, dominant and powerful affectation. and powerful affectation. He becomes an extremely He becomes an extremely attractive and compelling attractive and compelling figure to the fallen figure to the fallen cherubs.cherubs.

Milton: a PoemMilton: a Poem ““Milton: a Poem” Milton: a Poem” is an epic is an epic

poem by William Blake, poem by William Blake, written and illustrated between written and illustrated between 1804 and 1810. Its hero is 1804 and 1810. Its hero is John Milton, who returns from John Milton, who returns from heaven and unites with Blake heaven and unites with Blake to explore the relationship to explore the relationship between living writers and between living writers and their predecessors, and to their predecessors, and to undergo a mystical journey to undergo a mystical journey to correct his own spiritual correct his own spiritual errors.errors.

MiltonMilton was Blake's longest was Blake's longest published poem to date, and published poem to date, and was printed in Blake's was printed in Blake's characteristic combination of characteristic combination of etched text and illustration etched text and illustration supplemented by watercolor.supplemented by watercolor.

Satan Arousing the Rebel AngelsSatan Arousing the Rebel Angels

William Blake illustrated William Blake illustrated Paradise Lost Paradise Lost more often more often than any other work by than any other work by John Milton, and John Milton, and illustrated Milton's work illustrated Milton's work more often than that of more often than that of any other writer. The any other writer. The illustrations demonstrate illustrations demonstrate his critical engagement his critical engagement with the text, specifically with the text, specifically his efforts to redeem the his efforts to redeem the "errors" he perceived in "errors" he perceived in his predecessor's work.his predecessor's work.

Satan, Sin, and DeathSatan, Sin, and Death

Satan, Sin, and Death: Satan, Sin, and Death: Satan Comes to the Satan Comes to the Gates of HellGates of Hell: an : an illustration by William illustration by William Blake to Milton’s Blake to Milton’s Paradise LostParadise Lost c. 1806. c. 1806.  That’s Satan on the  That’s Satan on the left, Sin (she is half left, Sin (she is half serpent) in the middle serpent) in the middle and her half-transparent and her half-transparent son Death on the right.son Death on the right.

Dore’s The Fall of LuciferDore’s The Fall of Lucifer

““At once as far as At once as far as angel's ken he viewsangel's ken he viewsThe dismal situation The dismal situation waste and wild,waste and wild,A dungeon horrible, A dungeon horrible, on all sides roundon all sides roundAs one great furnace As one great furnace flamed, yet from flamed, yet from those flamesthose flamesNo light, but rather No light, but rather darkness visibledarkness visibleServed only to Served only to discover sights of discover sights of woe... ” (I.59)woe... ” (I.59)

Paradise RegainedParadise Regained Paradise RegainedParadise Regained, the , the

mini-epic sequel to mini-epic sequel to Paradise LostParadise Lost, expounds , expounds on the on the redemptive workredemptive work of the Son of God, to of the Son of God, to regain the lost Paradise regain the lost Paradise that Satan stole. John that Satan stole. John Milton demonstrates how Milton demonstrates how everything lost in his first everything lost in his first epic is won back in his epic is won back in his second mini-epic. Milton second mini-epic. Milton divided this sequel into divided this sequel into four books.four books.

Milton’s DeathMilton’s Death

After 1660, Milton retired to private life After 1660, Milton retired to private life and returned to writing poetry.and returned to writing poetry.

He had gone blind and sat composing He had gone blind and sat composing poems in his head, and dictated each day poems in his head, and dictated each day to his daughters.to his daughters.

It was in this retirement that Milton It was in this retirement that Milton composed his most famous work: composed his most famous work: Paradise LostParadise Lost..

John Milton passed away November 8, John Milton passed away November 8, 1674 (Rowan).1674 (Rowan).

““A good book is the A good book is the precious life-blood of precious life-blood of a master-spirit a master-spirit embalmed and embalmed and treasured up on a treasured up on a purpose to a life purpose to a life beyond life.”beyond life.”

---John Milton---John Milton

Work CitedWork CitedJokinen, Anniina. "Life of John Milton." Jokinen, Anniina. "Life of John Milton." LuminariumLuminarium. 21 . 21

June 2006. 19 March 15 2009.June 2006. 19 March 15 2009.http://http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/milton/miltonbio.htmwww.luminarium.org/sevenlit/milton/miltonbio.htm

Luxon, Thomas H. "The Milton Reading Room". 2008. April Luxon, Thomas H. "The Milton Reading Room". 2008. April 1 2009.1 2009.

http://http://www.dartmouth.edu/~miltonwww.dartmouth.edu/~milton..

Napierkowski, Marie Rose. "Paradise Lost". 2006. April 1 Napierkowski, Marie Rose. "Paradise Lost". 2006. April 1 2009. 2009. http://http://www.enotes.comwww.enotes.com/paradise-lost/paradise-lost..

Rowan, Elvis. "John Milton, Poet". 1998. March 11 2009. Rowan, Elvis. "John Milton, Poet". 1998. March 11 2009. http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/11/08.htmlhttp://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/11/08.html..