John Milton 16081674

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John Milton (1608-1674)
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Miltons Biography

• Born in London in 1608 to a wealthy family
• Well-educateda Masters degree from Cambridge
  University in 1632
• On his return to England, Milton became a
  Puritan, and an opponent of the Catholics and of
  the Stuarts.

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Miltons Biography Cont.

• He was Renaissance poet, an d an ardent
  polemicist
• In 1651 he became completely blind-daughter
  transcribed PL (published 1667)
• Areopagitica published 1644
• Married three times

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Miltons Inspiration/Intentions

• Looked to and was inspired by great writers of
  past Homer Virgil and other Gk. dramatists
• Wanted to write the first great English
  epicsettled on the Bible as his subject matter
• About how evil enters the world

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Miltons learning/experience

• Uses conventions and devices of classical epic.
  (see packet)
• Alludes to mythology, Homer, Virgil, Dantehe
  wanted to SURPASS previous epics
• Not just heroic deeds of ONLY a cultures hero,
  but represents all of mankind (Adam and Eve)--all
  of US!
• Poem ranges across time and space takes place in
  heaven, hell, universe, earth, etc.

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Paradise Lost Themes

• Good vs. Evil
• Fall of Man
• Temptation
• Psychomachia