Concetti Chiave
- John Milton, a pivotal 17th-century figure, was born in London in 1608 and studied at Christ’s College before pursuing poetry full-time.
- After abandoning a potential clerical career, Milton lived in Horton, immersing himself in classical and modern literature.
- Milton actively supported the Puritans, writing pamphlets on parliament, press freedom, and divorce during England's political upheavals.
- Despite blindness and personal losses, he survived imprisonment post-Restoration with the help of friends.
- In his later years, Milton dictated his renowned works like "Paradise Lost" and "Samson Agonistes," reflecting his personal struggles and blindness.
John Milton's early life
John Milton is the most important figure of the 17th century. He was born in London in 1608 and studied seven years at Christ’s College, but then he abandoned the idea of taking orders and entering the Anglican Church. So he went to live at Horton in his family’s country house, devoting himself entirely to his vocation: the poetry, reading both classical and modern writers. Later he spent some time in Italy and when the first political trouble broke out he went back to England, taking an active part on the side of puritans. In this period he put poetry aside to write numerous pamphlets defending parliament, the freedom of the press and the divorce. He was appointed Latin secretary of Cromwell but, after the restoration and after becoming blind and loosing his two wives he was imprisoned and run the risk of being sentenced to death; he was saved only thanks to his friends.
Milton's later years and works
He spent the rest of his life in poverty dictating his verses to his daughters. Among his works we must remember his sonnets and one of the most notable is “on his blindness”. It was on the last period of his life that he wrote his best work “Paradise Lost” “Paradise Regained" and the poetic drama “Samson Agonistes". This last work presents many autobiographical elements. Samson is chosen by God to free the Israelites from philistines and loses his extraordinary strength which derived from his long hair. Many circumstances of Samson’s life we find in Milton’s life: they were poor, ill, alone among enemies but, above all they were both blind.
Domande da interrogazione
- What significant decision did John Milton make regarding his career path after studying at Christ's College?
- How did John Milton contribute to the political landscape during the first political troubles in England?
- What are some notable works from John Milton's later years, and how do they reflect his personal experiences?
John Milton decided to abandon the idea of taking orders and entering the Anglican Church, choosing instead to devote himself entirely to poetry and literature.
During the political troubles, John Milton took an active part on the side of the Puritans, putting poetry aside to write numerous pamphlets defending parliament, the freedom of the press, and the concept of divorce.
In his later years, Milton wrote "Paradise Lost," "Paradise Regained," and "Samson Agonistes," with the latter containing autobiographical elements reflecting his own experiences of poverty, illness, and blindness, similar to the character Samson.
Accedi a tutti gli appunti
Tutor AI: studia meglio e in meno tempo
