John Milton by BSELN

 

John Milton – Biography and Key Details

Full Name: John Milton
Birth: December 9, 1608, London, England
Death: November 8, 1674, London, England
Century: 17th Century (Renaissance to Early Modern Period)
Occupation: Poet, Scholar, Civil Servant

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Parents

• Father: John Milton Sr., a scrivener (legal document writer) and composer.

• Mother: Sara Jeffrey Milton, known for her piety and charity.

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Famous Works

• Paradise Lost (1667) – Epic poem about the fall of man.

• Paradise Regained (1671) – Focuses on Christ’s resistance to temptation.

• Samson Agonistes (1671) – A tragic closet drama.

• Areopagitica (1644) – A prose work defending free speech.

• Lycidas (1637) – A pastoral elegy for a friend.

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Style and Structure

• Known for grand, elevated language.

• Used blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter).

• His poetry is intellectual, rich in classical and biblical references.

• Complex syntax and long sentences.

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Key Points

• Went blind in his 40s, continued writing by dictation.

• A strong supporter of the Puritan cause and Oliver Cromwell.

• Served as Latin Secretary for the Commonwealth government.

• Wrote in Latin, Greek, and English.

• Known for blending Christian theology with classical learning.

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Themes in His Work

• Good vs Evil

• Obedience and Rebellion

• Freedom and Tyranny

• Human fallibility and divine justice

• Redemption and Salvation

• Knowledge, sin, and suffering

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Controversies

• Supported the execution of King Charles I.

• Wrote political tracts defending regicide (killing of a king).

• His work Areopagitica argued against censorship, which was controversial at the time.

• His Puritan views clashed with the monarchy and Anglican church.