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Exploring the Life and Works of John Milton

This quiz explores the life, works, and influences of the renowned poet John Milton, including his major writings and historical context.

#John Milton #Literature #Poetry #English Civil War #Historical Figures

1 What did John Milton do for a living?

2 [26] It was the hostile response accorded the divorce tracts that spurred Milton to write Areopagitica, his celebrated attack on ________.

3 Who of the following did John Milton influence?

4 In 1632, Milton retired to ________, his father's new home since the previous year.

5 When did John Milton die?

6 Where did John Milton die?

7 What does the following picture show? Milton dictating 'Paradise Lost', c. 1826. Artist: Eugène Delacroix. Titlepage of a 1752–1761 edition of 'The Poetical Works of John Milton with Notes of Various Authors by Thomas Newton' printed by J. & R. Tonson in the Strand. Milton later in life. Milton dictating 'Paradise Lost', c. 1826. Artist: Eugène Delacroix.

8 Where was John Milton born?

9 He gave Milton books, and a teasing distich based on ________'s pun on 'Angle' and 'angel' when describing the English.

10 The Ready and Easy Way to Establishing a Free Commonwealth, in two editions, responded to General Monck's march towards London to restore the ________ (which led to the restoration of the monarchy).

💡 Interesting Facts

  • Sir John Baptist Medina became the first illustrator of John Milton's Paradise Lost (example pictured) in 1688.
  • the later political works of John Milton (born 400 years ago today), including Tenure of Kings, Eikonoklastes, Defensio Secunda, Civil Power, and Ready and Easy Way, were controversial but still sold well.
  • the failed marriage of John Milton inspired his divorce tracts: Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, Judgement of Martin Bucer, Tetrachordon, and Colasterion.
  • De Doctrina Christiana, identified as John Milton's attempt to define his own particular Christian theology, was suppressed by the government of the day and not published until 150 years after his death.
  • John Milton (1562–1647) was so successful as a composer and scrivener that his son John Milton—author of Paradise Lost—never had to work for a living.
  • William Blake sought in his illustrations of Milton's Nativity Ode (example pictured) to depict the rebirth of John Milton's poetry into the creative imagination of Christ.
  • Miltonic verse, a style which influenced centuries of poetry, is found within the final three poetic works of John Milton, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and Samson Agonistes.
  • John Milton (born 400 years ago today) discusses his religious views in numerous antiprelatical tracts, including Of Reformation, Of Prelatical Episcopacy, Animadversions, Reason of Church-Government, and Apology for Smectymnuus.
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