Milton

Milton

English scholar and classical poet, John Milton is one of the major figures of Western literature. He was born on December 9, 1608 into a prosperous London family. Milton's first work, Lycidas, an elegy on the death of a classmate, was published in 1632, and he had numerous works published in the ensuing years, including Pastoral and Areopagitica. His Christian epic poem, Paradise Lost, which traced humanity's fall from divine grace, appeared in 1667, assuring his place as one of the finest non-dramatic poets of the Renaissance Age. Milton went blind at the age of 43 from the incredible strain he placed on his eyes. Amazingly, Paradise Lost and his other major works, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, were composed after the loss of his sight. These major works were painstakingly and slowly dictated to secretaries. Milton died on November 8, 1674 in London. A monument to Milton rests in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.