Culture and Society in "Paradise Lost"

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how Milton's poem "Paradise Lost" was influenced by the religion at the time the poem was written, society's understanding of geography, astronomy and spelling, Milton's tutors, classical literature's writing style and character elements of characters in classic literature. The paper also considers the history of Great Britain, the rule of British monarchy, the Roman Catholic Church and contemporary writers as substantial influences upon Milton's poem. The paper relates that the audience and purpose for Milton's poem are ultimately unknown and are debated to this day.

From the Paper:

"John Milton, the writer of Paradise Lost, in the year of 1663 of 1665 gained inspiration from his childhood tutors, his elementary school, classic literature, Greek mythology, Christian Doctrine, Puritan tract literature, contemporary dictionaries, Ovid, Ariosto, and the Renaissance to be a poet and Puritan. Additionally, from an early age, John Milton was interested in religion and poetry. One of his childhood tutors instructed the young Milton in classic Puritan literature and radical Puritan theology."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Butler, Geroge. "Boccaccio and Milton's "Manlike" Eve: The Genealogia Gentilium Libri and Paradise Lost." Milton Quarterly 37.3 Oct 2003: p.166-171, 6p. George Washington University Gelman Library, Washington DC. <http://search.epnet.com>.
• King, John N. Milton and Religious Controversy: Satire and Polemic In Paradise Lost.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
• Poole, William. "Two Early Readers if Milton: John Beale and Abraham Hill." Milton Quarterly 38.2 May 2004: 76-99,24. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. George Washington University Gelman Library, Washington, DC. 18 Jan 2006. <http://search.epnet.com>.
• Rajan, B. Paradise Lost & the Seventeenth Century Reader. London: Chatto & Windus, 1947.
• Ricks, Christopher. Milton's Grand Style. London: Oxford University Press, 1963.

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