John Milton (1608/12/09 - 1674/11/08) *English poet and essayist One of the great British poets. Works: Paradise Lost, Lycidas... Genre: Poetry, essay Parents: Sarah Jeffrey and John Milton Spouses: Mary Powell, Katherine Woodcock, Elizabeth Minshul Children: Anne, Mary, John Born John Milton was born on 9 December 1608 in London. Son of Sarah Jeffrey and John Milton, composer. He attended St Paul's School and Christ's College, Cambridge University. From 1638 to 1639 he travelled in France and Italy, where he came into contact with literary figures of the time. He settled in London and began writing a series of social, religious and political treatises. Background of plays His work is marked by a great knowledge of Latin, Greek and Hebrew classics. Early plays His early works include the ode 'The Morning of Christ's Birth' (1629), the sonnet 'On Shakespeare' (1630), 'L'Allegro' and 'Il Penseroso' (both probably 1631), 'Time' (c.1632), 'A Solemn Music' (1632-c.1633), the masquerades Arcades (1632-c.1634) and Comus (1634), and the elegy Lycidas (1637) Parents In 1642, he married Mary Powell, who left him weeks later, although they were reconciled in 1645. They were the parents of Anne, Mary and John. Against the church From 1640 to 1660, he devoted himself mainly to writing essays in which he attacked the bishops and defended the need to spread the spirit of English reform. The Trials The first of the published essays was Reforms of Church Discipline in England (1641); while the most comprehensive and elaborate was The Reason of Church Government (1641-1642). He wrote the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce (1643) and the most famous of his prose works, Areopagitica (1644). Death John Milton died in London on 8 November 1674. List of plays The Morning of Christ's Birth (1629) On Shakespeare (1630) L'Allegro (1631) Time (1632) Arcades (1634) Lycidas (1637) Reforms of Church Discipline in England (1641) The Reason of Church Government (1641-1642) Samson Agonistes (1671) Areopagitica (1644) Paradise Lost (1667) Paradise Regained (1671) “BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN MILTON” Student: Luis Fernando Rios Choquecondo Masterpiece During his years as an essayist and politician he composed part of his great epic poem, Paradise Lost, as well as 17 sonnets. Paradise Lost is considered his masterpiece and one of the great poems of world literature. In its twelve cantos it tells the story of the fall of Adam. Speciality: English-Languages Semester: VIII 2021