Milton is regarded as one of the greatest English poets, second only to Shakespeare. He was highly educated at Cambridge and wrote many poems and three major works, including Paradise Lost. Paradise Lost is an epic poem about the fall of man through disobedience to God, written in beautiful blank verse over 12 books. It shows Milton's deep religious faith and poetic skill. Milton also wrote Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, a tragedy about the biblical figure Samson.

1. Chapter 5

2. 
Milton is regarded as one of the greatest poets in English
literature. He is second only to Shakespeare. He was born in
London in 1608, and educated at Christ’s College,
Cambridge. As a youth, Milton was very attractive, so at the
College he was known as The Lady of Christ’s. He was a
highly learned man who had made a thorough study of the
Bible at home during his childhood.

3. 
After leaving the University, he studied at home in
Horton. He lived a very moral and pure life. He was a
very ambitions man who wanted to write something
remarkable which would bring glory to his own
country. In order to fulfill this great aim, he wrote
Paradise Lost, which is comparable to almost all the
great epic of classical writers. His literary works can be
divided into three groups. At first, he wrote his shorter
poems at Horton. Next, came his prose work inspired
by his Puritanism and his political sympathies. His
three greatest works belong to the last group.

4. 
Milton also wrote many sonnets and lyric poems. ‘On
Shakespeare’ and ‘On His Blindness’ are his famous
sonnets. The second one is his autobiographical poem
written after his blindness. Lycidas is a sorrowful
pastoral on the death of his college friend Edward King.

5. 
When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide;
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."
On His Blindness

6. 
 The speaker thinks that he has become blind before even half
his life is over. As a man without light, he now lives in a world
that is both "dark and wide."
 John Milton's life plan was to be of service to God. He felt he
could best achieve this goal by using his intelligence especially
his writing.
 Patience is personified as someone who can explain to the
speaker. Patience points out that God does not need anything.
God is complete and perfect. He doesn't need work or talents
("gifts") of any kind.
 Patience argues that those people are the best servants of God
who allow their fates to be linked with and controlled by God.
The poem ends with a vindication of the speaker's passivity,
which has been forced on him by his blindness.
Explanation:

7. 
It was only after the Restoration of Charles II that he
wrote his best works. By that time he had become blind
and was out of favour. He wrote the Paradise Lost, a
great epic about the fall of Man through his
disobedience of God. It was written in beautiful blank
verse and in twelve books. It shows his deep religious
faith, great learning, and fine command over the poetic
skill. The scene is the whole universe, including Heaven
and Hell.
Three Greatest Poems

8. 
Milton’s style is known as the grand style. Sometimes
some unfamiliar words and constructions have also
been used. Milton wrote another great poem titled
Paradise Regained. It is more severe but less splendid
than his first epic poem. Samson Agonistes is a tragedy
on the Greek model. It describes the sorrowful last days
of a blind prisoner, Samson in the hands of the
Philistines. Some of the sorrowful expressions of
Samson reflect Milton’s own personal feelings.

9. 
Apart from John Milton there were other several lyric-
writers who have left us sweet songs. One of them was
Richard Lovelace, who wrote To Althea, From Prison
and To Lucasta, on Going to the Wars.
One of the best living lyric poets of that time was Robert
Herrick. He writes well about the English country and its
flowers. His love songs are also sweet.
Edmund Waller wrote His Majesty's Escape and he has
been honoured for inventing the heroic couplet a form
of verse which was widely used in the next hundred and
fifty years.

10. 
1. ________is a sorrowful pastoral on the death of Milton’s
college friend Edward King.
(Paradise Lost, Lycidas, Paradise Regained, On
Shakespeare)
2. Samson Agonistes is a tragedy on the Greek model. True
or false?
3. The__________ is a great epic about the fall of Man
through h his disobedience of God.
(Paradise Lost, Lycidas, Paradise Regained, On
Shakespeare)
4. It was written in beautiful blank verse and in ___books.
(15, 10, 12, 6)
5. Milton’s style is known as the _________ style.
(grand/bland)
Multiple Choice Questions:

11. 
Explain these lines:
“They also serve who only stand and wait."
Short Answer Question