Tuesday, November 20, 2012

John Milton

John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an
English poet. He was a prose polemicist and a civil servant.
He was born in London at Bread Street. He died in London (aged 65 years) at Bunhill. He began to write when he was 10 years old. He wrote in English and in Latin.  He hadn't got sisters or brothers. His dad was Richard Milton and his mom was Sara Jeffrey. His dad was a notary. When he was 18 years, he studied in Cambridge.  When he was 40 years old, he became blind. He loved and practiced many languages (Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Italian, Old English, Dutch), also philosophy, theology and litterature. He wanted to be a clergyman but he renounced for poetry. He travelled one year in France and Italy, he met many important intellectuals and influential people, including the astronomer Galileo. He hated censur. He was for freedom of expression. He was interested in education and he became a schoolmaster educating his nephews. He saw many times Galileo. The judgement against  him  consolidated  his wish for freedom of expression.
 At Restoration (1658-1688) his books were burned and he was jailed in the Tower of London but his friends obtained his liberation. He invented many words. He has got a stained glass in Saint Margaret's Church near Westminster Abbey.He was an autodidact and scholarly man of letters. He has inspired romantic author.  He was famous for « Paradise Lost» (an epic poem). Here is an example of his lines :<< Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven>>.




Written by François.

QUIZZ: Answer these two questions after reading the text.

1) What did John Milton intend to be when he studied ?
 
2) For what ideas did John Milton want to fight during his life ?
 



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