Milton

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21677

Title

Milton

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Sir Walter Raleigh's editorial tribute to John Milton, a literary critic who navigates the complexities of analyzing the great poet's life and works. The text explores Milton's intense personality, political radicalism, and the controversial nature of his epic, offering a defense of his genius against historical misjudgments.

Summary up to 500 words

Sir Walter Raleigh's critical study of John Milton offers a profound defense of the poet against the harsh judgments of his contemporaries and subsequent critics. Raleigh argues that the inherent difficulties of literary criticism, particularly when applied to a genius of Milton's magnitude, often lead to imperfect sympathy and unjust condemnation. He contends that while Milton's life and political writings were deeply entangled in the turbulent religious and political struggles of the seventeenth century, his poetic achievements possess a timeless beauty that transcends these earthly conflicts. The book meticulously examines Milton's major works, focusing on the unique cosmography and innovative style of *Paradise Lost*. Raleigh challenges traditional interpretations, suggesting that Milton's depiction of God is filtered through a political lens, presenting a deity whose laws are sometimes arbitrary and whose power is tested rather than absolute. Consequently, Raleigh posits that Satan emerges not merely as a villain, but as a tragic hero possessing a nobility that rivals the archangels. He highlights Satan's magnanimity, courage, and capacity for pity, noting that Milton lavished his greatest skill on this fallen figure, inadvertently elevating him above the other celestial beings who appear dastardly by comparison. Raleigh also analyzes Milton's prose works, praising his clear logic, tenacity, and fierce wit, while acknowledging the controversial nature of his political idealism and pamphlets on divorce and government. He explores Milton's influence on English poetry, noting how his choice of blank verse and his avoidance of mean associations revolutionized the genre. Despite the degradation of his style by later imitators, Raleigh asserts that Milton's originality remains singular. Ultimately, the work concludes that while Milton's contemporaries may have misunderstood his complex character and narrow theological conceptions, his poetic legacy endures as a unique and unassailable force in the history of literature, standing far aloof from his peers yet fundamentally shaping the destiny of English verse.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21677.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21677.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-03 22:30 UTC

Categories

• Biography
• Poetry