The Historical context of

1. The Historical context of Paradise Lost

2. What is Paradise Lost? • It is an epic poem written in blank verse. It was divided into 10 books when it was first written (now it is made up of 12 books). • The story centers around two protagonists, Adam and Eve, and their expulsion from Eden. • It was published in 1667 in England, although written by John Milton several years before. • Milton was blind when it was written: it was transcribed for him. • It is often regarded as one of the greatest works of British literature and poetry.

3. Milton and The English Revolution • The violent English Civil War and the English Revolution occurred from 1642-1651, and Milton was heavily involved in in these conflicts, strongly opposing the monarchy and the church in favor of a Puritan Commonwealth. • The conflict was chiefly between “Parliamentarians and Royalists” regarding the validity of divine right, and how much freedom a monarch should have. • In 1641 Milton published Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England, his first of many political publications. • “The general thrust of his political writings is towards Puritan reformation in the church, and the replacement of the monarchy with a free commonwealth.”

4. The English Restoration • In 1649, after a long power struggle, King Charles I was executed for treason. • “For the next decade England had no monarch. Initially, a Commonwealth was formed and England was ruled by a republican government” • “In 1653 Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector, essentially a military dictator. He was succeeded by his son Richard in 1658, but because of faction fighting and Richard's lack of popularity as a leader, the republic failed.” • “Charles II, the executed monarch's son, was declared King in the Restoration of 1660.” • Milton was somewhat depressed after this turn of events, as he had strongly supported the republic, and had even worked for the Oliver Cromwell. • Paradise Lost was Milton’s first work after the Restoration, and he considered it divinely inspired

5. Why was it published so late? • There was much instability during Milton’s time in England • The English Civil War and the English Revolution occurred • The Anglo-Dutch war of 1665 caused a paper shortage • A plague, and the great fire of London disoriented the people • People were perceiving religion and society as corrupt, and many started to favor Puritanism • Paradise Lost was considered controversial and hostile towards the monarchy and the church: this was especially stunting at such a delicate time (after the revolution’s failure) • Poets after the Restoration had less freedom, as they had to apply for a license • Thomas Tomkins, the licenser and chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury rejected Milton’s license at first because of it’s anti-monarchy stands.

6. How did it get published? • Samuel Simmons, an English printer published Paradise Lost. • Simmons's presses were among the few unharmed by the Great Fire. • Simmon’s father had printed several of Milton's prose works. • Simmons had a reputation for printing controversial texts

7. What made Paradise Lost so Controversial? • In general, Paradise Lost was anti-monarchy, and expressed the idea of regicide, or the killing of monarchs. • Aspects in the poem parallel with the political strife in England at the time. For example, “Satan's attempts to rouse the fallen angels in Book I really are reminiscent of Milton's desire to rally support for the Cromwelliangovernment”. • Milton gives human traits to divine beings. • Milton said his intent was “justify the ways of God to man” by writing it. • Milton attempted to create his own “Theodicy”, or his own explanation, mythology and moral system of Christianity. • Above all, he, like many other writers aimed to justify the presence of evil in relation to a “compassionate and good” Christian God.

8. Milton’s Edits • Although Paradise Lost was originally printed in 1667, that version is not the one we know today. • In 1668 Milton added 14 pages, a letter from Simons the publisher, and introductory “arguments” for each book. “These things were compiled at the beginning because the type was not reset”. • In 1669 Milton’s “contract was fulfilled” when he sold his first 1300 copies • A second edition was printed in 1674, quite a few changes were made. • The lengthy 7th and 10th books were divided into two, making a total of 12 books (This could qualify it as a “half-epic” poem) • It was changed from a quarto to an octavo poem • It no longer had line numbers • Each argument appeared before their respective book, and not in the very beginning • It included two extra poems and a portrait of Milton.

9. Works Cited • http://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/darknessvisible/politics.html • http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/pl/intro/index.shtml • http://mason.gmu.edu/~ayadav/historical%20outline/overview.htm • Paradise Lost: Overview. Timothy C. Miller.Reference Guide to English Literature. Ed. D. L. Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed.  Chicago: St. James Press, 1991.  Word Count: 2028. From Literature Resource Center. • Paradise Lost. Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1995.  Word Count: 358. From Literature Resource Center.