INTRODUCTION TO PARADISE LOST. Its History. This poem is the result of the union in one person of the highest quality of poetic genius, the most exalted personal character, and the most unremitting industry, all devoted through a period of more than sixty years to the accomplishment of a single purpose. In this statement the early productions of Milton are not ignored; for at the time when he was composing his lyrics he had already formed the resolution to "write something that the world would not willingly let die," and all his minor poems were but the flights in which he tried his wings to gain strength for the great flight "above the Aonian mount" (P. L. I. 15). It was for this great work alone that he stored his mind with all the learning of the ages, and exercised his soul in all godly discipline from earliest boyhood. Immediately upon his return from Italy in 1639, Milton turned his attention to the composition of his projected masterpiece. He noted down, in a list which still exists, over one hundred possible subjects from which to select, and seems to have considered the subject of the Arthurian legend1 a very promising one. His intensely religious 1 This legend deals with the Britons, or ancient inhabitants of England, who were early driven westward into the mountain fastnesses of Wales by Saxon, Danish, and Anglian invaders, but who, in those retreats, long retained their pride of ancient lineage, their bent, however, soon led him to fix upon the subject of Paradise Lost, and he next began to weigh the respective merits of the dramatic and the epic forms. Four tentative drafts of characters and leading incidents, which he drew up at this time, exhibit clearly his progress toward a decision in favor of the epic form. Short passages were composed as early as 1642, of which one (P. L. IV. 32-41) was originally designed to form a part of the introduction to the contemplated tragedy. The duties of his position in the public service forced him to lay this too ambitious work aside for sixteen years, to renew it only when failing sight had made him unable longer to bear an active share in the duties of the secretaryship, although he still held the position. About eight years were spent in the actual composition of the poem; much of this time he was blind, and was compelled to dictate to some assistant each day the lines freshly composed. The work was completed in 1665, was published in 1667, and met with immediate acceptance in the world of literature as one of the few great masterpieces of its class. Druidic religion, and their Celtic speech. The legend describes how, about the sixth century, to King Uther succeeded his son Arthur, whose brilliant reign was marked by great advances in civilization. Arthur gathered about him a group of noble warriors called the "Knights of the Round Table," sworn to crush lawlessness, eschew vice, protect the weak, and defend the kingdom from Saxon invaders. Their adventures would undoubtedly have afforded Milton abundant opportunity for the exhibition of his genius in epic composition. |