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John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister but did not take his orders because of [[TheHeretic fundamental disagreements]] with the Church. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').

to:

John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister but did not take his orders because of [[TheHeretic fundamental disagreements]] with the Church. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry {{poetry}} to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').

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[[quoteright:245:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/john_milton.jpg]]

Thought Creator/{{Shakespeare}} was the biggest writer of the English Renaissance? [[SmallReferencePools Think]] [[PublicMediumIgnorance again]].

John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of certain [[TheHeretic fundamental disagreements]] with [[CorruptChurch the Church]]. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').

Very soon, however, Milton heard the [[CallToAdventure call]] and decided to apply himself for [[TheFettered the good of his country]]. He hung up his poet's hat and started writing [[BadassBookworm political tracts]], sometimes in service of Presbyterianism, sometimes for [[LaResistance Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth]], sometimes about personal and touchy subjects such as [[AuthorFilibuster divorce]], but always for a propagation of free thought and overall tolerance. In 1644, he wrote an important defense of free expression, called ''Areopagitica'', which attacked censorship on philosophical and theological grounds.

Other important works of this time period -- ''The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates'', ''[[WhatsUpKingDude Eikonoklastes]]'', and the two [[MyCountryRightOrWrong Defenses of the English People]] -- nearly cost Milton his [[OffWithHisHead head]]. At the request of Cromwell's government, these were meant to retroactively justify the execution of Charles I on the basis that if a king acts like a tyrant towards his people, he forfeits the rights of kingship; so when [[RightfulKingReturns Charles II waltzed back into England]] and decided to kill everyone personally involved with his father's regicide, Milton was fucked. Thankfully, some heavy lobbying from his friend Creator/AndrewMarvell saved him from execution, and Milton, having learned his lesson, decided that the rest of his days should be spent [[TheLastDJ low-key]]. Returning to scribbling relatively non-incendiary poetry, he completed two heavily religious [[TheEpic epic]] [[NarrativePoem poems]] - ''Paradise Lost'' and ''Paradise Regain'd'', and the tragedy ''Samson Agonistes'' - [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic all written after]] [[BlindSeer he lost his sight in 1654]].

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[[quoteright:245:https://static.[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/john_milton.jpg]]

Thought Creator/{{Shakespeare}} was
org/pmwiki/pub/images/john_milton_christs_college.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Portrait from Christ's College, Cambridge, attributed to Mary Beale or Peter Lely.]]

->''"A poet soaring in
the biggest writer high reason of the English Renaissance? [[SmallReferencePools Think]] [[PublicMediumIgnorance again]].

his fancies, with his garland and singing robes about him."''
-->-- '''John Milton''', ''The Reason of Church Government''

John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, minister but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason did not taking take his orders]] orders because of certain [[TheHeretic fundamental disagreements]] with [[CorruptChurch the Church]].Church. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').

Very soon, however, Milton heard the [[CallToAdventure call]] call and decided to apply himself for [[TheFettered the good of his country]]. country. He hung up his poet's hat and started writing [[BadassBookworm political tracts]], sometimes in service of Presbyterianism, sometimes for [[LaResistance Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth]], Commonwealth, sometimes about personal and touchy subjects such as [[AuthorFilibuster divorce]], divorce, but always for a the propagation of free thought and overall tolerance. In 1644, he wrote an important defense of free expression, expression called ''Areopagitica'', which attacked censorship on philosophical and theological grounds.

Other important works of this time period -- ''The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates'', ''[[WhatsUpKingDude Eikonoklastes]]'', and the two [[MyCountryRightOrWrong Defenses of the English People]] -- nearly cost Milton his [[OffWithHisHead head]].head. At the request of Cromwell's government, these were meant to retroactively justify the execution of Charles I on the basis that if a king acts like a tyrant towards his people, he forfeits the rights of kingship; so when [[RightfulKingReturns Charles II waltzed back into England]] and decided to kill everyone personally involved with his father's regicide, Milton was fucked. Thankfully, some heavy lobbying from his friend Creator/AndrewMarvell saved him from execution, and Milton, having learned his lesson, decided that the rest of his days should be spent [[TheLastDJ low-key]]. Returning to scribbling relatively non-incendiary poetry, he completed two heavily religious [[TheEpic epic]] [[NarrativePoem poems]] - ''Paradise Lost'' and ''Paradise Regain'd'', and the tragedy ''Samson Agonistes'' - [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic all written after]] [[BlindSeer he lost his sight in 1654]].



* GratuitousLatin: As you'd expect from an author of his era
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* DracoInLeatherPants + MisaimedFandom: {{Invoked}}. Milton depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended, to the point that William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was indeed the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''

to:

* DracoInLeatherPants + MisaimedFandom: {{Invoked}}. Milton depicted Satan so as a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended, to the point that William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was indeed the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''

Changed: 47

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John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of [[CorruptChurch certain fundamental disagreements with the Church]]. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').

to:

John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of certain [[TheHeretic fundamental disagreements]] with [[CorruptChurch certain fundamental disagreements with the Church]]. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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* DracoInLeatherPants/MisaimedFandom: {{Invoked}}. Milton depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended, to the point that William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was indeed the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''

to:

* DracoInLeatherPants/MisaimedFandom: DracoInLeatherPants + MisaimedFandom: {{Invoked}}. Milton depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended, to the point that William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was indeed the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''

Changed: 170

Removed: 133

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* DracoInLeatherPants: {{Invoked}}. He depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended.

to:

* DracoInLeatherPants: DracoInLeatherPants/MisaimedFandom: {{Invoked}}. He Milton depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended.intended, to the point that William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was indeed the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''



* MisaimedFandom: {{Invoked}}. William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''



* {{Sequelitis}}: [invoked]''Paradise Regained'' exists only as a footnote on the popularity of ''Paradise Lost''. It doesn't help that it's 1/3 the length.

to:

* {{Sequelitis}}: [invoked]''Paradise Possibly {{Invoked}}. ''Paradise Regained'' exists only as a footnote on the popularity of ''Paradise Lost''. It doesn't help that it's 1/3 the length.
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* DracoInLeatherPants: [invoked]He depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended.

to:

* DracoInLeatherPants: [invoked]He {{Invoked}}. He depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended.



* MisaimedFandom: [invoked]William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''

to:

* MisaimedFandom: [invoked]William {{Invoked}}. William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* DracoInLeatherPants: He depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended.

to:

* DracoInLeatherPants: He [invoked]He depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended.



* MisaimedFandom: William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''

to:

* MisaimedFandom: William [invoked]William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''



* {{Sequelitis}}: ''Paradise Regained'' exists only as a footnote on the popularity of ''Paradise Lost''. It doesn't help that it's 1/3 the length.

to:

* {{Sequelitis}}: ''Paradise [invoked]''Paradise Regained'' exists only as a footnote on the popularity of ''Paradise Lost''. It doesn't help that it's 1/3 the length.

Added: 1177

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!!John Milton is responsible for:
* [[TropeNamer The word Pandemonium]]
* RedRightHand
* [[Literature/ParadiseLost Some really great fanfiction]]
* {{Satan}} as DracoInLeatherPants, although this is also the fault of [[MisaimedFandom William Blake and other Romantics]]
* Loads of GratuitousLatin and {{Author Tract}}s


Added DiffLines:


!!Tropes associated with Milton's works:
* {{Author Tract}}: Apart from his literary works hitting his points very hard, he was also a prolific author of political tracts
* DracoInLeatherPants: He depicted Satan so a perversion of an epic hero so effectively that many readers found him more exciting and interesting than intended.
* GratuitousLatin: As you'd expect from an author of his era
* MagnumOpus: ''Paradise Lost'' overshadows everything else he's ever done.
* MisaimedFandom: William Blake and other Romantics famously announced that Satan was the true hero of ''Paradise Lost''
* OneHitWonder: Although Milton wrote a number of other works, they're all pretty much only notable for being from the same author as ''Paradise Lost''.
* {{Satan}}: Famously depicted in ''Paradise Lost''
* {{Sequelitis}}: ''Paradise Regained'' exists only as a footnote on the popularity of ''Paradise Lost''. It doesn't help that it's 1/3 the length.
* TropeNamer: Of RedRightHand, although it's not an example of the trope, as it's God's red right hand of divine judgment he's talking about. Nick Cave's song "Red Right Hand," which quotes Milton's phrase, is what inspired the trope subject.
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None


Other important works of this time period - ''The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates'', ''[[WhatsUpKingDude Eikonoklastes]]'', and the two [[MyCountryRightOrWrong Defenses of the English People]] - nearly cost Milton his [[OffWithHisHead head]]. At the request of Cromwell's government, these were meant to retroactively justify the execution of Charles I on the basis that if a king acts like a tyrant towards his people, he forfeits the rights of kingship; so when [[RightfulKingReturns Charles II waltzed back into England]] and decided to kill everyone personally involved with his father's regicide, Milton was fucked. Thankfully, some heavy lobbying from his friend Creator/AndrewMarvell saved him from execution, and Milton, having learned his lesson, decided that the rest of his days should be spent [[TheLastDJ low-key]]. Returning to scribbling relatively non-incendiary poetry, he completed two heavily religious [[TheEpic epic]] [[NarrativePoem poems]] - ''Paradise Lost'' and ''Paradise Regain'd'', and the tragedy ''Samson Agonistes'' - [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic all written after]] [[BlindSeer he lost his sight in 1654]].

to:

Other important works of this time period - -- ''The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates'', ''[[WhatsUpKingDude Eikonoklastes]]'', and the two [[MyCountryRightOrWrong Defenses of the English People]] - -- nearly cost Milton his [[OffWithHisHead head]]. At the request of Cromwell's government, these were meant to retroactively justify the execution of Charles I on the basis that if a king acts like a tyrant towards his people, he forfeits the rights of kingship; so when [[RightfulKingReturns Charles II waltzed back into England]] and decided to kill everyone personally involved with his father's regicide, Milton was fucked. Thankfully, some heavy lobbying from his friend Creator/AndrewMarvell saved him from execution, and Milton, having learned his lesson, decided that the rest of his days should be spent [[TheLastDJ low-key]]. Returning to scribbling relatively non-incendiary poetry, he completed two heavily religious [[TheEpic epic]] [[NarrativePoem poems]] - ''Paradise Lost'' and ''Paradise Regain'd'', and the tragedy ''Samson Agonistes'' - [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic all written after]] [[BlindSeer he lost his sight in 1654]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


Other important works of this time period - ''The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates'', ''[[WhatsUpKingDude Eikonoklastes]]'', and the two [[MyCountryRightOrWrong Defenses of the English People]] - nearly cost Milton his [[OffWithHisHead head]]. At the request of Cromwell's government, these were meant to retroactively justify the execution of Charles I on the basis that if a king acts like a tyrant towards his people, he forfeits the rights of kingship; so when [[RightfulKingReturns Charles II waltzed back into England]] and decided to kill everyone personally involved with his father's regicide, Milton was fucked. Thankfully, some heavy lobbying from [[AndrewMarvell his friends]] saved him from execution, and Milton, having learned his lesson, decided that the rest of his days should be spent [[TheLastDJ low-key]]. Returning to scribbling relatively non-incendiary poetry, he completed two heavily religious [[TheEpic epic]] [[NarrativePoem poems]] - ''Paradise Lost'' and ''Paradise Regain'd'', and the tragedy ''Samson Agonistes'' - [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic all written after]] [[BlindSeer he lost his sight in 1654]].

[[WhatMightHaveBeen Had plans to write]] an [[KingArthur Arthurian cycle]] but [[{{Vaporware}} never got around to finishing it.]]

to:

Other important works of this time period - ''The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates'', ''[[WhatsUpKingDude Eikonoklastes]]'', and the two [[MyCountryRightOrWrong Defenses of the English People]] - nearly cost Milton his [[OffWithHisHead head]]. At the request of Cromwell's government, these were meant to retroactively justify the execution of Charles I on the basis that if a king acts like a tyrant towards his people, he forfeits the rights of kingship; so when [[RightfulKingReturns Charles II waltzed back into England]] and decided to kill everyone personally involved with his father's regicide, Milton was fucked. Thankfully, some heavy lobbying from [[AndrewMarvell his friends]] friend Creator/AndrewMarvell saved him from execution, and Milton, having learned his lesson, decided that the rest of his days should be spent [[TheLastDJ low-key]]. Returning to scribbling relatively non-incendiary poetry, he completed two heavily religious [[TheEpic epic]] [[NarrativePoem poems]] - ''Paradise Lost'' and ''Paradise Regain'd'', and the tragedy ''Samson Agonistes'' - [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic all written after]] [[BlindSeer he lost his sight in 1654]].

[[WhatMightHaveBeen Had plans to write]] an [[KingArthur [[Myth/KingArthur Arthurian cycle]] but [[{{Vaporware}} never got around to finishing it.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Ymmv


Very soon, however, Milton heard the [[CallToAdventure call]] (or, possibly, stopped being so completely egotistic), and decided to apply himself for [[TheFettered the good of his country]]. He hung up his poet's hat and started writing [[BadassBookworm political tracts]], sometimes in service of Presbyterianism, sometimes for [[LaResistance Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth]], sometimes about personal and touchy subjects such as [[AuthorFilibuster divorce]], but always for a propagation of free thought and overall tolerance. In 1644, he wrote an important defense of free expression, called ''Areopagitica'', which attacked censorship on philosophical and theological grounds.

to:

Very soon, however, Milton heard the [[CallToAdventure call]] (or, possibly, stopped being so completely egotistic), and decided to apply himself for [[TheFettered the good of his country]]. He hung up his poet's hat and started writing [[BadassBookworm political tracts]], sometimes in service of Presbyterianism, sometimes for [[LaResistance Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth]], sometimes about personal and touchy subjects such as [[AuthorFilibuster divorce]], but always for a propagation of free thought and overall tolerance. In 1644, he wrote an important defense of free expression, called ''Areopagitica'', which attacked censorship on philosophical and theological grounds.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
work and creator names are not supposed to be in bold (that's for the Other Wiki)


'''John Milton''' (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of [[CorruptChurch certain fundamental disagreements with the Church]]. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').

to:

'''John Milton''' John Milton (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of [[CorruptChurch certain fundamental disagreements with the Church]]. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Loads of GratuitousLatin
* Loads of {{Author Tract}}s

to:

* Loads of GratuitousLatin
* Loads of
GratuitousLatin and {{Author Tract}}s
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


[[WhatMightHaveBeen Had plans to write]] an [[KingArthur Arthurian cycle]] but never got around to finishing it.

to:

[[WhatMightHaveBeen Had plans to write]] an [[KingArthur Arthurian cycle]] but [[{{Vaporware}} never got around to finishing it.
it.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

[[WhatMightHaveBeen Had plans to write]] an [[KingArthur Arthurian cycle]] but never got around to finishing it.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Literature/{{Comus}}''

to:

* ''Literature/{{Comus}}''''Theatre/{{Comus}}''

Added: 26

Removed: 102

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* ''Literature/{{Comus}}''



----
!!Tropes appearing in his works (other than ''Paradise Lost'') include:
* VirginPower: In ''Comus''
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None


[[caption-width-right:245: 9 XII 1608 - 8 XI 1674]]

to:

[[caption-width-right:245: 9 XII 1608 - 8 XI 1674]]



John Milton was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of [[CorruptChurch certain fundamental disagreements with the Church]]. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').

to:

John Milton '''John Milton''' (9 December 1608 - 8 November 1674) was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of [[CorruptChurch certain fundamental disagreements with the Church]]. Having next decided to become a poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


John Milton was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of [[CorruptChurch certain fundamental disagreements with the Church]]. Having next decided to become a [[TrueArtSticksItToTheMan poet]], believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').

to:

John Milton was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of [[CorruptChurch certain fundamental disagreements with the Church]]. Having next decided to become a [[TrueArtSticksItToTheMan poet]], poet, believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

[[quoteright:245:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/john_milton.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:245: 9 XII 1608 - 8 XI 1674]]

Thought Creator/{{Shakespeare}} was the biggest writer of the English Renaissance? [[SmallReferencePools Think]] [[PublicMediumIgnorance again]].

John Milton was an English poet and pamphleteer with a turbulent relationship with his country's religion and politics. He studied at Cambridge to become a minister, but ended up [[HonorBeforeReason not taking his orders]] because of [[CorruptChurch certain fundamental disagreements with the Church]]. Having next decided to become a [[TrueArtSticksItToTheMan poet]], believing poetry to be closely linked with prophecy (in the religious sense), he spent a good portion of his youth traveling across Europe, mastering different languages, and meeting prominent academics (such as Galileo, who would later be [[ShoutOut featured]] in ''Literature/ParadiseLost'').

Very soon, however, Milton heard the [[CallToAdventure call]] (or, possibly, stopped being so completely egotistic), and decided to apply himself for [[TheFettered the good of his country]]. He hung up his poet's hat and started writing [[BadassBookworm political tracts]], sometimes in service of Presbyterianism, sometimes for [[LaResistance Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth]], sometimes about personal and touchy subjects such as [[AuthorFilibuster divorce]], but always for a propagation of free thought and overall tolerance. In 1644, he wrote an important defense of free expression, called ''Areopagitica'', which attacked censorship on philosophical and theological grounds.

Other important works of this time period - ''The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates'', ''[[WhatsUpKingDude Eikonoklastes]]'', and the two [[MyCountryRightOrWrong Defenses of the English People]] - nearly cost Milton his [[OffWithHisHead head]]. At the request of Cromwell's government, these were meant to retroactively justify the execution of Charles I on the basis that if a king acts like a tyrant towards his people, he forfeits the rights of kingship; so when [[RightfulKingReturns Charles II waltzed back into England]] and decided to kill everyone personally involved with his father's regicide, Milton was fucked. Thankfully, some heavy lobbying from [[AndrewMarvell his friends]] saved him from execution, and Milton, having learned his lesson, decided that the rest of his days should be spent [[TheLastDJ low-key]]. Returning to scribbling relatively non-incendiary poetry, he completed two heavily religious [[TheEpic epic]] [[NarrativePoem poems]] - ''Paradise Lost'' and ''Paradise Regain'd'', and the tragedy ''Samson Agonistes'' - [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic all written after]] [[BlindSeer he lost his sight in 1654]].

!!John Milton is responsible for:
* [[TropeNamer The word Pandemonium]]
* RedRightHand
* [[Literature/ParadiseLost Some really great fanfiction]]
* {{Satan}} as DracoInLeatherPants, although this is also the fault of [[MisaimedFandom William Blake and other Romantics]]
* Loads of GratuitousLatin
* Loads of {{Author Tract}}s

!!Works by Milton with their own trope pages include:
* ''Literature/ParadiseLost''
----
!!Tropes appearing in his works (other than ''Paradise Lost'') include:
* VirginPower: In ''Comus''
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