Milton’s lifespan is 1608 to 1674. He was born in London. Milton studied at St. Paul’sSchool,London, and at Cambridge. He died and was buried in London.

Prose-Most of Milton’s prose was written during the middle period of his life(1640-1660). His prose works amounts to 25 pamphlets- 21 are in English and 4 in Latin.

He wrote “Of Education”(1644).

He composed 2 pamphlets on divorce(1643 and 1644).

He wrote “Areopagitica”(1644).

He partly completed “History of Britain”.

Poetry-Milton’s poetry was written during 2 periods-

a)the period of his University career and his stay at Horton, from 1629 to 1640

b)the last years of his life, from about 1660 to 1674.

The years between were filled by few sonnets.

a)”Ode on the Morning of Christ’s Nativity”(1629)

“On Shakespeare”(1630)

“On Arriving at the Age of Twenty-three”(1631)

“L’Allegro” & “Il Penseroso”(probably in 1632)

“Comus”(1634)

“Lycidas”(1637)

b)Best of Milton’s sonnets-

“On his Blindness” and “On the Late Massacre in Piedmont”

“Paradise Lost”(beagn in 1656, & issued in 1667)

“Paradise Regained” and “Samson Agonistes”(last volume of his poetry issued in 1674).