Context

Question 1

The poem was written to “Justify the ways…

Answer 1

The poem was written to “Justify the ways of God to man.” (Milton, Contemporary)

Question 2

What happened in 1643?

Answer 2

Doctrine of Discipline & Divorce; advocated divorce on two grounds:
-Adultery
-Spiritual incompatibility

Question 3

What happened in 1644?

Answer 3

Areopagitica; rejecting cencorship before publication. Argued that the Gov should not censor works unless they were immoral or against Protestantism.

Question 4

What happened in 1649?

Answer 4

1-King Charles I executed
2-Milton invited to be secretary of foreign tongues (his job to write defences of the Commonwealth against royalist attacks)
3-Eikonaklastes
4-Tenure of Kings and Magistrates (argues that a tyrannical ruler contradicts the divine order)

Question 5

What happened in 1660?

Answer 5

-Milton was imprisoned by Charles II

Question 6

What happened in 1652?

Answer 6

Milton lost sight.