Blog is given by Barad sir

 Highlight at least two key writers, John Milton and Ben Jonson -their major contributions.

 1) John Milton

 In the 17th century, most poetry came from places like the royal court, the church, wealthy landowners (the gentry), or the theatre. However, John Milton, who lived from 1608 to 1674, was different. After the English Civil War, he wrote for a smaller, more spiritual audience. His famous work Paradise Lost was meant for people who could deeply understand its message. Milton hoped his poem would reach the right audience, even if it was small, much like Christ said that many are invited, but only a few truly respond. The Bible verse "but few are chosen" (Matthew 20:16) is about the idea that many people are invited to follow God's path, but only a few actually do. This relates to the way a certain writer approached his epic, a long poem or story. He asked for help from the Spirit (or inspiration) that values a good, pure heart more than fancy buildings or temples.

This writer was a Puritan, a person who followed strict religious beliefs. But unlike what we might think of Puritans—like serious or strict characters in plays by Shakespeare or Jonson—this writer was different.

John Milton's upbringing was indeed shaped by a blend of Protestant values and intellectual rigor. His father’s experience reflects the intersection of Protestantism and capitalism, with his career as a scrivener and moneylender aligning with the Protestant ethic of hard work and financial independence. Despite being disowned for reading the Bible privately, Milton's father provided his son with an exceptional education, equipping him with the classical knowledge and scholarly training that would define Milton’s literary career.

Milton’s education at St. Paul’s School, followed by Cambridge University, was marked by a commitment to the humanities, inspired by Protestant ideals and the literary influence of figures like Edmund Spenser. Although he found aspects of Cambridge disappointing, his later studies and travels in Italy helped refine his poetic voice. This blend of education, faith, and literary ambition set the foundation for Milton's role as one of England's most important poets, deeply committed to the moral and intellectual responsibilities of poetry.

His works, like Paradise Lost, reflect his intellectual upbringing, drawing from classical, religious, and literary traditions to explore profound questions about human nature, free will, and the divine.

In his early poems, Milton is influenced by humanist ideas, which emphasize the importance of human potential and creativity. In "At a Vacation Exercise" and "What needs my Shakespeare for his honoured bones", he shows his ambition as a poet. In "How soon hath time, the subtle thief of youth," Milton expresses impatience, feeling like time is slipping away quickly as he turns 23.

Some of his other early works are more light-hearted and imaginative. For example, On the Morning of Christ's Nativity is a joyful, baroque-style poem celebrating the birth of Christ, while L'Allegro and Il Penseroso present a playful contrast between two different lifestyles: one cheerful and social, the other more thoughtful and solitary.

Milton was already very skilled in different styles of writing, and his passion for poetry is clear. In L'Allegro, the cheerful character enjoys comedy and the theater, especially the plays of Shakespeare and Jonson, two famous playwrights of the time.

Milton's early work is full of joy and energy, showing his deep appreciation for both nature and art. When the phrase "dim religious light" is used, it refers to the soft, reverent atmosphere found in Anglican churches, while "ecstasies" points to a more passionate, almost Italian sense of emotion and beauty.

Though Milton eventually left the Church of England in the 1630s, he continued to create beauty through words, similar to how churches use stained glass and music to inspire awe. For a long time, he was part of the artistic world that connected the Church and the royal court, writing elegant performances called "masques."

In his Nativity Ode, Milton uses vivid and dramatic imagery, which reflects the baroque style—known for its ornate, detailed, and emotional art. This is why the way he describes scenes in the poem feels grand and expressive.

Milton was a writer who lived during a time when different cultural and religious ideas were clashing. Early in his life, he followed Protestant ideals, which were simple and focused on religious purity. However, Milton also admired the elegant and elaborate style of Italian art and writing, which was influenced by the Catholic Church.

At the same time, King Charles I was supporting artists like the sculptor Bernini, who made grand, decorative art. This kind of art was very different from the plain and simple style preferred by the Puritans, a strict Protestant group.

Milton, who wrote some of his poetry in Italian, was inspired by both the Renaissance (which focused on beauty and culture) and the Reformation (which focused on religious truth). His famous work Paradise Lost was a response to an Italian epic called Jerusalem Won. But unlike that poem, which was about earthly battles, Milton’s goal was to focus on the spiritual quest for Heaven.

As England became more divided in the 1630s, Milton left Italy and returned home to write about political and religious issues. While some writers, like John Donne, found the Calvinist religion (part of Protestantism) to be strict and serious, it was John Bunyan, a later writer, who truly embraced a plain and simple style that reflected Puritan ideals.

Lycidas is a long poem written by John Milton in 1637 to mourn the death of a friend who drowned in the Irish Sea. It's a pastoral elegy, which means it's a poem that talks about death and mourning in a countryside or rural setting. In the poem, Milton imagines that nature itself is sad over the loss of this young poet, who is represented as a shepherd.

Milton also uses this poem to talk about important ideas like fame and how people will be remembered after they die. He even criticizes the church leaders of his time, comparing them to bad shepherds who don't take care of their flock.

One important moment in the poem is when the god Apollo tells the poet that it's not people on earth who decide who is famous, but God, who will judge a person's worth in heaven. This idea reflects both Renaissance themes (like classical myths and nature) and Reformation ideas (like religious faith and God’s judgment).

At one point, Milton lists different flowers as symbols of mourning, but then he acknowledges that imagining such things only gives temporary comfort and doesn’t change the reality of death.

Milton set an example for English poets with his dedication and mastery of language and craft.

Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson was a talented poet and playwright whose natural intensity was refined by years of reading. He transformed ideas from classical Roman poets like Catullus, Horace, and Martial into English literature. Jonson often imitated their sharp, witty, and lyrical poems.

Ben Jonson was a talented poet whose fierce personality was shaped and refined by years of reading. He often took inspiration from Roman poets like Catullus, Horace, and Martial, especially their sharp and lyrical epigrams (short, witty poems). Jonson's poetry was usually aimed at a specific person, event, or subject, and always had a clear purpose—whether moral, social, or artistic. He wrote many well-crafted, short poems on a wide range of topics. Like his plays, his poems were important to society, as he positioned poets as judges or guides for a civilized society, a role that remained influential for about 150 years.

Jonson believed in a balanced society, where people had both rights and responsibilities, and this balance was reflected in his compliments. For example, Jonson's poem about Penshurst, the home of a wealthy patron, highlights the unusual fortune of the family, not as mere flattery but as an honest observation.

Jonson also had his own ideas about hospitality, shown in his poem "On Inviting a Friend to Dinner." Here, he emphasizes that the conversations at dinner should be light and fun, without causing regret or worry the next day.

Jonson's gatherings with young poets, who admired him and were called the "Sons of Ben." One famous poet from this group was Robert Herrick. Finally, the passage briefly refers to the opening line of Jonson's play "Pleasure Reconciled to Virtue," which humorously introduces a large, joyful character with the line, "Room, room! make room for the bouncing belly!"

Ben Jonson, a poet from the 17th century, shows two different sides in his writing. In his poem "On My First Son," written after the death of his son, Jonson expresses deep sadness and grief. His son, Benjamin, died at just seven years old. The line "Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy" means that his son was very precious to him ("child of my right hand" refers to Benjamin’s name, which means that in Hebrew). He also says his mistake ("sin") was having too much hope for his son’s future. Jonson uses careful, controlled writing—short lines that rhyme—to express his emotions and stay calm.

In other writings, like his songs for plays and masques (special performances), Jonson shows a different, more impersonal style. For example, in songs like "Queen and Huntress, Chaste and Fair" or "See the chariot at hand here of Love," his writing is smooth, perfect, and less personal. These songs show his skill in crafting beautiful, polished work, rather than expressing personal feelings.

References: 

www.wikipidia.com

Alexander michael. A History of English literature.2007,Palgrave foundation.