How many syllables do you find as a rule in each line? How are the lines rhymed? Find several blank verse lines. What variations from the normal line do you note in the number of syllables and in the position of accented syllables?
Does the poet show deeper feeling in his lament for King or in the digressions?
In what way does the language differ from that of L'Allegro and Il Penseroso? Account for the difference.
The Life and Character of the Author.—Find out what you can of Milton's childhood home; his tastes and habits when a boy; his education; his perplexity about the choice of a career; his six years at Horton; his travels; his return home; his removal to London; his marriage; his prose writings; his spirit in controversy; his domestic life; his public life; his situation in 1660; his employment during the years of his retirement; the effect on his character, of controversy and the failure of his cherished ideals of government.
Into what three periods does his life naturally fall?
How does the character of his writings conform to these three periods?
What do L'Allegro and Il Penseroso reflect of his life at Horton? of his tastes? of his accomplishments? Do you find anything indicative of his Puritan sympathies? anything inconsistent with the Puritanism of his time?
Do you note any change of spirit from the earlier poems to Lycidas?
What spirit of Puritanism is reflected in Lycidas?
General Historical Questions.—Answers to the following are valuable because of their bearing on Milton's life and work.