Student Scholarship
Document Type
Research Paper
Abstract
The provided document traces the historical development of Miltonic criticism from the late seventeenth century through the mid-twentieth century, highlighting how shifting literary and cultural values shaped John Milton’s reputation. The text begins by contrasting the Neo-Classical and Romantic eras, noting that while classicists often struggled with Milton’s violations of their rigid rules, they still admired the sublimity of Paradise Lost. Early critics like Dryden and Marvell established the foundational appreciation for Milton’s epic style, though later figures like Samuel Johnson offered harsher critiques of his shorter works and political views.
In the nineteenth century, the Romantic movement brought a surge in Milton’s popularity, particularly through a focus on his technical artistry and the character of Satan. Figures such as Shelley and Blake reinterpreted Milton’s theology, often viewing him as being in sympathy with Satan, while Victorian scholars like David Masson provided comprehensive biographical contexts that cemented Milton's image as an austere Puritan. This period saw a growing schism between critics who admired Milton’s poetic expression and those who rejected his religious and philosophical substance.
The mid-twentieth century introduced more complex revaluations, moving beyond the binary views of previous eras. Modern scholars like Tillyard and Bush began to view Milton as a humanist who successfully fused Protestant and Renaissance elements. Simultaneously, poets like T.S. Eliot, who initially found Milton’s influence baneful, later recognized his unique importance to the English language. The document concludes by illustrating that Milton remains a perpetually relevant figure whose work continues to serve as a vital standard for moral and artistic excellence.
Research Highlights
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The Problem: This research traces the historical progression and divergent perspectives of literary criticism regarding John Milton’s poetry and prose from the 17th century through the first half of the 20th century.
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The Method: The author performs a comparative analysis of critical essays, lectures, and biographies from primary literary figures, including Joseph Addison, Samuel Johnson, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and T.S. Eliot, to identify evolving ideological trends.
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Qualitative Finding: Critical reception shifted from 18th-century Neo-Classical disapproval of Milton's "irregular" style to 19th-century Romantic celebration of his individualistic "sublimity," eventually reaching 20th-century revaluations that balance his roles as a Renaissance humanist and a Puritan thinker.
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Finding: The "cult of Satan" in the 19th century redefined the interpretation of Paradise Lost by positioning Satan as the true hero, a view later challenged by modern critics who prioritize Milton's moral and ethical frameworks over character-based "Satanism".
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Finding: Milton’s prose works were historically dismissed for their "scurrilous" controversial methods but are recognized by modern scholars for their foundational arguments on intellectual freedom and their stylistic influence on English Extended verse.
Publication Date
3-1950
Recommended Citation
Smith, Mary Ann, "Development of Miltonic Criticism" (1950). Student Scholarship. 145.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/student-research-papers/145
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
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