Other readings will include a careful study of the language, the meaning
of the allusions, and, in detail, the poet's thought.

III. Study of the Poem as a Whole

A comprehensive study of the poem as a whole should be profitable after
the work indicated in II.

CONTENT.--What is the substance of the poet's lament for his friend? As
we read the poem do we think more of him or of Milton? How do you
account for this?

What were Milton's relations to King? Were they intimate, personal
friends?

Put into a sentence the substance of each digression.

In what part of the poem do we find that the allusions to the
supernatural are classic and pagan? in what part, Christian? What
corresponding difference is there in the tone of the poem?

FORM.--What relation do the first two paragraphs bear to the rest?

Where is the pastoral element first introduced?

At what places does Milton drop the pastoral form?

What is the effect of a change of person in the last eight lines?

Has the poem unity? Give reasons. How would the poet have justified his
digressions?

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 _Lycid