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Background to Paradise Lost

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
John Milton had an unusual upbringing. He
a)
Traveled the world and married a 16-year-old.
b)
Was required to become priest.
c)
Studied some languages and then went to work.
d)
Chose to study completely on his own and did not go to college.
2.
John Milton went on to become very involved in politics. He 
a)
Dedicated his life to fighting for the King.
b)
Dedicated his life to fighting the King. 
c)
Wrote a pamphlet supporting censorship.
d)
Wrote many pamphlets supporting the monarchy.
3.
John Milton proved his loyalty to the Commonwealth by
a)
Refusing to bow to the King.
b)
Becoming a spy for Oliver Cromwell.
c)
Burning down Buckingham Palace.
d)
Working for the Commonwealth.
4.
Milton was fairly successful, but then his life took a turn for the worse by
a)
Losing several bets and lots of money.
b)
Being arrested as a traitor and losing his eyesight.
c)
Being arrested for spying.
d)
Losing his wife and family.
5.

Paradise Lost was written by Milton at a time in his life that

a)

Was full of loss and unhappiness.

b)

Reflected his wealth and popularity with the King.

c)

Reflected the Commonwealth and its popularity.

d)

Was fun and rewarding.

6.

What was the real reason for Milton writing Paradise Lost?

a)

Adam and Eve and their expulsion from Eden.

b)

A militarist (pro-war/hawk) mentality.

c)

The ongoing war in Europe.

d)

Milton's stance on the European Wars.

7.
Instead of writing "war is ____ ", Milton chose to do what?
a)
Read and write about Scripture.
b)
Use the Bible and its stories to reflect his thoughts about the war.
c)
Just write about angels and their goodness.
d)
He was uninterested and afraid of the war.
8.
The Puritans, our American ancestors, were known for what?
a)
Their lack of interest in politics.
b)
Their use of the Bible in all aspects of their lives, including school.
c)
Their anti-war (dove) stance on the wars.
d)
Their lack of morals.
9.
The story of God vs. Lucifer is:
a)
God gets beaten up pretty badly.
b)
God doesn't fight fair.
c)
Lucifer is beaten badly and thrown out of Heaven.
d)
Lucifer begs God to forgive him.
10.

The reason we are reading this?

a)

To teach you about a classic Anti-hero.

b)

To teach you about Paradise.

c)

To entertain you and make you laugh.

d)

To teach you the Bible.

11.

Shelley's Frankenstein is clearly influenced by Milton's PL because

a)

They both have monsters.

b)

They both are about a lost paradise.

c)

They both criticize government "on the down low".

d)

All of the above.

e)

None of the above.

12.

Quakers and Puritans are

a)

Not similar at all.

b)

Both very permissive religions.

c)

Both very strict religions.

d)

In no way connected to government.

13.

The New England Primer was

a)

A kid's version of the Bible.

b)

Combined common sense and the Bible.

c)

America's version of an English textbook.

d)

Used to teach students to read using the Bible.

14.

William Blake's paintings illustrate what?

a)

That Blake was obsessed with Milton.

b)

The story Milton tells in Paradise Lost.

c)

How crazy Milton really was.

d)

Milton's criticism of government.

15.

If a conservative, super religious man writes about Satan what does this mean?

a)

He is questioning his faith.

b)

You should question his sanity.

c)

He is demonstrating that faith allows for questioning.

d)

He is demonstrating that he is really a big hypocrite.