L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, and Lycidas: Poetry Guide and Free Edition
L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, and Lycidas: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, and Lycidas is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Milton, John (1608–1674).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, and Lycidas" by John Milton is a collection of poetic works composed during the early 17th century. This book features four distinct pieces: "L'Allegro" and "Il Penseroso," which present contrasting moods of joy and melancholy; "Comus," a masque that explores themes of temptation and virtue; and "Lycidas," a pastoral elegy mourning the loss of a friend. The overarching topic addresses human experiences, emotions, and the divine interplay of fate, virtue, and mortality. In "L'Allegro," Milton celebrates the joys and pleasures of life, invoking a spirit of merriment and youthful vitality, while "Il Penseroso" explores the depths of contemplation, encouraging a reverence for wisdom and solemn reflection amid life's varied experiences. "Comus" unfolds in a dramatic narrative where a virtuous lady, lost in a dark wood, confronts the seductive enchantments of Comus, a symbol of vice, ultimately highlighting the power of chastity and virtue. Finally, "Lycidas" serves as a poignant tribute to Milton's deceased friend, contemplating the responsibilities and failings of the clergy, while expressing a hope for spiritual immortality. Together, these works offer a profound exploration of the dualities of life and human spirit, woven with rich imagery and rhetorical elegance characteristic of Milton's style.
Book and edition facts
- Title: L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, and Lycidas
- Author credits: Milton, John (1608–1674)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Cheerfulness -- Poetry
- Didactic poetry
- Melancholy -- Poetry
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Classics of Literature
- Category: Poetry
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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