Question

Summary of the poem l allegro by john milton

Answer 1

Throughout the poem, the speaker directs his words to various Greek gods and personifications. He begins by telling Melancholy to leave him alone and go bother the Cimmerians, a people who dwell in unending darkness. After all, spring is a time to banish darkness. He then calls on Euphrosyne, a goddess of joy. The speaker asks her to bring him happiness and all it entails, such as smiles and nods. The day breaks bright and cheerful around him--the sun rises and people start their day.

As he watches the people, the speaker imagines their idyllic small town lives. For instance, a group of shepherds counting their sheep catches his eye, and he imagines that they're telling stories as they guard their flocks. Each villager or bit of nature the speaker's eye falls on is seen through his euphoria. Some of the sights include meadows full of flowers, cloud-covered mountains, and people telling stories over ale.

Then, the speaker shifts to life in the city on a pleasant afternoon. In contrast to the shepherds and the village peoples, the city is home to knight, barons, and ladies. Again, he imagines the story being told, but here it is not shepherds telling tales or villagers talking ales. Instead, people go to the theater in the evening and are excited to listen the verses and watch the action. He notes the Hymen, Greek God of Marriage, often appears at feasts that could boggle the imagination of the young poets.