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영어

Even though Milton's greatness is usually discussed in terms of his great works in the later days, his lyrical poems written in his youth have their own importance. They show very well the poet's mastery of the earlier literary traditions. And, at the same time, Milton's early works, both in their literary themes and techniques, can be accepted as a real preparation for the achievements in his later years. Though his literary works in youth and in age show drastic changes, these changes should be understood as continuous flow not as distinct contrast. While his reputation rests primarily upon the long works of his later years, those early works such as “L'Allegro,” “Il Penseroso,” and Lycidas show the same genius at work and reveal the wide range of his interests and abilities. They illustrate Milton as a great practitioner of different literary genres, his manipulation of musical devices, metrical systems and structures, and his ability of fusing together those literary techniques into his themes.