Samuel Johnson's From Milton Summary & Key Points
Life and Legacy of John Milton (1608–1674) Samuel Johnson and His Contributions Overview Notable Achievements: Samuel Johnson, a leading literary figure of the 18th century, was a poet, novelist, translator, lexicographer, editor, biographer, and critic. Famous Work: His most renowned contribution is A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), a groundbreaking two-volume work that defined words, traced their origins, and included examples from notable writers, alongside a history of English and a grammar guide. Lives of the Poets (1781) Purpose: Published as an introduction to a collection of works by fifty poets, all deceased and active between the 1660s and 1770s. Content Structure: Each entry includes:
A biography based on secondary sources. A brief characterization of the poet. A critical assessment of their work. Scope: Initially planned as a slim volume, the project expanded to 66 volumes: ten of Johnson’s essays and 56 of the poets’ works. Significance: This collection is regarded as…
