Milton grand style

for another and the whole effect is destroyed."Milton is often
not satistied with one meaning from a word,but will make it
do double duty.Words derived from Latin served this double
purpose.To the ordinary reader they convey one meaning
and to the scholar they suggest another.This gives a
suggestive power to Milton's language."The most striking
characterstic of the poetry of Milton is the extreme remoteness
of the associations by which it acts on the reader.Its effect is
produced,not so much by what it expresses as by what it
suggests,not so much by the ideas which it directly conveys
by other ideas which are connected with them.He electrifies
the mind through conductors.......The works of Milton cannot
be comprehended or enjoyed unless the mind of the reader
co-operates with that of the writer.He does not paint a finished
picture or play for a mere passive listener.He sketches and
leaves others to fill up the outline.He strikes tke key-note
and expects his hearers to make out the melody."(Macaulay)
Allusiveness
!An essential quality of MiltondS
poetic style is its
allusiveness.He,no doubt,pressed.tethe service of his poetry
all that he observed in life ang Hature;but his vision was
often coloured by his knowledge:The whole treasury of poetry,
ancient and modern,and the whole storehouse of learning
were at his commandAnd he seemed to assume that they
were also at the command of his readers and so he loaded
every rift of his verse with myth and legend,historical,literary,
and scientific ct.Classical and Biblical allusions are most
abundant,and are woven into the very texture of his language./
Hence Pattison remarks:"The appreciation of Milton is the
last reward of consummate scholarship."His scholarly habit
ofPnind is illustrated in the comparison of the army of Satan
to various military assemblage,mentioned,in legend and
history at the close of Book I of Paradise Lost:
..........for never since created man
Met such imbodied force,as named with these
Epic similes
(A striking feature of Milton's style in Paradise Lost is his
use of epic similes.These go far beyond the limits of
comparison,and are expanded to draw complete pictures.