Understanding John Milton's Blindness

The question asks about the age at which the famous English poet, John Milton, became blind. John Milton is a very important figure in English literature, known for his epic poem Paradise Lost.

The Timeline of Milton's Sight Loss

John Milton's eyesight began to fail gradually over several years. He suffered from various eye problems, which worsened over time. By 1652, John Milton became blind completely.

Calculating the Age Milton Became Blind

To figure out the age when John Milton became blind, we need his birth year and the year his blindness became complete.

• John Milton was born on December 9, 1608.
• He became completely blind around 1652.

We can calculate his age in 1652:

\( \text{Age} = \text{Year of blindness} - \text{Year of birth} \)

\( \text{Age} = 1652 - 1608 \)

\( \text{Age} = 44 \)

This calculation shows that John Milton became blind completely at the age of 44. This period is significant as he wrote some of his greatest works, including Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, after he had lost his sight, demonstrating remarkable resilience.

Confirming the Age Milton Became Blind

Based on historical records and the calculation, John Milton became blind at the age of 44. Let's look at the given options:

• 46
• 47
• 44
• 48

The age we calculated, 44, matches one of the options provided. This confirms the age at which John Milton became blind is indeed 44.

The experience of Milton becomes blind heavily influenced his writing and personal reflections on providence and endurance.

Therefore, the correct age is 44. Understanding when Milton becomes blind provides context for his later works.