Paradise Lost versus Shikwa

Abstract

Whenever, in the history of language best poets’ name is brought about, Allama Iqbal is remembered. He truly was a master poet of his time and gained wide popularity for his works in Persian, Urdu and English languages. If Orient had Allama Iqbal West had John Milton. Milton achieved great success very early in his life time. Although Milton is a poet of much earlier period i.e., 17th Century his life and works are compared and contrasted with that of Iqbal. Iqbal is said to have sought inspiration from Milton’s Paradise Lost in writing his Shikwa. Both the poets are qualified enough in their fields to earn the title 'Poet Prophet'. A major point of similarity between both the poets is their mysticism, both of them have tried to discuss about the spiritual aspects of being in their works notwithstanding the fact that they immensely differ in language and style. Milton on one hand employs a complex writing technique in writing his poems Iqbal’s poems are slightly easy to comprehend. Besides they are culturally very different, we find references to Greek mythology in works of Milton whereas Iqbal’s works cite Islamic History. This paper seeks to analyze, compare and contrast two of the greatest epics in the history of Language and Literature called “Paradise lost” and “Shikwa” along with their sequels Paradise regained and Jawab-e-Shikwa.