Areopagitica

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/areopagitica

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote Areopagitica?John Milton
2. What is the year of publication?1644
3. What is the literary form?Prose polemic
4. What is Areopagitica and why did John Milton write it?Areopagitica is a speech John Milton wrote in 1644 to argue against government censorship of printed books. He wanted people to be able to read and share ideas freely.
5. Why did Milton think censorship was bad?Milton believed censorship stopped people from learning the truth, made it harder to discuss different ideas, and kept people from becoming smarter.

Prose Polemic: A forceful and controversial written argument, presented in ordinary language rather than poetry.
Licensing System: A pre-publication government approval process for printed materials, designed to control content.
Marketplace of Ideas: A concept suggesting that the truth will emerge from the free competition of ideas in society.
Censorship: The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.