During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries literature became a part if life to many people. The whole Renaissance period opened up a life to Europe that had never before been in existence. New themes in art, better art, new themes in literature, and better literature became a part in this "new life." Many authors represented this "new life, but none better than Miguel De Cervantes and John Milton who both ironically wrote in two very different styles. In Cervantes's Don Quixote the literary elements stray from the poems of John Milton in the fact that their allusions, diction, and syntax differ, but they both however convey the same theme of passion of accomplishment.
These two writers had very different backgrounds. Miguel De Cervantes was born in Spain in the year fifteen hundred and forty seven. As he was growing up he received his education from Jesuits. After Cervantes finished his education he became a professional soldier (Starkie). This may explain the reason he wrote about his character trying to become a knight. After all knights and soldiers are very much alike. While in service he became wounded in Lepanto in the year fifteen hundred and seventy one, captured by the Turkish army in the year fifteen hundred and seventy five, and was then imprisoned for five years (Starkie). While in prison ideas may have came to him or he could have gone mental so this period of his life no matter how short it was could have had a big influence on the way he wrote his novel. Five years after his release from imprisonment he married in the year fifteen hundred and eighty five. Cervantes then went on to publish Part I of Don Quixote in sixteen hundred and five, then in sixteen hundred and thirteen Exemplary Novels and in sixteen hundred and fourteen Journey to Parnassus. Later on in the year sixteen hundred and fifteen Cervantes published Part II of Don Quixote as well as Eight Plays and Eight Interludes.