Paradise Lost, but his shorter poems and treatises also contributed greatly to the political and religious conversations of the seventeenth century. The sphere of Milton’s influence was not limited to his time period, but also shaped later periods, including the Romantics, who were fascinated with what they deemed a sympathetic portrayal of Satan. This panel seeks research investigating Milton’s influences on not only his contemporary society, but the ways that he also affected later literary thought and culture. Of particular interest are papers that explore the way Milton’s writings address nuanced ideas on religion, politics, divorce, and education, as well as reading him comparatively with female writers, such as Aemilia Lanyer, Margaret Cavendish, Aphra Behn, Mary Shelley, Christina Rosettie, and Virginia Woolf.

Submissions from Ph.D. candidates and early career scholars are especially encouraged.

NOTE: This call is for papers to be presented at the conference.

Please direct your brief abstract (less than 250 words) and/or any questions to Jennifer Topale at rmmla2026proposals@gmail.com. Abstracts are due by 1 April 2026.

Further information about the RMMLA can be found at: https://www.rmmla.org/