According to Barbara Lewalski, "L'Allegro", along with "Il Penseroso", "explore and contrast in generic terms the ideal pleasures appropriate to contrasting lifestyles... that a poet might choose, or might choose at different times, or in sequence". In particular, "L'Allegro" celebrates Grace Euphrosyne through the traditional Theocritan pastoral model. The poem is playful and is set within a pastoral scene that allows the main character to connect with folk stories and fairy tales in addition to various comedic plays and performances. There is a sort of progression from the pleasures found in "L'Allegro" with the pleasures found within "Il Penseroso". Besides being set in a traditional form, there is no poetic antecedent for Milton's pairing.