Sonnet XIX: On His Blindness - John Milton Flashcards
Structure
Lyric poem
Octave followed by a sestet
Volta at the sestet
Introduction
This poem reflects on the physical and spiritual challenges the speaker faces as a blind person. He feels unable to complete the tasks that God has set for him, and he worries that he is squandering his capacity to serve God. But, in the second half of the poem, the speaker reassures himself by arguing that God does not need human help and that there are many ways to serve him
‘When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,’
‘When’ - adverbial clause
‘light is spent’ - conceptual metaphor, days of light/sight are gone, perhaps suggests that without sight he is now in an emotional state in life.
‘dark world’ - placement of ‘dark’ and ‘light’ is almost parallel, this juxtaposition highlights the change in his life
- could perhaps be representative of heaven and hell
‘And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent’
‘And that one talent which is death to hide’ - allusion to the parable of talents (isn’t able to use his talents and so will be sent to hell)
‘Lodged with me useless’ - stuck with the talent of the written word, which he can’t use, perhaps now views himself as useless/powerless as he is unable to use his gift any longer.
‘soul more bent’ - despite mot being able to use his talent, his inclination to serve God is higher, and therefore is slightly more open and accepting
- however could also mean his breaking point
‘“Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent’
‘Doth God exact day-labour, light denied? - A slight on God, blaming him, asking how he is meant to work without light. The octave is questioning God, followed by the sestet which is the answer.
‘prevent’ - enjambment used at the end of the first line isn’t the end of a thought but rather a cliffhanger, forcing the reader to keep moving forward to find out what happens next.
‘bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed’
‘yoke’ - could means to be obedient to God, those who are obediant to God are blessed
- or could mean he knows that the lack of site is a burden but he endures it anyway for his love for God is greater
‘thousands at his bidding’ - angels and other beings opposed to humans who are also able to serve
- this all coveys that God doesn’t need the work of others, he is self-sufficient, protestant concept, he will not mourn the loss of Milton’s sight, so Milton shouldn’t either.