An in-depth guide and summary of the poem by John Milton, On His Blindness. It is full of example questions and notes on the poem and structure. It also includes an example essay question
Dedication to the process of going blind Someone is blind (male)
On his Blindness – John Milton
Personal pronoun
Written in 1st person Sight/life Autobiographical sonnet. Milton meditates on
his own loss of sight
1. When I consider how my light is spent,
Before He could see for half of his life Blindness/seems endless w-alliteration emphasises how dark it is
Dark can figuratively be his
problems that seems endless
2. Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
Enjambm
ent
writing Bad He has one talent and it’s terrible to hide it He’s feeling bad that he didn’t use his
talent (writing) that God gave him enough
3. And that one Talent which is death to hide
I’m stuck with it, now I can’t write Now I want to write more than ever
Octave
4. Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent
I want to serve God with my writing God My gift to God
5. To serve therewith my Maker, and present
God’s gift to me is my talent, my gift
scold I hope God doesn’t scold me because
to God is using them
I don’t use my talents
6. My true account, lest he returning chide;
Will Expect me to work When there is no light (I’m blind, and you took it away)
7. “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”
Octave ends Personifying
patience
Patience steps in before he asks God. Patience spoke with him
8. I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent
Complain in a low voice God doesn’t need anything from us
9. That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need
Patience telling him what God wants
10. Either man’s work or his own gifts: who best
Patience is speaking
Carry with Wooden We must accept and deal with the challenges God Mild yoke = our burden will never be as intense
diffuculty God bar/frame gives us, and those who do it worships God best
Sestet
Bear his mild yoke = Jesus had to bear a cross
11. Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
God is the
true king Example A lot of people serve
12. Is Kingly; Thousands at his bidding speed
Travel These Christians will travel to spread God’s word (it’s wonderful)
13. And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest:
Parad
Everyone else Ready for when God calls Perfectly fine to wait until God calls you
ox
14. They also serve who only stand and wait.”
, On his Blindness – John Milton
Main Themes
1. Servitude
2. Faith
3. Religion
4. Loss
Sub Themes
1. Acceptance and Submission
Milton grapples with the idea of serving God despite his blindness, questioning if God
expects the same level of productivity from him
2. Patience and Endurance
The poem reflects on patience as a form of servitude, suggesting that serving God
doesn't necessarily mean constant action, but rather enduring trials with faith
3. Internal Struggle
Milton's inner conflict between feeling useless due to his blindness and seeking purpose
through serving God emphasizes the theme of servitude
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