On His Blindness by: John Milton

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1. ON HIS BLINDNESS Sonnet 16 by John Milton (1655)

2. John Milton 1608-1674 (66) Birthday: Dec 9, 1608 at Spread Eagle in Bread Street, London an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth (republic) of England under Oliver Cromwell . Milton's poetry and prose reflect deep personal convictions, a passion for freedom and self determination, and the urgent issues and political turbulence of his day.

3. his best works, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained were written after he became blind. he is remembered as the greatest English writer of the 17th century. His eyesight began to fail in 1644 By 1651, he was totally blind (43) He died of kidney failure on November 8,1674 (66) without pain or emotion, according to testimony at the time no one in the room noticed his passing .

4. John Milton’s works (38) Poetic and dramatic works   (10) 1631: L'Allegro   Il Penseroso   1634: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle 1638 : Lycidas   1645: Poems of Mr John Milton, Both English and Latin  1655: On the Late Massacre in Piedmont  1667: Paradise Lost  1671: Paradise Regained  Samson Agonistes   1673: Poems, &c, Upon Several Occasions 

5. Political, philosophical and religious prose   (27) 1641: Of Reformation   Of Prelatical Episcopacy Animadversions 1642: The Reason of Church-Government Urged against Prelaty Apology for Smectymnuus 1643: Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce 1644: Judgement of Martin Bucer Concerning Divorce Of Education   Areopagitica   1645: Tetrachordon Colasterion 1649: The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates   Eikonoklastes 1651: Defensio pro Populo Anglicano [First Defence ]

6. 1654: Defensio Secunda [Second Defence ] 1659: A treatise of Civil Power The Likeliest Means to Remove Hirelings from the Church   1660: The Ready and Easy Way to Establish a Free Commonwealth Brief Notes Upon a Late Sermon   1669: Accedence Commenced Grammar 1670: History of Britain   1672: Artis logicae plenior institutio [Art of Logic] 1673: Of True Religion 1674: Epistolae Familiaries Prolusiones   1682: A brief History of Moscovia , and other less known Countries lying Eastward of Russia as far as Cathay, gathered from the writings of several Eye-witnesses (1682)  1823: De Doctrina Christiana

7. Petrarchan sonnet A lyric poem with 14 lines Popularized by Italian priest Petrarch Rhyme schemes of ABBA, ABBA, CDE and CDE Originated in Sicily in 13 th century with Giacomo da Lentino , a lawyer “sonnet” Italian word “ sonetto ” meaning little song The most common theme between the 13 th and early 16 th Centuries of sonnets was LOVE In later time also focused on religion, politics and other concerns of the reading public

8. METER Iambic Pentameter -a line has five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables, for a total of ten syllables. Example: 1…….2………..3…………..4…………5 When I | con SID | er HOW | my LIFE | is SPENT 1………….2…………..3……………4……………….5 Ere HALF | my DAYS | in THIS | dark WORLD | and WIDE

9. Eight-line Stanza (octave) Presents a theme Forms the proposition, which describes a “problem” or “question” Rhyme scheme is ABBA, ABBA Six-line stanza (sestet) Develops the theme Proposes the “resolution” Rhyme scheme is CDE, CDE or CDC, CDC Typically, the ninth line initiates what is called the TURN or VOLTA , which signals the move from proposition to resolution.

10. On his blindness 1 When I consider how my light is spent A 2 E're half my days, in this dark world and wide, B 3 And that one Talent which is death to hide, B 4 Lodg’d with me useless, though my Soul more bent A 5 To serve therewith my Maker, and present A 6 My true account, lest he returning chide; B 7 “Doth God exact day- labour , light denied?” B 8 I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent A

11. 9 That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need C 10 Either man’s work or his own gifts. Who best D 11 Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His State E 12 Is Kingly; Thousands at his bidding speed, C 13 And post o’er land and ocean without rest; D 14 They also serve who only stand and wait. E

12. When I consider how my light is spent “ light ” – this word clearly alludes to the speaker’s loss of sight -the poet thinks of how his “light” is used up or wasted.

13. Ere half my days in this dark world and wide –the speaker in this poem feels vulnerable. Rather than becoming blind when elderly, he has become blind in middle age. -He now inhabits a world that seems “dark” in at least 2 senses: it is no longer physically visible, and it is a world full of sin and spiritual darkness. -The world, moreover, is not only dark but also “wide” Milton will somehow have to navigate, both literally and figuratively, in a world which will prose many dangers.

14. And that one talent which is death to hide/ Lodged with me useless , “talent” – the gift of writing “lodged” - stuck -alluding to the famous passage in the Bible (Mathew 25:14-30) “Parable of Talents” to the punishment for one talent that is buried and not utilized may lead to an analysis suggesting Milton fears his own spiritual punishment, or spiritual “death,” for the uselessness of his blindness.

15. though my soul more bent/ To serve therewith my Maker, and present “maker” –reference to God -Milton is saying that now that he is blind, his desire to serve God is increased .

16. My true account , lest he returning chide ; “true account”-his good work “chide” – criticize -he wishes to give a good account of himself and his service to God. -refers to the second coming of Jesus, he is worried that God will criticize him for not using his talent

17. “ Doth God exact day labor, light denied?” - can be paraphrased as “Does God demand that which cannot be given?” -Milton asked if God just wants lesser tasks since his blindness denies him from using his talents .

18. I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent “Patience” -is not a personal trait of the poet, rather God’s Holy Spirit -personifies it and having it answer Milton’s question

19. That murmur, soon replies , “murmur” -complaint -Patience speaks and explains the nature of God “God doth not need/ Either man’s work or his own gifts -God is sufficient unto Himself. He requires nothing outside of Himself to exist and be happy.

20. Who best/ Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best “ yoke” -Biblical word for God’s will -the people who are most respectful to God's will are the ones who serve God best . -those who endure their misfortune w ithout complaining.

21. His State/ Is Kingly; Thousands at his bidding speed, And post o’er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait . - These lines mean that the whole world are servants to God. There is more than one way to serve God, and Patience is telling the poet that even his waiting, caused by his blindness, can be a kind of service to God.

22. Octave: he shows revolt and is frustrated with his blindness Sestet: Acceptance and resignation to God’s will

23. summary In this sonnet, the speaker meditates on the fact that he has become blind (Milton himself was blind when he wrote this). He expresses his frustration at being prevented by his disability from serving God as well as he desires to. He is answered by "Patience," who tells him that God has many who hurry to do his bidding, and does not really need man’s work. Rather, what is valued is the ability to bear God’s "mild yoke," to tolerate whatever God asks faithfully and without complaint. As the famous last line sums it up, "They also serve who only stand and wait."

24. Examples of figures of speech Alliteration : my d ays in this d ark w orld and w ide (line 2) Metaphor : though my soul more bent/ To serve therewith my Maker (lines 3-4) The author compares his soul to his mind Personification/Metaphor : But Patience, to prevent/ That murmur, soon replies.. (lines 8-9) Paradox : They also serve who only stand and wait.

25. SUBJECT MATTER Lamentation Concern over judgment Acceptance Trust and Faith

26. Theme:

27. Kamsahamnida!