“When I Consider How My Light Is Spent”

John Milton1608-1674

By: Annie, Jayla, and Maria

Biographical Informationdedicated Puritanallied himself with the Roundheadsone of Cromwell’s secretariesIn 1652, Milton lost his wife, infant son, and

eyesight.

(p. 480)

“When I Consider How My Light Is Spent”When I consider how my light is spent,    Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,    And that one Talent which is death to hide    Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present    My true account, lest he returning chide;    “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”    I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need    Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best    Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. 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.”

Style of PoemThis is a Petrarchan, or Italian, sonnetDivided into an octave of eight lines and a sestet

of six.Octave: rhyme scheme of abbaabba and raises a

questionSestet: has a variable rhyme scheme and resolves or comments on the problem

Tone is somber and reflectiveTheme: guilt and blame (p.483-484)

Other InformationMilton went blind before he wrote his best

works (Shmoop).Unlike a classic Italian sonnet, this poem

does not divide cleanly into eight lines and six lines.

Milton influenced the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Works Cited“John Milton.” Literature. Janet Allen. Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littell, 2008. Pages 480- 484. Print.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "When I Consider How My Light is Spent (On His Blindness)." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 30 Sep. 2014.