How to analyze a poem| On His Blindness by John Milton

How To Analyze a Poem?

Hello, hope so all is well. This blog will help you in the field of poetry and poems, and how to analyze a poem or sonnet. I will first clarify the difference between poetry, sonnet, and poem, I will define it individually and examine the difference between them. Secondly, I will explain what things you need to be considered for analysis. Thirdly, at the last, I will give an analysis of the sonnet "On His Blindness" by John Milton.

What is poetry?

Poetry is a form of creative writing that uses language to express emotions, thoughts, and ideas beautifully and imaginatively. It often involves the use of rhythm, rhyme, and figurative language to create a deeper and more profound impact on the reader. Poetry is a form of literary expression that uses rhythmic and often metrical language to convey thoughts, emotions, and ideas.

According to "William Wordsworth" Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings and emotions, expressed through language in a simple and heartfelt manner.

What is Sonnet?

A sonnet is a type of poem that follows a specific rhyme scheme and consists of a maximum of 14 lines. There are two types of sonnets encountered in History. The Italian sonnet and the Shakespearean sonnet. 

According to poets, a sonnet is a structured and compact form of poetry that allows them to express complex thoughts and emotions within a strict set of rules. It's a 14-line poem, typically written in iambic pentameter, with specific rhyme schemes depending on the type of sonnet (Italian or Shakespearean).

Fundamental Elements for Analysis

Typically, analysis of the poem or poetry is considered the most difficult process in learning, especially in literature and linguistics. The reason for this difficulty is that students didn't know about the things we find in a poem for analysis. So, analysis means examining and studying something carefully to understand its parts, patterns, and relationships to gain insights or make decisions based on the information gathered. So, there are some elements you need to consider when analyzing a poem.

1-Theme

The poet portrays a theme in his or her poem. A theme is the main idea or message conveyed in a story. It is the central point of the story or poem that the writer actually wants to convey to his readers or audience. When you try to analyze a poem, you must deeply investigate the main idea of the story.

2- Language

Of course, the writer conveys his message in a specific language, when you try to analyze the poem, focus on the type of language used by the writer. Sure! It's easy or understandable for the audience, and the language is used coherently. 

3- Structure

In the ancient days, poetry was written in a specific rhythmic style. Structure refers to the organization and arrangement of elements within a piece of writing or any creative work. It helps give the work coherence and cohesion, helping the audience understand the flow and relationships between different parts of the content. In writing, structure can include things like paragraphs, chapters, or stanzas, while in other art forms, it may involve the sequence of events, composition, or layout. 

4-Symbols 

A symbol is a representation of an object, idea, or concept that carries a deeper meaning beyond its literal interpretation. It can be a word, image, object, or action used to convey complex ideas, emotions, or themes concisely and powerfully.

5- Personification

Personification, in simple words, is a figure of speech where human characteristics or qualities are attributed to non-human things, animals, or ideas. It's a way of giving human-like traits, emotions, or actions to inanimate objects or abstract concepts, making them easier to understand and relate to creatively and imaginatively.

6-Rhyme scheme

A rhyme scheme is a pattern of rhyming words at the end of lines in a poem or song. It's a way to organize and identify the rhyme pattern, typically using letters to represent different rhyming sounds. For example, if each line ends with words that rhyme with "cat," the rhyme scheme would be represented as AABB.

These elements are the basic and fundamental elements for the analysis of a poem or poetry. If you want to analyze a poem or story then first read it deeply and understand the above-mentioned elements. So, In this blog, we will try to analyze a sonnet "On His Blindness" by John Milton.

"On His Blindness" analysis 

Introduction

"On His Blindness" is a sonnet written by John Milton. John Milton was a most celebrated poet of the 17th century. The poem delves into themes of loss, faith, and acceptance in the face of adversity. John Milton wrote a special poem when he couldn't see because of glaucoma (a disease ) in 1652. The poem shows how he was trying to accept losing his sight and understand what his purpose in life could be, even though he had physical challenges. He felt worried that his blindness might stop him from serving God, but then he realized that serving God isn't just about doing things but also about trusting and being patient. So he found comfort in knowing that even if he couldn't do much, just staying faithful was a way of serving God too. It's a beautiful poem about finding meaning and peace in tough times

Theme 

The burden of blindness and its impact are the central points of the poem. As quoted by Milton,

"When I consider how my light is spent,"

In these opening lines, Milton introduces the main idea of the poem. In the first line of the poem, John Milton talks about how he thinks about his blindness and how it affects his life. This becomes the main idea of the poem.

Structure

The poem follows the traditional sonnet structure, comprising 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. It consists of an octave (eight lines) followed by a sestet (six lines).

Rhythm and Rhyme scheme 

The rhyme scheme of "On His Blindness" by John Milton is ABBAABBACDCDCD. Here are the exact examples of the rhyming words from the poem:

Line 1: "When I consider how my light is spent," (A)

Line 2: "Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide," (B)

Line 3: "And that one Talent which is death to hide," (B)

Line 4: "Lodged with me useless," (A)

Line 5: "Though my Soul more bent," (A)

Line 6: "To serve therewith my Maker, and present," (B)

Line 7: "My true account, lest he returning chide," (B)

Line 8: "Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?" (A)

Line 9: "I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent," (C)

Line 10: "That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need," (D)

Line 11: "Either man's work or his own gifts; who best," (C)

Line 12: "Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best, his State," (D)

Line 13: "Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed," (C)

Line 14: "And post o'er Land and Ocean without rest:," (D)

Line 15: "They also serve who only stand and wait." (C)

Symbols

John Milton symbolizes the value of light and darkness. As quoted by Milton

"When I consider how my light is spent,"

In the poem "On His Blindness," light is used to represent two things: the ability to see with our eyes and the understanding of spiritual things. Milton's blindness symbolizes the loss of both these abilities, leaving him feeling lost and uncertain in both the physical world and his spiritual beliefs. It's like he is struggling in darkness, unable to find clarity or meaning in life.

Biblical allusion

John Milton is one of the best poets who portrays biblical allusions in his writing. It's a unique quality that represents the author's high command of writing. In the poem, Milton put an allusion

"God doth not need / Either man's work or his own gifts"

Milton references the Parable of the Talents from the Bible (Matthew 25:14-30) to convey that God doesn't require human work or gifts but instead desires sincere dedication.

Language

Milton uses vivid and descriptive language to create images in the reader's mind, especially when referring to light and darkness, which symbolize physical and spiritual sight. The language used in "On His Blindness" is formal and poetic.

Conclusion:

Overall, The analysis of a poem or a piece of literary work is not difficult if you understand what you actually want to explore from the poem or story. His language, style, structure, rhyme scheme, theme, and symbolism are the fundamental elements that are analyzed from a poem in the field of literature and linguistics.

Note:

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