On his blindness - John Milton
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When I consider how my light is spent,
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Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
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And that one Talent which is dear to hide,
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Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent
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To serve therewith my Maker, and present
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My true account, lest He returning chide,
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‘Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?’
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I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
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That murmur, soon replies, ‘God doth not need
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Either man’s work or his own gifts. Who best
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Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His State
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Is Kingly: thousands at his bidding speed
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And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest;
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They also serve who only stand and wait.’
On his blindness
The poet is blind.
This is a very __________ poem.
When I consider how my light is spent,
In this poem he is __________ how he is __________ his life.
Light - he is blind. He has no more __________ left. His sight is __________.
Spent - __________ up
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
Ere -__________.
Maybe he did not __________ God good enough when he could see, now he has to spend his days in __________. He lives in a __________ world and the world is
__________.
Alliteration -world and wide
And that one Talent which is dear to hide,
The poet is thinking how he used that one __________ he has to serve God.
Talent is written in __________ letters because it refers to the __________ of the Talents in the __________. Matthew 25:14-26
The one Talent that this poet has is writing poetry.
Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent

The talent of __________ poetry is now __________ because the poet cannot see.
Lodged - stuck
The poet is stuck with the __________ of writing __________.
His Soul is __________ more determined to use this one __________ now that he is __________ than it ever was before.
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
He wants to serve his Maker with his __________.
My true account, lest He returning chide,
He wants to __________ everything he has to God. He is __________ that God may __________ him.
Chide - scold.
‘Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?’
The poet __________ tests whether God will __________ him if he does not use his talent because he is blind? He uses the __________ where he compares God with the __________ and he is a labourer. He wonders whether God will
__________ him to work when he has not daylight.
I fondly ask. But __________, to prevent
The poet is very __________ with his situation but he states he asks this question fondly to God.
Fondly - you like __________
Patience is __________. Patience becomes a person and answers the poet’s question. Patience prevents the poet from __________ into trouble:
That murmur, soon replies, ‘God doth not need
Either man’s __________ or his own gifts.
Patience doesn’t want the poet to show his __________ and he replies quickly.
Patience __________ the poet that God does not need the works __________ can do or any of man’s gifts.
Who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best.
Patience says if he want to __________ God well you must just cope with the mild burden God has given him. In other words if he wants to serve God, he must accept the mild yoke (burden) of __________ that he __________.

His State
Is Kingly: __________ at his __________ speed
And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest;
Patience the __________ God a little bit. God is like a __________. There are thousands of people who __________(post) across land and sea, without
__________, to help God.
They also __________ who only stand and wait.’
But, Patience then gives its __________ finish. If you stand and wait you serve
God just as well. In other words you don’t have to do __________ spectacular to serve God, you can just stand and wait.
The poet is soothed by this because in his __________ that is all he __________ can do.
QUESTIONS
1. What is wrong with the poet?
The poet is blind
2. What is the meaning of ERE?
Before
3. What is the central idea of the poem?
The central idea of the poem is that Milton eventually accepts his blindness as the will of God.
"They also serve who only stand and wait."
4. How did the poet spend half of his life?
Half of his life has been spend in blindness
5. Why is the world called dark and wide?
He is blind and cannot see anything therefore the world becomes dark and very big.
6. What talent does the poet have? the talent of writing poetry
7. What does he think would happen if he does not use his talent?
He thinks it would be something terrible if he hides his talent for writing poetry or if he does not make use of his talent for writing poetry.
8. What is the poet determined to do with his poetry?
He is determined to use his talent for writing poetry so the he could impress God.
9. What is the poet afraid God would do if he does not use his talent?
God would return from heaven and scold him because he has not used his gift for writing poetry.
10. What question is the poet asking God really?
Does God expect physically disabled people to do the same as people who are not physically disabled?
11. What does the word ‘fondly’ refer to?
The poet's capacity for patience.
12. Why is Patience written with a capital letter?
Patience is personified and becomes a person.
13. What does Patience want to prevent the poet from doing?

If he should dare to complain about his blindness.
14. How does God feel about man’s work?
God does not need the work man do or the gifts of people. The people who serve him the best are those who allow themselves to be directed and guided by God.
15. What is a yoke?
A piece of wood put on an ox's neck.
16. Why is the image of the yoke used effectively?
The yoke actually says just like an ox is guided by a yoke so does God want his people to allow Him to guide and direct them.
17. Which three words refer to the image of accountancy?
There are three words in the poem that refers to accountancy e.g. spent, talent and "present my true account"
18. Why is the poet using the image of an accountant?
The poet is using the image to say God is keeping book of what we are doing for Him.
19. What does Milton come to realise about God?
God is a King. There are thousands who are working for Him on His command and they also travel over land and ocean to do what God wants from them. Not everybody has to move around to serve
God, those who stand and wait also serve God. Milton makes peace with his blindness and its limitations.
20. How does the poem end?
He submits to God in a positive way. He accepts his blindness and will do whatever he can for God.
21. What type of sonnet is this?
Miltonic Sonnet.