A Nation Divided I
How many lines are in a Petrarchan sonnet?
Fourteen
From "Sonnet VII", by John Milton How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stolen on his wing my three and twentieth year! My hasting days fly on with full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom showeth.
In "Sonnet VII", the speaker characterizes time as a _____. A) thief
"Sonnet XIX", by John Milton 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 labor, 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."
In "Sonnet XIX", the speaker bemoans the loss of his _____. A) eyesight
For John Milton, literature, faith, and politics were inseparable. How do Milton's sonnets show that literature shapes or reflects society?
In his sonnets, Milton expresses both his strong commitment to his faith and his doubts about his abilities.
n "Sonnet VII", Milton contemplates the progress of his life and his lack of accomplishments. When he wrote this poem, Milton had committed himself to a life of study. Living in his father's house in Hammersmith, it is said that he read everything at his command that was written in the ancient and modern languages. As you read the poem, did you notice what occasion lead Milton to the thoughts in the poem? Take a look at the opening lines to help you answer this question.
In the opening of the poem, Milton is reflecting upon his twenty-third birthday. He writes that time is a "subtle thief of youth" and that it has stolen his last year. He is surprised by how quickly time has passed, and he feels cheated by this. He is now in what he considers the "late spring" of his life, but there are no buds or blossoms, meaning that he has not yet created a great body of work.
Seventeenth-century England was a fervently religious place, where people regularly attributed their successes and failures to the will of God. How is Milton's poetry a reflection of that?
In the sonnets, the poet is clear that he is putting his faith in God. Regardless of Milton's age and circumstances, he believes that God will guide him to his destination.
From "Sonnet XIX", by John Milton 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."
Italian sonnets consist of two parts. Which part of the sonnet is presented here? A) the sestet
Background Information
John Milton's life spanned a time of great upheaval and change in England. From 1642 through 1660, England went from being a monarchy, to a commonwealth, to a protectorate, and then back to a monarchy. Citizens of the time experienced both defeat and triumph, no matter which side of the civil war they were on. This was certainly true of John Milton, whose support of the Anti-Royalists eventually landed him in prison and stripped him of most of his property.The two sonnets you are about to read are a reflection of Milton during different stages of life. "Sonnet VII" was written by a young Milton, uncertain of his future, and aware that he has yet to make his mark in the world. The young poet ends the piece with the hope that God will shine his grace upon him. In "Sonnet XIX", a middle-aged Milton bemoans the loss of his sight but accepts this as God's will. Milton was born approximately 400 years ago but is still widely read today. Many scholars consider him one of England's greatest and most influential poets. In a hundred years, what would you like to be remembered for?
To what does Milton trust himself and his life?
Milton calms his worries by putting his trust in God. Milton believes he will arrive in life where he is meant to, when he is meant to.
From "Sonnet XIX", by John Milton 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 labor, 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."
Select the line that indicates the beginning of the sestet in "Sonnet XIX". A) That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Literary Analysis: The Italian Sonnet
Sonnets VII and XIX, by John Milton, are Italian sonnets. Sometimes, Italian sonnets are referred to as Petrarchan sonnets, named after the Italian poet Petrarch who developed this form. An Italian sonnet is a fourteen-line lyric poem. The first eight lines, called the octave, rhyme abbaabba, and the content usually presents a problem. Let's take a closer look at these eight lines in "Sonnet VII", paying special attention to the end rhymes and the problem Milton presents within the content of the poem.
From "Sonnet VII", by John Milton Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow, It shall be still in strictest measure even To that same lot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven; All is, if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my great Taskmaster's eye.
The sestet addresses the problem that the speaker presents in the octave. How does the speaker resolve his concern about his lack of accomplishment? A) He puts his trust in God.
What setback to Milton's poetic ambition is described through the poem's speaker?
The speaker describes how he fears that his blindness may prevent him from serving God through poetic writing.
Summary
The speaker in "Sonnet VII" is turning twenty-four years old. He feels he has not yet accomplished much. Whether he does or not will depend on the will of heaven. The speaker in "Sonnet XIX" wonders why he is blind. He still has much of his life to live. First, he asks how God can expect a blind person like himself to accomplish anything. Then, he decides that he can best serve God by patiently waiting.
From "Sonnet VII", by John Milton How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stolen on his wing my three and twentieth year!
The speaker in "Sonnet VII" reflects on the occasion of his birthday. Judging from the image in lines 1 and 2, how does the speaker view this occasion? A) He feels cheated by time.
Place the events of Sonnet XIX into the order in which they occur.
The speaker loses his sight. The speaker feels that his talent is useless. The speaker worries that he can no longer serve God. Patience answers the speaker. The speaker decides he must accept his blindness as God's will.
Place the thoughts of the speaker in "Sonnet VII" into the order in which they appear.
Time has passed quickly for the speaker. He does not feel he has accomplished enough. He feels his appearance and accomplishments are not in sync. He concludes that time and God's plan will lead him. He determines to live by God's grace.
From "Sonnet XIX", by John Milton 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
What has happened to the speaker's "one talent"? A) The speaker feels his talent has been rendered useless.
From "Sonnet VII" by John Milton My hasting days fly on with full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom showeth.
What is the main idea of these lines? A) The speaker has not yet created a great body of work.
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 labor, 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."
What is the mood of the octave contrasted with that of the sestet? A) The octave is somber, while the sestet is more accepting and hopeful.
As you were examining the opening octave's rhyme scheme, did you remember to also pay attention to the problem Milton poses?
What is the problem posed in the octave of "Sonnet VII"? A) Milton is surprised to find himself twenty-three years old without having completed a great body of work. This part of the poem is, thus, somber in tone.
In a Petrarchan sonnet, how many lines does an octave contain?
eight
What common theme does Milton address in the octaves of "Sonnet VII" and "Sonnet XIX"?
setbacks to his poetic ambition
A sestet, comprised of six lines, follows the octave. The sestet of an Italian sonnet has a variable rhyme scheme. The content of the sestet responds to the octave. Note how, in Milton's Italian sonnets, the rhyme scheme of the two sonnets' sestets is different, but the content of one part flows smoothly into the next. In the case of "Sonnet VII", Milton eases his doubts by putting his trust in God, who, he believes, will lead him to his intended destination in life.
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Did you notice the rhyming pattern, or rhyme scheme? The last word of the first line rhymes with the last words of the fourth, fifth, and eighth lines. And the last word of the second line rhymes with the last words in the third, sixth, and seventh lines. Here are the rhyming words: Youth, showeth, truth, and endueth Year, career, near, and appear Keep in mind that some of these rhymes are slant rhymes. If each word had an assigned letter, the rhyme scheme would look like this: abbaabba. Though the words will change, this pattern is true of all Italian sonnets.
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Milton could not have known when he wrote this poem that years later he would enjoy great successes as a writer and political figure. Take a look at the last few lines of "Sonnet VII" to see how he overcomes his present doubts: "Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow, It shall be still in strictest measure even To that same lot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven; All is, if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my great Taskmaster's eye."
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We have just determined the content of both the octave and the sestet in "Sonnet VII". Can you do the same for "Sonnet XIX"? In lines 1-8 on "Sonnet XIX", Milton laments not only the loss of his eyesight but also his consequent inability to write and to serve God in this way. The lines are somber in tone. The sestet responds to this concern with the realization that God does not demand work from His followers—only faith, devotion, and acceptance.
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