When I Consider How My Light is Spent by John Milton (Sonnet 19) ANALYSIS ✒️

[@marknunan6564]

The word "consider" in the first line is carefully chosen. The root is Con + Sidus (Latin for star). Etymology of the word "consider" indicates Latin to Old French meanings "to observe the stars" or "with star". "Sidera" meaning "stars" is also a Latin personal name meaning "luminous". Thus "When I consider how my light is spent" . . . holds a second meaning through the reversal of the etymology of "consider" with its connotations of light, luminosity, and star - the opposite of which - spent light - likens the writer to a dying star whose light has gone out. A dark star, like his darkened eyes. This "spent" light creates a nice double entendre on the word "Talent", also apparently "spent" if he gives in to despair. And yet, the light of his reason is still there to "consider", as the verb's primary meaning is just that: to reason, analyze, observe, with light/luminosity as it were. As he analyses his plight with an internal light, we see it in the words reflecting what he has "considered". The opposite of darkness, the light of his reason knits together a meaning through his language (stand and wait, you'll see what's next! his greatest works followed as we know in hindsight; though he could not have known this, he had faith that it could be so). Nice touch on Milton's part, of course as he was a Latinist this would have been deliberate, I believe. Patience, also has deeper connotations. You are right that he personifies her: one of Aristotle's twelve virtues, and also a Christian virtue, or better said, one of the "fruits of the spirit". “In your patience you shall possess your souls” (Luke 21:19). "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience" . . . etc. (Paul, Galatians). "Hence the necessity for a virtue to safeguard the good of reason against sorrow, lest reason give way to sorrow: and this patience does." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa). It's the virtue Milton most needs in this moment of crisis, and he knows it, acknowledging it as one way to avoid despair and trust in the source of an inner light (again, that word "consider" in the sense of reasoning, illuminating even in darkness), and a higher spirit. This is a very personal poem, a poem of strengthening his own faith, as well as (somewhat coyly) displaying his own "brilliance" (there we go again, light, luminosity, the shining brilliance of this very poem), which he knows still lurks within, and can still produce great creations in spite of his lost outer light, the sense of sight.

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[@emr1d341]

I really enjoyed this. You gave me a great "aha" moment when you pointed out that Patience was being personified -- that is something I'll remember and incorporate forever in my own writing. You also taught me how enjambment is a literary device, though I've observed it all my life. It's something I used to avoid, but is now something I may more 'allow' myself. One or a few things have led me to this poem recently, and I feel incredibly lucky that it was something you'd made an analysis of, only months before. Of the several analysis' I've seen, this is the one that helped me the most.

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[@CaitlinJessica]

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[@paulrevere2379]

2:12 The Poem Lines 1 - 6 6:54 Lines 7 - 12

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[@CaitlinJessica]

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[@CaitlinJessica]

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[@matthewfenton9943]

No. I’m sorry but no. Milton does not desperately want to honor God. The death of talents Milton talks about is put on him by God in the parable and he is rejecting it. The “patient ones” are the torchbearers, the ten virgins, and he is using them as an example of what God has taken from him. You have those waiting that just hold light and are not chided but you have taken light from me and expect more? It’s Job. It’s: “why have you forsaken me.” It is absolutely not “I wish I had extra time to see so I could praise the works of the Lord.”

[@CaitlinJessica]

Hey Matthew! Thanks for sharing your interpretation of the poem. I really enjoyed the passion you portrayed in your comment! 😊 What was your reason for researching this poem? Just personal interest? I love analysing poetry and discovering the numerous interpretations out there!

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[@priscillapeter3822]

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