when i consider how my light is spent by: john milton blake, seth, michael 30 september 2014
TRANSCRIPT
Born in London, England
Went completely blind in
1652
He made his best works
after he went blind.
His life plan was to serve
God.
BIOGRAPHY
(1608-1674) Portrait of
WHEN I CONSIDER HOW MY L IGHT 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-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.”
PETRARCHAN SONNET
14 lines written in iambic pentameter
Two quatrains (one octave) with rhyme scheme abba abba
One sestet with varying rhyme scheme, commonly cde cde, like
in “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent”
Between the octave and the sestet (line 9) there is usually a
Volta, turn, in the tone.
Typically the octave describes a problem that is solved in the
sestet.
(The Classroom)
(Education)
PETRARCHAN SONNET
Theme: Taking time for God
Alludes to the fact that he is blind
“When I consider how my life is spent / Ere half my
days, in this dark world and wide,” (483)
OTHER FACTS
He was quite the ladies’ man; Milton married three
times.
Milton’s college nickname was “the Lady of
Christ’s”
He was thought to have met Galileo in his time in
Italy.
John Milton went completely blind in 1652.
He had long hair… like this
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Milton, John. “When I Consider How My Life Is
Spent." McDougal Littell Literature: British Literature.
New York: McDougal Littell, 2008. 483. Print.
"What Are the Main Features of the Petrarchan Sonnet? |
The Classroom | Synonym." The Classroom. N.p., n.d.
Web. 30 Sept. 2014.
"What Are the Main Features of the Petrarchan
Sonnet?" Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.