On His Twenty Third Birthday
by
John Milton
(Questions
& Answers)
Summary & Analysis
Choose the correct answer from the three alternatives given below
each question:
1.
Milton in this sonnet has personified:
a)
Youth
b)
Time
c)
Mercy
2.
This sonnet has 14 lines divided into:
a)
four parts
b)
two parts
c)
six parts.
3.
According to Milton, his semblance
deceives:
a)
truth
b)
age
c)
youth
4.
After 23 years, the poet has acquired:
a)
manhood
b)
mercy of God
c)
poetic gift
5.
The poet believes that God will grant
him:
a)
mercy
b)
truth
c)
success
6.
The 'Will of Heaven' is:
a)
Will of God
b)
pure
c)
final
7.
The poet considers himself to be:
a)
less fortunate
b)
powerful
c)
poetic genius
8.
Milton had shown proof of his poetic
genius at:
a)
London
b)
Cambridge
c)
God's mercy
9.
This sonnet is:
a)
pastoral
b)
religious
c)
auto biographical
10.
The biblical reference is:
a)
subtle thief
b)
timely happy
c)
great Task Master
Answer the following questions in your own words:
11.
Who has stolen the youth?
-
The crisis created by Milton's awareness of
the passage of time is one that can be resolved by the poet's choice to put his
future in God's hands. In the first eight lines of the poem, Milton worries
that time has passed too quickly. He has been at Cambridge studying, but has
had little time to fulfil what he sees as his destiny. Time in the form of a
cunning thief, has stolen away Milton's youth. He feels that the youthful
period of his life is almost over.
12.
Why did Milton feel unhappy?
-
Milton's ambition was to be a great poet but
when he analyses his capability at the age of twenty three he feels unhappy
because he has not composed any poem of great merit and that his youthful years
have passed without any remarkable achievement in the poetic field.
13.
What did appear 'less' according to
Milton?
-
Milton feels that although he had matured in
age yet his poetic talents had not flowered in his poetic works. Thus, he feels
that he is less privileged in comparison to others whose talents had been
apparent at the appropriate age. Thus, according to him the development of his
mental faculties has been less in comparison to others.
14.
Discuss the structure of this poem.
-
The sonnet displays a perfect regular Petrarchan
pattern with a strong break at the turn. It consists of an eight-line octave
and the six-line sestet. The octave follows the conventional Petrarchan rhyme
scheme of abbaabba, while the sestet rhymes cdcdee.
15.
What is the theme of this sonnet?
-
It is first, a consideration of Milton's
little achievement to date and secondly, a renewed dedication of himself to
God's service.
16.
What kind of style does this sonnet
have?
-
It is an Italian sonnet, written, like most
sonnets, in iambic pentameter. The grand style is Petrarchan with lofty
religious passion. The problem is presented in the octave and the solution is
in the sestet. The solution is the developing immense faith in God.
17.
How does the mood of the poet change?
-
The mood of the poet changes when he realizes
that he is wholly under the care of God and his life's activities are being
supervised by God. In the final six lines of the sonnet, Milton acknowledges
that time, whether "soon or slow," will still inevitably lead him to
God.
18.
What is the poet's attitude towards God?
-
Milton regards God as kind and merciful. He
thinks that God is every watchful. He has faith in the power of God and feels
that God will make him capable to compose poetry.
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