Sonnet XIX: On His Blindness Flashcards
(36 cards)
What does the pronoun ‘I’ establish in the poem?
The pronoun ‘I’ establishes a personal deixis, anchoring the speaker’s perspective in the first person.
What is the metaphorical significance of ‘light’ in the poem?
‘Light’ is a conceptual metaphor representing vision, knowledge, or enlightenment, linked to the speaker’s loss of sight.
How does the phonology contribute to the poem’s tone?
The alliterative /l/ sound in ‘light’ and ‘spent’ creates a soft, melancholy tone, contributing to the sense of fragility.
What connotation does the word ‘spent’ carry?
The word ‘spent’ connotes exhaustion or depletion, suggesting the speaker’s vision has been used up.
What does ‘Ere’ indicate in the second line?
‘Ere’ situates the event in time, anchoring the speaker’s reflection in the past.
What is the significance of ‘half my days’?
‘Half my days’ introduces a chronotope, revealing the speaker’s youthful sense of loss.
What does the antithesis of ‘dark’ and ‘wide’ emphasize?
The opposition emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the speaker’s blindness.
How does syntax affect the meaning of ‘in this dark world and wide’?
The inversion creates emphasis on the concept of space, heightening the sense of the vast world becoming oppressive.
What does ‘talent’ symbolize in the poem?
‘Talent’ reflects a traditional Christian semantic field of stewardship and divine responsibility.
What does ‘death to hide’ suggest?
‘Death to hide’ suggests that failure to use one’s gifts equates to a form of spiritual death.
What is the significance of ‘Lodged with me useless’?
‘Lodged with me’ personifies the talent as imprisoned within the speaker, suggesting untapped potential.
What does the verb ‘Lodged’ imply about the speaker’s condition?
The past participle ‘Lodged’ suggests a state of inactivity and stagnation.
What does ‘serve’ imply in the context of the poem?
‘Serve’ invokes theological connotations of duty to God.
What does ‘true account’ refer to?
‘True account’ invokes the semantic field of reckoning and judgment.
What does the pronoun ‘he’ refer to in the poem?
The pronoun ‘he’ refers to God.
What rhetorical device is used in ‘Doth God exact day-labour, light denied’?
The line uses a rhetorical question to express doubt or confusion.
What does the juxtaposition of ‘day-labour’ and ‘light denied’ imply?
It implies the incapacity to engage in productive activity due to blindness.
What does the phrase ‘I fondly ask’ indicate?
‘Fondly’ signals the speaker’s vulnerability or naivety.
What does ‘That murmur, soon replies’ signify?
It signals a performative utterance where Patience responds to the speaker’s doubts.
What does ‘Either man’s work or his own gifts’ suggest?
It emphasizes the equivalency between human action and divine endowment.
What does ‘mild yoke’ metaphorically represent?
‘Mild yoke’ suggests that service to God is not one of overwhelming hardship.
What paradox is presented in ‘They also serve who only stand and wait’?
It suggests that inactivity can be a form of service.
What historical period was Sonnet XIX written in?
Sonnet XIX was written during the reign of James I (1603–1625), a period marked by political complexity, religious conflict, and tensions between monarchy and parliament.
What was the political climate during James I’s reign?
The early 17th century was a time of relative political stability, but there was increasing pressure from Puritans and Catholic recusants.
