‘On His Blindness’

Author: John Milton.

Main Theme of the Poem:

Man should submit to the will of God and try to make the best use

of the talents given to him by his Creator.

Summary of the Poem:

The poem starts with the speaker, Milton, reflecting upon his blindness
and how God expects him to make full use of his ability as a writer, if he
cannot even see the paper on which he writes.
He uses the word light to refer to his blindness and also his inner light.

Metaphor:(though my soul more bent / To serve therewith my Maker )

The author compares his soul to a servant who is bent to show obedience.

Personification:.  Patience is personified as a person who speaks and

answers the poet’questions.

Paradox: (They also serve who only stand and wait .) People who only stand

and submit to the will of the Creator, even if they do no work, also serve

and obey God.

Alliteration: (my days in this dark world and wide)

The words ‘days’ and ‘dark’ begin with the same consonant /d/. Also, the

words ‘world’ and ‘wide’ start with the same consonant /w/