Milton, in “When I consider how my light is spent,” creates a difference in tone between the first eight lines and the last six lines by coupling the idea of dark vs. light diction with the idea of ambiguity vs. clarity to elaborate on the themes of religious conflict of the soul and shameful guilt. Penguin Ski Club of New Hampshire. "When I consider how my light is spent" Written by John Milton Please consider the previous as you continue. The rest of the octave is a complaint that he used his writings to serve God, but being blind, he is … Such is the case in John Milton’s poem “When I Consider how my light is spent”. Let's Wrap This Up! Likely written in the mid-1650s, after Milton lost his eye-sight, the poem reflects on the physical and spiritual challenges the speaker faces as a blind person. Lucifer. The poem seems to be about Milton, however it has more meaning and can be reflected onto anyone. John Milton. Looking at John Milton life through one of his best piece of art “When I consider how my light is spent.” Milton starts the poem with a feel of sadness and a sense of being useless, and this is so because of his blindness which he became in 1651. The poem seems to be talking about vision using the word “light”. Menu and widgets One of the best thing of this poem is the tone and the feelings that where put into it. 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 … better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven ... What is the tone of On His Blindness? Explanation: When I Consider How My Light is Spent" is one of the best known of the sonnets of John Milton (1608–1674). Obviously, this is a Guilt and Blame. When I Consider How My Light is Spent (On His Blindness) Themes . Explain Meaning of “When I Consider How My Light is Spent”. 1; 565 ; 0; Answer. 1 Answer. The last three lines are particularly well known; they conclude with "They also serve who only stand and wait", which is much quoted though rarely in context. This poem was written by a deeply conflicted puritan man, a talented man who lost his independence as he lost his vision. Composed sometime between 1652 and 1655, John Milton's "Sonnet 19 [When I consider how my light is spent]" grapples with the subject of the poet's blindness later in life, as well as his changing relationship with God. After reading the poem, When I consider How My Light Is Spent, written by John Milton, my initial reactions regarding this poem produced a sense of confusion on the point Milton was trying to get across due to the analytical elements being used. Is On His Blindness a religious poem? Located in Lincoln NH near Loon Mountain. Explain Meaning of “When I Consider How My Light is Spent”. WHEN I consider how my light is spent. By the time John Donne wrote his religious sonnets (c. 1610) and Milton wrote sonnets on political and religious subjects or on personal themes such as his blindness (i.e., “When I consider how my light is spent”), the sonnet had been extended to embrace nearly all the subjects of poetry. He takes pride in his vast intelligence, but worries that he failed to use his "light" when he had it. “Sonnet 19,” more commonly called "When I consider how my light is spent," is a poem by the English poet John Milton. The speaker's mind is a big ball of guilt and confusion.