1. Who is the poet of the poem “On His Blindness”?
Answer:
John Milton.
2. What does the phrase “my light is spent” mean?
Answer:
It refers to the poet’s loss of eyesight, symbolizing the extinguishing of his vision before his life is fully lived.
3. Why does the poet describe the world as “dark and wide”?
Answer:
The world seems dark to the poet because of his blindness, and wide because it is vast and inaccessible to him due to his condition.
4. Who is the “Maker” mentioned in the poem?
Answer:
The “Maker” refers to God.
5. Why does the poet feel conflicted about serving God?
Answer:
Milton feels conflicted because he believes that without his eyesight, he is unable to fully use his talent to serve God.
6. What question does Milton ask about God in the poem?
Answer:
He asks, “Doth God exact day-labour light denied?” meaning, does God expect work from those who are deprived of light (blind)?
7. How does the poet’s inner struggle get resolved?
Answer:
Patience replies, telling the poet that God does not need man’s work or gifts, and that those who bear His mild yoke and wait also serve Him.
8. What does the phrase “They also serve who only stand and wait” mean?
Answer:
It means that those who patiently wait and endure difficulties, such as blindness, also serve God even without active work.
9. What talent does the poet refer to as “lodged with me useless”?
Answer:
The poet refers to his ability to write poetry, which he feels is wasted due to his blindness.
10. Why does the poet fear God’s displeasure?
Answer:
He fears that God might be displeased because he is unable to use his talent to serve Him due to his blindness.
11. How does the poet express his trust in God despite his blindness?
Answer:
The poet accepts that God’s will does not require active work and trusts that bearing his burdens faithfully is enough to serve God.
12. What does Milton mean by “day-labour”?
Answer:
“Day-labour” refers to the tasks and duties one performs in life, which Milton fears he cannot fulfill due to his blindness.
13. Who provides the poet with consolation in the poem?
Answer:
Patience personified provides consolation by reminding the poet that God does not require work from everyone, but values submission and faith.
14. What is the significance of “Patience” in the poem?
Answer:
Patience represents the virtue of endurance, helping the poet understand that waiting and enduring suffering is also a form of service to God.
15. Does God need human labor, according to the poem?
Answer:
No, according to Patience, God does not need human labor; He values obedience and submission.
16. What does the poet learn about serving God?
Answer:
He learns that serving God is not just about performing tasks, but also about accepting and enduring life’s difficulties with faith.
17. Why is the poet sad in the poem?
Answer:
The poet is sad because he feels that his blindness prevents him from using his talents to serve God.
18. How does Milton view his blindness by the end of the poem?
Answer:
By the end of the poem, Milton accepts his blindness and recognizes that he can still serve God through patience and submission.
19. What lesson does the poem convey about suffering?
Answer:
The poem conveys that suffering and waiting with patience is a valuable form of service to God, and that one’s worth is not determined by physical ability.
20. What does Milton’s reflection on his blindness teach about humility?
Answer:
Milton’s reflection teaches that humility lies in accepting God’s will, and that true service can come from enduring hardships with grace and faith.
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