On His Blindness Summary and Explanation
PSEB Class 12 English Poem 7- On His Blindness Summary, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from A Rainbow of English Book
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PSEB Class 12 English Poem 7 – On His Blindness
John Milton
The poem “On His Blindness” by John Milton is a sonnet that explains us about the poet’s personal feelings after losing his sight. The poet shares his sorrow and worry about not being able to use his talents fully. He fears that God might be unhappy with him for this. However, an inner voice, called Patience, comforts him, saying that God values faith, humility and obedience as much as active work. The poem teaches us that serving God is not only about actions but also about patience, devotion, and acceptance of one’s struggles in their lives.
- On His Blindness Summary
- On His Blindness Summary in Hindi
- On His Blindness Theme
- On His Blindness Explanation
- On His Blindness Poetic Devices
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On His Blindness Summary
The poem “On His Blindness” by John Milton talks about the poet’s feelings after he loses his eyesight. Milton was a talented writer and feared that losing his sight would stop him from using his abilities to serve God. He goes on to compare his talent to a gift that is useless if it is not used to serve God. He worries that God might be angry with him for not fulfilling his duty. However, Milton is comforted by an inner voice, which he calls Patience. Patience explains to him that God does not need people to do some work or their gifts to be happy. Those who accept God’s will patiently and serve him with faith are just as valuable as those who perform active work. Milton realizes that serving God is not only about doing actions but also about devotion, patience, and humble acceptance of one’s struggles and limitations. The poem emphasizes Milton’s struggle with his limitations and teaches us that true service to God comes from one’s faith and humility, even when one cannot work actively.
Summary of the Poem On His Blindness in Hindi
जॉन मिल्टन की कविता “ऑन हिज़ ब्लाइंडनेस” कवि की आँखों की रोशनी जाने के बाद की भावनाओं को व्यक्त करती है। मिल्टन एक प्रतिभाशाली लेखक थे और उन्हें डर था कि उनकी दृष्टि चली जाने से वे अपनी क्षमताओं का उपयोग ईश्वर की सेवा में नहीं कर पाएँगे। वे अपनी प्रतिभा की तुलना एक ऐसे वरदान से करते हैं जो ईश्वर की सेवा में इस्तेमाल न होने पर बेकार है। उन्हें चिंता है कि ईश्वर उनसे अपना कर्तव्य न निभाने के कारण नाराज़ हो सकते हैं। हालाँकि, मिल्टन को एक आंतरिक आवाज़ से सांत्वना मिलती है, जिसे वे धैर्य कहते हैं। धैर्य उन्हें समझाता है कि ईश्वर को खुश रहने के लिए लोगों से काम करवाने या उनकी प्रतिभा की ज़रूरत नहीं है। जो लोग ईश्वर की इच्छा को धैर्यपूर्वक स्वीकार करते हैं और विश्वास के साथ उनकी सेवा करते हैं, वे उतने ही मूल्यवान हैं जितने कि सक्रिय रूप से काम करने वाले। मिल्टन को एहसास हुआ कि ईश्वर की सेवा केवल कर्म करने के बारे में नहीं है, बल्कि समर्पण, धैर्य और अपने संघर्षों और सीमाओं को विनम्रतापूर्वक स्वीकार करने के बारे में भी है। कविता मिल्टन के अपनी सीमाओं के साथ संघर्ष पर ज़ोर देती है और हमें सिखाती है कि ईश्वर की सच्ची सेवा व्यक्ति के विश्वास और विनम्रता से होती है, तब भी जब कोई सक्रिय रूप से काम न कर सके।
Theme of the Poem On His Blindness
The poem “On His Blindness” by John Milton revolves around the following themes:-
Patience and Acceptance
The poem emphasizes the need for patience when facing personal challenges like blindness. Milton learns that one can serve God faithfully even without active work. Accepting life’s limitations brings peace and spiritual fulfillment.
Faithful Service to God
Milton shows that true service is not limited to physical action or visible accomplishments. Even those who wait patiently and endure life’s challenges serve God. Devotion, obedience, and inner strength are valued forms of service to God.
Struggle with Personal Limitations
The poet showcases his frustration over his inability to use his talents fully due to blindness. He reflects on the tension between his desire to serve and his physical constraints. The poem reflects the human struggle of balancing ambition with reality.
On His Blindness Explanation
Poem:
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
Word Meanings:
Ere (prep.): before (a specified time)
talent (n): it refers to Milton’s poetic talent
death to hide (phrase): Milton fears that if he does not put to proper use the God-given talent of writing poetry, he will have to die a spiritual death
Explanation of the stanza: The poet begins the poem by thinking about how he has lost his eyesight, which he refers to as his “light”, before he has lived even half of his life. He feels sad and worried that the one special talent God gave him, which is his ability to write poetry might go unused. He calls it “death to hide” because he believes that it would be like wasting a valuable gift if he cannot use it to serve God.
Poem:
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide;
Word Meanings:
lodged (v): to become fixed to do something
Maker (n): here, God
lest (conjunction): with the intention of preventing (something undesirable); to avoid the risk of
chide (v): to speak to someone severely because they have behaved badly
Explanation of the stanza: John continues expressing that his talent feels useless because he cannot use it due to his blindness. But, his soul is eager or “more bent” to serve God with it. He wants to make full use of his ability and give God a good account of it, fearing that God might be unhappy and angry if he fails to do so.
Poem:
‘Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?’
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, ‘God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed,
And post o’er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.’
Word Meanings:
‘Doth (v): in the past, the third person singular of the present tense of “do”
fondly (adv.): in a loving way
day-labour (n): the labour which can be performed only with the light of eyesight
murmur (v): to say something in a soft quiet voice that is difficult to hear or understand
yoke (n): it is a piece of wood placed across the necks of oxen pulling a cart or a plough
bidding (n): the ordering or requesting of someone to do something
o’er (preposition): over
Explanation of the stanza: John ending the poem asks whether God expects people to work even when they are blind or face limitations or struggles. However, before he can complain, Patience comforts him, saying that God does not need human work or gifts to be happy. The best way to serve God is to accept his will patiently. Many serve him continuously across the world, but even those who cannot act and simply wait faithfully for him are also serving him.
On His Blindness Poetic Devices
The poem “On His Blindness ” by John Milton consists of the following poetic devices:-
Metaphor
It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between objects that are different in nature.
- “When I consider how my light is spent”
The poet uses light to metaphorically represent Milton’s eyesight and his ability to serve God.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick successions, such as the sound of /s/ in “years slide soft away.”
- “Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide”
The repetition of the “d” sound emphasizes the vastness and darkness of Milton’s situation.
Personification
Personification is the representation of an abstract quality or idea in the form of a person, creature, etc., as in art and literature.
- “But Patience, to prevent that murmur, soon replies”
Patience is given human qualities, speaking to Milton to comfort and guide him.
Rhetorical Question
A rhetorical question is a figure of speech where a question is asked for effect, emphasis, or to make a point, rather than to get an actual answer.
- “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”
The poet asks the question to express his inner conflict about serving God despite his blindness.
Conclusion
This post provides the students with a comprehensive understanding of the Poem 7 – On His Blindness By John Milton from the PSEB Class 12 English A Rainbow of English Book. It provides the students with the introduction, theme, summary, poem explanation with word meanings, ensuring that the students comprehend the chapter effectively.