World Literature

On His Blindness by John Milton

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this module, you should be
able to:

a. to know the importance of one’s attitude in life

through the poem.

b. Evaluate the literary components of the poem; and

c. Analyze the sound devices being used in the poem

TOPIC OUTLINE
a. Knowing the Author
b. On His Blindness by John Milton

OVERVIEW

Bonjour! Welcome to the second part of our journey

in to the World of Literature where you can learn the
importance of one’s attitude in life through the poem
of our second poet who is best-known for his epic
poetry.

Another characteristic of this module that you will

surely love is that it will also discuss the journey of
the author who once experienced how far he had
been through for his dreams despite the struggles
that came into his life. You will have a deeper
understanding on how this poet surpassed the
challenges and difficulties in his life, knowing his
purpose in life by turning his weakness into
strengths, embracing and enriching the gift that the
Lord has given to him. Lastly, as this module ends,
you will evaluate the literary components of the
poem and analyze the sound devices being used in
the poem.

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World Literature
On His Blindness by John Milton
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ACTIVATING
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE Q2: Of all of the experience you had in the past, what
is the most painful story you have?

Q1: What has been your favorite poem since you

were a child and now that you already have grown
up?

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World Literature
On His Blindness by John Milton
are the protagonists and we are the ones who decide who
want to be a part of your story and what kind of story this
is.

Creating our own story is what we always want

because we as humans have what we call “free will” in
which choose and create whatever path we want to take
and as part of being human, we always want to become
perfect. We always want a perfect story, a perfect life. But,
what if in the middle of this beautiful story, you have
encountered a problem that will affect not just your life
(story) but also your faith? Would you still continue the life
(story) you have because you believe that everything
happens for a reason or you would choose to stop and
start a new one, one which is different from the other?

In this module you will meet this man whose

talent served as his key to success and this man became
one of the greatest poets of the English Language and he
is John Milton.

John Milton was born on December 9, 1608 in London,

England. He came from a middle-class family. His father
provided him the best education in different schools like
St. Paul’s School, and had experienced a year’s tour in
Europe. Unfortunately, when he returned
home, he tortured and wrote poetry in his mastered field
like Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, as well as number of
modern European language. He ranked with William
Shakespeare and Geoffrey Chaucer as one of the greatest
poets of the English Language and his best-known epic
poetry is entitled “Paradise Lost”. Being a Puritan, he also
served as a secretary in the Commonwealth and became
totally blind in 1652 at the age of 44. After he had
experienced the biggest change in his life, at first, he did
questioned God and asked why did let this thing happened
in his life well in fact he said that God knows that he might
never enrich the gift that God has given to him but as time
passed by, he overcame this trials and chose to continue
enriching his talent through also the helped of an assistant
INTRODUCTION OF THE AUTHOR named Andrew Marvell.

John Milton Through this module you will encounter one of his
masterpieces and that is the poem entitled “On his
Blindness”, which was created at the time when he is in the
Many of us dream to become an artist, an artist
midst of his depression.
just like the people we see on television, in magazine, or
even on social media, like those who are popular; because
for those who dreamed to become an artist, these are
some of the qualifications to be attained. If you were to be
asked, do you believe when I say we that are all artists, and
that we all belong to a story wherein we are the stars, we READING ACTIVITY

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World Literature
On His Blindness by John Milton

On His Blindness

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 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."

https://www.google.com/search?q=on+his+blindness+by+john+milton&tbm=isch&ved

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1
True or False

Objective: Analyze the given statement below whether it is true or false. Then write your answer on the space
provided.

Task: As a BS Accountant student you are tasked to analyze and answer the following questions by answering
true if the statement is true else false if it is so.

1. ______In the line 3, the word “talent” which the speaker thinks are “death to hide” is pertaining to his
talent in speaking.

2. ______Base on the poem, they also serve who only ask and seek.

3. ______ John Milton is a poet who is well-known for his epic poetry.

4. ______ The word “light” in poem refers to the “sight” of the author.

5. ______” Using our God-given talent in the service of the world” serves as the theme of the poem,

6. ______Keeping the gift that has given to you is a form of appreciation.

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World Literature
On His Blindness by John Milton

7. ______Knowing your purpose in life is useless if you can no longer see the world.

8. ______Waiting is the other form of trusting the plan of the Lord for you.

9. ______Paradise Lost is one of the famous poetries that John Milton wrote.

10. ______On His Blindness has a biblical allusion to the Parable of Talents found in the Book of Mathew.

LEARNING
ACTIVITY 2

Pencil-and-paper rhyme scheme activity

Objective: Give the appropriate rhyme scheme and analyze the sound devices used in the poem.

Task: As a world literature student, you are tasked to analyze and identify the rhyme scheme and the sound
devices being used in the poem. Write your answer on the space provide.

On His Blindness

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 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 and His bidding speed

And post over land and ocean without rest;

They also serve who only stand and wait.”

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World Literature
On His Blindness by John Milton

SUMMARY
Below are the main points of this module.

John Milton

 English poet best-known for his epic poetry.

 often considered as the greatest English poet after Shakespeare and Chaucer
 His masterpiece, Paradise Lost, is considered unsurpassed among English epic poems.
 A Puritan who also served as a secretary in the Commonwealth.
 Mastered field like Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, as well as number of modern European language.
 He became totally blind about 1652 at the age of 44 and thereafter carried on his liberty work helped by
an assistant named Andrew Marvell.

On His Blindness

 a product of John Milton’s experienced amidst his depression for what he felt at that moment of his life
when he lost his eye sight.
 a poem with a biblical allusion to the Parable of Talents (Matt. 25”15-30)
 a poem which reflect on how important “Patience” is
 a poem with a tone, Commemorative; and
 theme, Using our God-given talents in the service of men

REFERENCES

American Literature. LITERATURE AND INTEGRATED STUDIES. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman and
Company, 1997.

Cross, Tom Peete; Smith, Reed and Stauffer, Elmer C. ENGLISH AND AMERICAN WRITERS. Boston, USA.: Gim and
Company, 1932.

English Literature, LITERATURE AND INTEGRATED STUDIES. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company,
1997.

Forms of Literature, LITERATURE AND INTEGRATED STUDIES. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company,
1997.

HIGH SCHOOL SUBJECTS SELF TAUGHT. Vol. II. Chicago: J. G. Ferguson Publishing Company, 1993

https://www.google.com/search?q=on+his+blindness+by+john+milton&tbm=isch&ved

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World Literature
On His Blindness by John Milton

Prepared by:

Faculty of the English and Filipino Department, College of Arts and Sciences

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