Question

When John Milton wrote his Sonnet XIX, he was facing the physical challenge of blindness.What fears are described in these lines of verse from the sonnet?

a.The speaker describes how he fears that he does not have the patience to continue writing poetry.


b.The speaker describes how he fears that blindness has robbed him of his one talent.


c.The speaker describes how he fears that he may have spent all of his savings.


d.The speaker describes how he fears that his blindness may prevent him from serving God through poetic writing.

Answer 1

The speaker describes how he fears that his blindness may prevent him from serving God through poetic writing. I think is the correct answer. Hope this helps!:)

Answer 2

Answer: d.The speaker describes how he fears that his blindness may prevent him from serving God through poetic writing.

Sonnet XIX is an extremely personal reflection on life and purpose by Milton, who was struggling with the idea of going blind. The first section of the poem discusses his main worry, and that is the fact that he will no longer be able to continue God's work by using his talent for poetry. However, throughout the poem, he reflects on this notion and on the opportunities that life can still afford him, and he concludes in a more hopeful note.