Class 12 English — Chapter 7: Poems by Milton

What you'll learn

• ▸John Milton: Biography and Context
• ▸Poem 'On Time': Theme of Transience vs. Eternity
• ▸Poem 'On Time': Personification and Imagery
• ▸Poem 'On Time': Classical Allusion
• ▸Poem 'On Shakespear': Theme of Artistic Immortality
• ▸Poem 'On Shakespear': Concept of a 'Live-long Monument'
• ▸Poem 'On Shakespear': Milton's Tribute to Shakespeare's Genius
• ▸Language Study: Etymology
• ▸Archaic Spelling and Diction

Chapter Summary

--- PAGE 1 --- 12076CH07 Poems by Milton John Milton began writing poetry at the age of ten. After finishing his formal education at Cambridge, he read almost everything available in Latin, Greek, Italian and English. He was appointed Latin Secretary where he worked so hard that eyestrain, from years of late night reading, caused him to become totally blind at the age of forty- five. In the final years of his life he wrote (through dictation) Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. 2 John Milton 1608-1674 I On Time Fly envious Time, till thou run out thy race, Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours, Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace; And glut thy self with what thy womb devours, Which is no more than what is false and vain, And mere…

Practice Questions from this Chapter

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1. Explain how clocks work. Get Solution →
2. Describe poetic meter. Get Solution →
3. Compare Milton's themes. Get Solution →
4. At what age did John Milton become totally blind? Get Solution →
5. Which of the following major works did Milton write in the final years of his life through dictation? Get Solution →
6. Where did John Milton receive his formal education? Get Solution →
7. According to the notes for "On Time," what mythological figure is associated with "Envious Time"? Get Solution →
8. In the poem "On Time", what does the word "Plummets" refer to? Get Solution →

Did you know?

• 💡 The oldest known written poem dates back over 4,000 years.
• 💡 Shakespeare invented more than 1,700 words, including "eyeball" and "swagger."
• 💡 Some ancient clocks measured time using the flow of water or burning incense.
• 💡 A 'chronometer' is a super accurate clock used to determine longitude at sea.
• 💡 Ancient Egyptian scribes often wrote poetry celebrating their powerful pharaohs.

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