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John Milton's Diction

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Having written many sonnets and political pieces in his lifetime, John Milton was an influential writer. John was born in 1608 to a middle-class Protestant family and died in 1674. Because of his middle-class family, Milton had private tutors and “attended one of the finest schools in the land, St. Paul’s” (Greenblatt 768). He also went on to attend Christ’s College, Cambridge in 1625; he graduated in 1629 and was later made Masters of Arts. However, he “came to believe more and more strongly that he was destined to serve his language, his country and his God as a poet” (Greenblatt 769). This would become very important as his Protestant upbringing and his work as a politician along with his life experiences would affect all of his writing. …show more content…
This sonnet can be read as if Milton is dreaming. He is speaking of his late wife coming to him “from the grave” or from the underworld. The use of the phrase “pale and faint” adds to this allusion making her seem to be a ghost. Milton then goes on to say, “I trust to have / Full sight of her in heaven without restraint” (“Methought…”) This line shows optimism. Despite not currently having sight, he believes that once he gets to heaven that his sight will return. The last line, “I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night” also hints at this sonnet being a dream and the effects of his blindness on his life. This line is rather sad. Milton’s use of “I waked” and “she fled” proves that this sonnet is a dream. Ending the sonnet with “and day brought back my night” gives the impression that Milton is happier at night because he has the ability to dream and, therefore, in a way, see (“Methought…”). Otherwise, during the day, his world is dark. This sonnet gives the impression that he is ready for his life to end, that perhaps he is battling depression because of the depth through which he is looking towards heaven and how he would much rather be

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