Poetic Vision Proposal Sample

Analysis of “On His Blindness”

Milton’s autobiographical poem “On His Blindness” focuses on the speaker’s frustration with his inability to use his “talent” in the service of God, and God’s gentle exhortation to the speaker to have patience and serve by waiting on God. The critic in “The Lyric Poetry of John Milton” argues that “On His Blindness” reveals “Milton’s mastery of the sonnet form” and focuses on the struggle of how the blind poet can serve God through his poetry (“Lyric,” par. 7). Marjorie Hope Nicholson discusses Milton’s use of the parable of the talents from Matthew 25, and sees the speaker of the poem passing from pain at his inability to serve, to questioning God, to a final acceptance of God’s will for him. David Kelly argues that “On His Blindness reveals the speaker’s emotions toward his blindness revealing him as “angry, frustrated, and vulnerable” (Kelly, par. 7). David M. Miller argues that in “On His Blindness,” Milton has successfully used the sonnet form to create a “private meditation.” Sanford Budick sees “On His Blindness” as Milton’s attempts to grapple with the contrary aspects of service to God and acceptance of His will.

Annotated Bibliography

Arnold, Matthew. "A French Critic on Milton." Mixed Essays. Smith, Elder, & Co., 1903. 266-70. Literature Resource Center. Gale Group. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga. 25 Feb. 2005 .

Arnold discusses Milton’s style.

Budick, Sanford. “Milton’s Image of Divine Analysis: Provenance and Meaning.” John Milton: Modern Critical Views. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea, 1986. 245-265.

Budick makes a detailed explication of “On His Blindness.”

Chesterton, Gilbert K. "Milton: Man and Poet." The Catholic World. 104.622 (January 1917): 463-70. Rpt. in Literature Criticism from 1400 to 1800. Vol. 9. Literature Resource Center. Gale Group. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga. 25 Feb. 2005 .

Chesterton discusses Milton’s style, and the influence of his classical studies, particularly Virgil, and mythology on his work.

Fenton, Mary C. "Hope, Land Ownership, and Milton's 'Paradise Within.'" Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 43.1 (Winter 2003) 151+. InfoTrac OneFile Plus. InfoTrac. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga. 26 Nov. 2002 .

Fenton discusses Milton’s Christian sense of hope in terms of English land laws of his time.

"John Milton." Concise Dictionary of British Literary Biography, Volume 2: Writers of the Restoration and Eighteenth Century, 1660-1789. Gale Research, 1992. Biography Resource Center. Gale Group. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga. 25 Feb. 2005 .

This article contains biography and discusses Milton’s influence, and the styles and forms of his writing. It also contains brief analyses of several works including a brief mention of “On His Blindness.”

"John Milton." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998. Biography Resource Center. Gale Group. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga. 25 Feb. 2005 .

Biography. Themes and forms. Discusses his various tracts and beliefs about liberty. Discusses his influence

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Kelly, David. An Overview of "Sonnet 16 (On His Blindness)." Poetry for Students. Gale, 1998. Literature Resource Center. Gale Group. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga. 25 Feb. 2005 .

This source focuses on the value of studying Milton rather than a detailed explication of “On His Blindness.” It does suggest that the poem reveals Milton’s vulnerability in the face of his blindness.

“The Lyric Poetry of Milton.” Masterplots. Definitive Rev. Ed. Salem Press, 1976. MagillOnLiterature Plus. EBSCOhost. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga. 25 Feb. 2005 .

Discusses several of Milton’s poems. Brief mention of “On His Blindness.”

Miller, David M. John Milton: Poetry. Boston: Twayne, 1978.

Extensive discussion of Milton’s work including an explication of “On His Blindness.”

Nicholson, Marjorie Hope. John Milton: A Reading Guide to His Poetry. New York: Octagon, 1975.

Extensive discussion of Milton’s life and work. Includes detailed explication of “On His Blindness”

Smart, J. S. Excerpt. Introduction to The Sonnets of John Milton. Clarendon Press, 1966. 1-39. Rpt. in Poetry for Students. Vol. 3. Literature Resource Center. Gale Group. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga. 25 Feb. 2005 .

Discusses impact of Italian sonnets on Milton and Milton’s contributions to the development of the English sonnet.

Taylor, Myron. "John Milton: Overview." Reference Guide to English Literature. 2nd ed. Ed D. L. Kirkpatrick. St. James Press, 1991. Literature Resource Center. Gale Group. Kolwyck Library, Chattanooga. 25 Feb. 2005 .

Influence of Plato, Spenser, Chaucer. Milton’s idealism: "great poet had first to be a great man," "great art required the hardest kind of labor." Discusses several major works including Areopagitica, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes.