ON HIS BLINDNESS POEM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADE 12

ON HIS BLINDNESS BY JOHN MILTON

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
Lodg'd 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-labour, 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."

QUESTIONS

Refer to the poem On His Blindness by John Milton and answer the questions below.

1. Complete the following sentences by using the words provided in the list Write only the words next to the question number (1.1–1.3)

   ballad; sonnet; problem; solution; cause; result

   This poem is a Miltonic (1.1) … The octave gives the reader the (1.2) … and the sestet gives the reader the (1.3) …                                                                   (3)
2. Refer to lines 1 and 2 (“When I consider ... world and wide”)
   Quote TWO contrasting words that best describe the poet’s concern.                                                                 (2)
3. Refer to line
   3.1 Quote a word from the first line which Milton uses in place of “eyesight”.                                                                              (1)
   3.2 Why do you think he uses this word? (2)
4. Refer to lines 3 and 4 (“And that one ... Soul more bent”).
   Why does the poet consider his talent to be useless?          (2)
5. Refer to lines 6 and 7 (“My true account ... labour, light denied?”).
   5.1 What is the poet’s fear in these lines? (1)
   5.2 Why does he have this fear? (1)
6. Refer to line 8 (“I fondly But Patience, to prevent”).
   6.1 Identify the figure of speech used (1)
   6.2 Explain why the poet uses this figure of (2)
7. How does the poet’s mood, or how do his feelings change in the course of the poem?
   Choose two words from the box below to complete this sentence:

   joy; acceptance; frustration; blind

   At the start of the poem the poet feels 7.1… but at the end of the poem the poet experiences 7.2…                                 (2)
8. Refer to lines 10 and 11 “Who best/Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best”.
   Choose the correct word in brackets:
   8.1 “his/him” are pronouns referring to (God/ the poet). (1)
   8.2 “they” is a pronoun referring to (blind people/ all people). (1)
   8.3.1 What figure of speech has been used in these lines?
   1. Simile
   2. Metaphor
   3. Personification.                                                                  (1)
      8.3.2 Explain the figure of speech by choosing the correct answer to complete the sentence below.
      The speaker is comparing the “mild yoke” that God puts on us to:
      1. A donkey pulling a cart
      2. A small burden or job
      3. A kind joke                                                                             (1)
9. Choose the correct answer to complete the following Write only the answer (A–D).
   The word which best describes the poet’s feeling in lines 9-14 (“That murmur, soon … stand and wait”) is:
   1. acceptance.
   2. anger.
   3. depression.
   4. joy.                                                                                      (1)
10. Refer to the last 4 lines of the
    Is the following statement TRUE or FALSE? Write “true” or “false” and quote TWO consecutive words to support your answer.      (2)
    The poet feels that our burdens are not heavy.
11. Consider the poem as a
    11.1 Do you feel sorry for the poet? Discuss your (2)
    11.2 Do you think a disabled person should be expected to perform at the same level as an able person? Discuss your (2)  [28]

Answers 

1. 1.1 Sonnet ✓
   1.2 Problem ✓
   1.3 Solution ✓ (3)
2. “Light” ✓ and “dark” ✓ (2)
3. 3.1 “Light” ✓ (1)
   3.2 Joy/ hope/ clarity/ visibility/ warms/ shining/ inspiration ✓✓ (2)
4. The poet’s talent is that he can write and he will not be able to use this talent if he is blind. ✓✓
   OR
   He is unable to see. Therefore, he cannot write poetry/ use his gift. ✓✓ (2)
5. 5.1 He is afraid that God will punish him/ not be satisfied with what he has done. ✓ (1)
   5.2 He has not used the talent that God gave him./ He did not use his talent well./ He did not do a full day’s work. ✓ (1)
6. 6.1 Personification ✓ (1)
   6.2 Personification: It becomes the voice of reason/ his conscience. ✓✓
   OR
   Patience becomes a person who is answering his question. ✓✓
   OR
   He personifies his thoughts in order to accept his burden. ✓✓ (2)
7. 7.1 Frustration ✓ (2)
   7.2 Acceptance ✓ (1)
8. 8.1 “His”/ “him” are pronouns referring to God. ✓ (1)
   8.2 “They” is a pronoun referring to all people. ✓ (1)
   8.3.1 Metaphor ✓ (1)
   8.3.2 The speaker is comparing the “mild yoke” to a small burden or job. ✓ (1)
9. A/acceptance ✓ (1)
10. True. “Mild yoke”. ✓✓ (2)
11. 11.1 Yes. He has a talent and he cannot use it. ✓✓
              OR
    No. I admire him for accepting his blindness. ✓✓ (2)
    11.2 Yes. Disabled people often perform better than those without  disabilities and tend to feel insulted if you make allowances for them. ✓✓
              OR
    No. You have to make concessions to accommodate disabled people as they have barriers to overcome. ✓✓  (2)   [28]