Read the following poem and answer the following questions:

On his blindness - 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

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

            To serve therewith my Maker, and present                                         5

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                                    10

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.’

quesiton number 1.1 is not here.
start from question 1.2.

            1.2.      Refer to the following words in line 1 (‘… how my light is spent’).

Give figurative meanings of “light” and “spent” as used in line 1.                            (2)

1.3.      Refer to lines 2 and 3 (… ‘in this dark world and wide …one talent which is

death to hide’).

Using your own words, explain the meaning of these lines.                                      (2)

1.4.      What is John Milton’s “one talent” in line 3?                                                             (1)

1.5.      Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence.

            In the first eight lines of the poem, the poet’s tone is a tone of …. .

            A         acceptance and resignation

            B         praise and admiration

            C         depression and despair

            D         declaration                                                                                                      (2)

1.6.      Identify the figure of speech in lines 8 and 9.

(‘… but Patience, to prevent … soon replies …)                                                        (1)

1.7.            In this poem, the poet talks about his personal experience in life.

What kind of a poem would that be?                                                                         (2)

1.8.            Is the following statement TRUE or FALSE? Quote THREE consecutive

words to support your answer.

The poet realised the mistake he made in questioning God’s motives for

putting him in the situation he finds himself in.                                                         (2)

1.9.      The poet’s tone in the poem varies from the octave to the sestet.

What is the tone of the following lines?

The last 6½ lines – lines 8 – 14

(‘but Patience, to prevent … who only stand and wait’).                                          (1)

            1.10.    What is the theme of the poem? Quote the line that expresses this idea.                   (3)

                                                                                                                                                            [17 ½]