1. What sonnet form does this poem use?
This poem uses Italian, or Petrarchan, sonnet form. The Italian sonnet form is obvious in the poem due to the rhyme scheme used and the division of dark and light emotions in the poem’s lines. At the first half of the poem the speaker is anxious which represents the darkness and at the second half the speaker is being reassured that he can still serve God with a handicap, thus the light.
2. How does the poem relate thematically to “The Parable of the Talents”? Discuss images, themes, word choice, ect.
This poem relates thematically to “The Parable of the Talents” because they both speak of using our given talent to their fullest potential to serve God. An important theme in both pieces is servitude and they have a relatively similar concept of serving God. For instance, in the poem “When I consider / On His Blindness” servitude is best shown in lines, “To serve therewith my Maker, and present my true account, lest he returning chide.”
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Does this sonnet have a shift? If so, where? What is the thematic significance of the shift if the poem has one? What does the lack of a shift signify thematically if it doesn’t?
Yes, this sonnet has a shift in the middle of the poem after line 8 with the quote, “I fondly as; but Patience to prevent.” The thematic significance of the shift in the poem is to relieve the speaker of his worries about whether he can serve God. The speaker has a handicap because while he was in his middle age he lost his sight which was his best talent, thus his inability to serve God with his only talent. However, Patience, another speaker in the poem, informs the main speaker that God doesn’t need to be served, but rather to just have loyal followers.
For “On the late Massacre in Piedmont”
1. What sonnet form does this poem use?
This poem uses the Italian, or Petrarchan, sonnet form. The Italian sonnet form is obvious in the poem due to the rhyme scheme used and the major shift at the end of the