On Shakespeare by John Milton

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On Shakespeare by John Milton

The poet honours the work of William Shakespeare through this poem. He established a fact that erecting tall buildings to commemorate the greatness of William Shakespeare is a futile effort; Shakespeare’s greatness is alive in the heart of his readers and admirers.

 

                      On Shakespeare

What needs my Shakespeare for his honour'd Bones,

The labour of an age in pilèd Stones,

Or that his hallow'd reliques should be hid

Under a stary pointing Pyramid?

Dear son of Memory, great heir of Fame,

What need'st thou such weak witnes of thy name?

Thou in our wonder and astonishment

Hast built thy self a live-long Monument.

For whilst to th' shame of slow-endeavouring art,

Thy easie numbers flow, and that each heart

Hath from the leaves of thy unvalu'd Book

Those Delphick lines with deep impression took,

Then thou our fancy of it self bereaving,

Dost make us Marble with too much conceaving;

And so Sepulcher'd in such pomp dost lie,

That Kings for such a Tomb would wish to die.

This poem is in the public domain.

 

  1. Find out the words used for monuments in the poem.

Answer: The words used for monuments in the poem are-‘piled stones’; ‘stary pointing pyramid’ and ‘tomb’.

  1. What does the poet mean by ‘thy easy numbers flow’?

Answer: ‘Thy easy numbers flow’ hints towards Shakespeare’s literally output. He composed 53 plays along with 154 sonnets.

  1. Why does the poet ask that Shakespeare’s ‘hallowed relics’ be hidden under ‘stary pointing pyramid’?

Answer: The poet feels futility of constructing any monument to immortalise Shakespeare. He questions that is there any need to hide ‘Shakespeare’s hallowed relics’under stary pointing pyramid’.

  1. What do you understand by self bereaving?

Answer: Due to the attachment to Shakespeare’s literary work, the readers mourn the absence of him on the earth. This feeling of obsession is also a monument in the memory of Shakespeare.

  1. How did Shakespeare make his live-long monument?

Answer: ‘Shakespeare’s great literary work has kept generations of the human beings enchanted. The readers still show awe and surprise on reading his plays or sonnets. He is still the most popular literary figure. Thus he made his ‘live-long monument’ in the heart of the people.

  1. Why did Milton feel it was not necessary to put a monument for Shakespeare?

Answer: Milton feels it is unnecessary to construct a monument for Shakespeare because the great dramatist and the poet has himself built his own more impressive and more durable monument in the hearts and minds of his readers through his immortal work. His greatness and immortality is self evident in the popularity of his work. Shakespeare’s readers overcome with awe and wonder, so that they resemble marble statues- living testimony of Shakespeare’s greatness.

  1. What does ‘the weak witness of thy name’ refer to?

Answer: ‘weak witness of thy name’ refers to the construction of tombs and monuments to immortalise Shakespeare. The poet feels that Shakespeare has earned himself a name that he does not need building physical structures to glorify him. All these structures cannot escape the ravages of time.

  1. What will be the best tribute to Shakespeare?

Answer: The timeless work of Shakespeare has been inspiring people since ages and obviously will be guiding all of us for ages. His dramas and sonnets reveal life at its fullest to the readers. He has attained a permanent place in the heart and mind of posterity. It is the best tribute to Shakespeare.

  1. Write critical summary of the poem ‘On Shakespeare’ by John Milton.

Answer: John Milton’s ‘On Shakespeare’ develops the primary theme of immortality through artistic creation. Evidence of Shakespeare’s genius is to be found in the bard’s ability to transform readers to take them out of themselves with wonder and admiration and metaphorically, render them marble. The poem is a sixteen-line epitaph written in iambic pentameter and divided into heroic couplets. The rhyme scheme is regular aabb. An epitaph, usually a brief poem, deals with serious or philosophical subject in a witty manner.

  1. How does Milton describe Shakespeare as the source of inspiration for all succeeding generations of poet?

Answer: ‘Thy easy numbers flow, and that each heart

                 Hath from the leaves of thy unvalued book

                 Those Delphic lines with deep impression took,’

Milton describes Shakespeare’s greatness in an apt manner. His literary output is not only prolific but also impressive. He has remained a source of inspiration for generations. It is a real challenge for all succeeding generations of poet to remain in ‘wonder and astonishment’ of the readers. Shakespeare has secured a place in the heart and the mind of the readers. Attaining such a height is a herculean task for the poets. Shakespeare has a monument in every reader’s fancy.

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