English: Class 12 (Book 1) — Chapter 7: Poems by Milton

The poem On Time is a powerful philosophical meditation on the transience of earthly existence and the ultimate triumph of eternity over temporal decay. Milton challenges the destructive power of Time, rendering it minor and self-defeating in the grand scheme of divine eternity.

• Temporal vs. Eternal: Earthly time is depicted as slow, heavy, and corrupt, consisting of 'mortal dross' and 'false and vain' elements. In contrast, eternity is a state of perfect divinity, truth, peace, and love.
• The Self-Destruction of Time: Time is personified as a greedy entity that devours everything bad and false, ultimately consuming itself ('thy greedy self consum’d') and leaving only the pure and eternal.

Fly envious Time, till thou run out thy race, / Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours, / Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace; / And glut thy self with what thy womb devours...

---

Literary Interpretation & Contextual Significance: Milton begins with an imperative command, mocking Time's perceived power. By characterizing hours as 'leaden-stepping' and comparing their speed to a clock's heavy lead weights ('Plummets pace'), he highlights the tedious, heavy nature of mortal existence. Time's consumption is limited to 'mortal dross'—meaning that which is false and temporary—making its gain negligible and the human loss insignificant.

1. Why has the poet pitted the flight of Time against the 'lazy leaden-stepping hours' and 'the heavy Plummets pace'?

   The poet contrasts the rapid 'flight' of Time as an abstract force with the slow, agonizing experience of individual hours ('leaden-stepping') regulated by mechanical clock weights ('Plummets pace'). This highlights the paradox of human perception: while life passes quickly, individual moments of earthly suffering and waiting feel heavy and slow.

2. What are the things associated with the temporal and what are associated with the eternal?

   The temporal is associated with 'mortal dross', falsehood, vanity, greed, and decay. The eternal is associated with 'bliss', 'individual kiss' of eternity, 'Joy', 'sincerely good' things, 'perfectly divine' elements, 'Truth', 'Peace', and 'Love'.

3. What guides human souls towards divinity? Who is the final winner in the race against Time?

   Human souls are guided towards divinity by being 'heav’nly guided' and quitting 'Earthy grossnes'. The final winner is humanity/the soul, which triumphs over Death, Chance, and Time to sit eternally 'Attir’d with Stars' at the supreme Throne.

In On Shakespear , Milton offers a profound tribute to William Shakespeare, arguing that physical monuments like pyramids or stone tombs are entirely inadequate and unnecessary for a literary genius of his stature. Shakespeare's true monument is the living admiration and intellectual engagement of his readers.

• The Living Monument: Shakespeare's works ('Delphic lines') create a permanent impression on the minds of his readers, transforming them into living monuments of his genius.
• Artistic Ease vs. Slow Endeavour: Milton contrasts Shakespeare's natural, flowing poetic expression ('easie numbers') with the laborious, slow efforts of other artists ('slow endeavouring art').

What needs my Shakespear for his honour’d Bones, / The labour of an age in piled Stones, / Or that his hallow’d reliques should be hid / Under a Star-ypointing Pyramid? / Dear son of memory, great heir of Fame...

---

Literary Interpretation & Contextual Significance: Milton questions the traditional practice of building grand physical structures to honor the dead. By calling Shakespeare the 'Dear son of memory' and 'great heir of Fame', he asserts that Shakespeare's legacy is preserved in collective human memory and cultural renown, making physical pyramids ('weak witness') redundant.

1. Why does Milton feel it is not necessary to put up a monument in stone for Shakespeare?

   Milton believes that physical monuments are weak witnesses of Shakespeare's greatness. Shakespeare has built himself a far superior, everlasting monument in the hearts, minds, and imaginations of his readers through his 'easie numbers' and 'Delphic lines'.

2. What does the 'weak witness of thy name' refer to?

   It refers to physical monuments made of stone, such as a 'Star-ypointing Pyramid' or 'piled Stones'. These are 'weak' because they are inanimate and subject to physical decay, unlike Shakespeare's living literary legacy.

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

   Milton describes Shakespeare's lines as 'Delphic' (oracular and divinely inspired). His 'easie numbers' flow effortlessly, shaming the slow, labored art of others, and leaving a deep, permanent impression on every reader's heart.

4. What is the best tribute that posterity has bestowed on Shakespeare?

   The best tribute is the wonder, astonishment, and intellectual engagement of his readers. By being deeply moved by his works, readers become 'Marble'—living monuments that preserve his memory far better than any royal tomb.

Etymology is the scientific study of the history of linguistic change, focusing on the origin, derivation, and historical development of individual words.

• Case Study: entomb'd - Derived from late Middle English entoumbe(n) and Middle French entombe(r) .
• French Influence on English: Approximately 30% of words in the English language are of French origin. This borrowing reached its peak following the Norman Conquest (1066), specifically between the years 1250 and 1400.
• Archaic Spellings: The poem features historical spellings such as 'Shakespear', 'easie', and 'conceaving', reflecting the orthographic conventions of the 17th century.