British of Institution Studies

“Milton trusts in God's will for him over time”

In a poetry of

On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-three

by

John Milton

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

• ·         Anecdote

Religious institution is a social institution that answers questions and explains the seemingly inexplicable. Religion provides explanations for why things happen and demystifies the ideas of birth and death. I am analyze with religious institution because the author of “On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-three” is a great religious writer in his period—Stuart Age.

     The author of this poetry is John Milton. In John Milton’s period, the influence of Puritanism increased greatly during the seventeeth century. Puritanism had led to the formation of a large number of small new religious groups. They wanted the chance to start a new life. It looks like John Milton who wants to get a chance in his life when he was young. In John Milton’s poetry, he tells of us that he worries the time has passed too quickly because he has wasted precious time in his life. The problem in this poetry is John Milton feels guilty about his time spent studying when he has not published anything. In religious institution, there is a manifest function to solve his problem. It is provide answers for human problems (meaning and purpose of life, death, after death, etc). This function can provide answers for John Milton’s problems. So, I will analyze this poetry use the function of religious institution.

• ·         Biography of John Milton

John Milton,  (born December 9, 1608, London, England—died November 8, 1674, London), English poet, pamphleteer, and historian, considered the most significant English author after William Shakespeare.

Milton is best known for Paradise Lost, widely regarded as the greatest epic poem in English. Together with Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes, it confirms Milton’s reputation as one of the greatest English poets. In his prose works Milton advocated the abolition of the Church of England and the execution of Charles I.

From the beginning of the English Civil Wars in 1642 to long after the restoration of Charles II as king in 1660, he espoused in all his works a political philosophy that opposed tyranny and state-sanctioned religion. His influence extended not only through the civil wars and interregnum but also to the American and French revolutions. In his works on theology, he valued liberty of conscience, the paramount importance of Scripture as a guide in matters of faith, and religious toleration toward dissidents.

 As a civil servant, Milton became the voice of the English Commonwealth after 1649 through his handling of its international correspondence and his defense of the government against polemical attacks from abroad.

• ·         Assumption

            My assumption of “On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-three” is Milton’s choice to put his future in God’s hands because he trust in God's will for him over time. 

• ·         Literary Review

            On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty- Three," which exists in manuscript and was printed twice during Milton's lifetime (in the Poems of 1645 and 1673). John Milton writes this poetry after his graduation from Cambridge. He always write about his life on his works. He always write about religion on his works.

             In John Milton’s poetry, he tells of us that he worries the time has passed too quickly because he has wasted precious time in his life. He explains how he is getting older and he still does not have any work done. He is concern because he does not have an idea for what to write.

            John Milton writes this poetry in Stuart Age where Puritanism increased greatly during the seventeeth century. Puritanism had led to the formation of a large number of small new religious groups. The problem in this poetry is John Milton feels guilty about his time spent studying when he has not published anything. The manifest function in religious institution can provide answers for John Milton’s problems.

• ·         Benefits of Study

1.     I get knowledge about religion in another country.

2.     I get knowledge about religious institutions in this subject.

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CHAPTER II

DISCUSSION

• ·         Concept

1.      General meaning

General meaning for make a various statement about poem in generalized way. This would be a general observation about the narrator and the setting of the poem and concerned more with the fact of the speaker.

2.      Particular meaning

Particular meaning is treats a poem as a special study of something in particular. The concern is with that which is unique in the poem.

3.      Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

4.      Biographical

Biographical is the examine of the poem in relation to what is known about the poet’s life. Often a particular poem is subject to this kind of analysis simply by nature of the material.

• ·         Poem

On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-Three

HOW soon hath time, the subtle thief of youth,
     Stolen on his wing my three and twentieth year!
     My hasting days fly on with full career,
     But my late spring no bud or blossom sheweth.
Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth,
     That I to manhood am arrived so near,
     And inward ripeness doth much less appear
     That some more timely happy spirits indueth.
Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,
     It shall be still in strictest measure even
     To that same lot however mean or high,
Toward which time leads me and the will of heaven.
     All is, if I have grace to use it so,
     As ever in my great taskmaster's eye.

• ·         The analysis of “On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-Three”

           

            "On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-Three " is a poem by John Milton which exists in manuscript and was printed twice during Milton's lifetime (in the Poems of 1645 and 1673). John Milton is a great religious writer in his period. I am analyze this poetry with religious institution. Religious institution is a social institution that answers questions and explains the seemingly inexplicable. Religion provides explanations for why things happen and demystifies the ideas of birth and death.

            General meaning for this poetry of “On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-Three” by John Milton is a reflection of Milton’s life. Then, particular meaning from this poetry is Milton’s choice to put his future in God’s hands because he trust in God's will for him over time.

It shows the function of religious institution; provide answers for human problems. John Milton believes of God who can help him to solve his problem. He knows that God always beside him.

            This poetry contains alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. We can look at this line “And inward ripeness doth much less appear” and “Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow”. This line shows that John Milton worries that when he reaches maturity his talent may be less.

            We can imagine with sense, we can look at the third line “My hasting days fly on with full career” is expresses Milton’s sense of how quickly time passes. It shows the function of religious institution; meaning and purpose of life. Milton feels guilty about his time spent studying when he has not published anything. His purposes publish his work. It is purpose of his life. He has a life goal.

This poetry contains biographical. Biographical is the examine of the poem in relation to what is known about the poet’s life. Often a particular poem is subject to this kind of analysis simply by nature of the material. “On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-Three” tells about Milton’s life. It tells about his journey. We can look at the fourth line, “But my late spring no bud or blossom sheweth”, it shows that Milton is slow to mature. He just getting older not growing up. It is so different.

After that, we can look at the sixth line “That I to manhood am arrived so near”, it shows that he nears age twenty-four at the border between youth and manhood. It is related of the function in religious institution; purpose  of life. He wants to do anything in his life. He wants to publish his works when he was young on his age of twenty three.

Then, we can look at the last line “As ever in my great taskmaster's eye”, it will be with God’s knowledge and in accordance with the world. Next, Milton said God as “great taskmaster” because God can do anything. God can help him to solve his problem. He believes of God. So he called God as great taskmaster.

            So, this poetry tells about Milton’s choice to put his future in God’s hands because he trust in God's will for him over time. Time will lead Milton to God. Milton finds the answer to his problem in giving control over his life to God. It shows the function of religious institutions; help maintain social control.

• ·         Summary of “On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-Three”

            John Milton writes this poetry after his graduation from Cambridge. He always write about his life on his works. He always connected about religion on his works.

            In this poetry, he explains how he is getting older and he still does not have any work done. He worries that time has passed too quickly because he has wasted precious time in his life. He feels guilty about his time spent studying when he has not published anything. He is concern because he does not have an idea for what to write.

            Milton worries that when he reaches maturity his talent may be less. He may not seem as mature but expresses a desire to use his talents well and his trust in God's will for him over time. This poetry reflects his character because he cannot think of anything else but his life goal. Then he believes of God, his great taskmaster.

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CHAPTER III

CONCLUSION

            John Milton is a great religious writer in his period. He writes about himself on his works. This poetry reflects his character because he cannot think of anything else but his life goal. This poetry tells about Milton’s choice to put his future in God’s hands because he trust in God's will for him over time. Time will lead Milton to God. Milton finds the answer to his problem in giving control over his life to God. It shows the function of religious institutions; help maintain social control. His works almost tell about religious. So, I am analize this poetry with religious institutions appropriate with the century—Stuart Age.

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Bibliography

http://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Milton

http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/milton/sonnet7.htm

McDowall. David. 1989.  An Illustrated History of Britain. England: Longman

Reaske. Chistopher Russell. 1966. How To Analize Poetry. New York: Monarch Press.