Question

What words and sounds does Milton use in the poem “Il Penseroso” to create a quiet, somber tone?

Answer 1

Il Penseroso is a lyric poem by John Milton. In Line 13-14 he glorifies melancholy, he says that is important and can serve as inspiration, which gives the poem a somber tone. He said that it’s like a god that nobody can see its true form. It is dark because melancholy is just a feeling and it’s something that almost everyone avoids but the author praises it like a supreme being.

Answer 2

In the poem “Il Penseroso,” Milton examines the path to becoming a thoughtful and contemplative person and explores the benefits of such a life. The speaker of the poem examines philosophy, ideology, allegory, hymns, and Greek mythology in his quest for wisdom. Milton uses words such as Melancholy, Silence, mute, night, and lonely to create a quiet, somber tone. (PLATO)