On Shakespeare. 1630 (Kaleidoscope)

On Shakespeare” is a sixteen-line epitaph written in iambic pentameter and divided into heroic couplets, an unusual meter for John Milton's poetry. However, since Shakespeare's death occurred fourteen years before the composition date, Milton makes no allusion to death and mourning in the poem commemorating him.(Shakespeare 1564-1616) (John Milton 1608-1674)

What needs my Shakespeare for his honoured bones,

The labor of an age in pilèd stones,

Or that his hallowed relics should be hid

Under a star-y pointing pyramid?

Dear son of Memory, great heir of fame,

What need’st thou such weak witness of thy name?

Thou in our wonder and astonishment

Hast built thyself a live-long monument.

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

Thy easy numbers flow, and that each heart

Hath from the leaves of thy unvalued book

Those Delphic lines with deep impression took,

Then thou, our fancy of itself bereaving,

Dost make us marble with too much conceiving;

And so sepúlchred in such pomp dost lie,

That kings for such a tomb would wish to die.`

Sepulchre- a burial place.

1. What is the central theme of the poem?

Milton has asserted that Shakespeare possessed abundant literary genius and therefore, he has occupied an immortal position in the hearts and minds of his readers through the dramas and verses that had been written by him .

2. What is an epitaph?

A short poem intended for (or imagined as) an inscription on a tombstone and often serving as a brief elegy. Elegy refers to a funeral speech or a funeral song.

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

Milton, in his poem, feels that it is not necessary to put up a monument in stone for Shakespeare because he remains immortal in the hearts of his readers. He has built a monument for himself through his literary works he lives in the heart of the readers through his literature. Shakespeare has become perpetual thorough his poems and his plays. His readers receive his words through his literature as one would receive the words of God. Words written by Shakespeare are compared to be words of God.

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

“Weak witness” refers to the “pyramids” of stone which are not enough or required to honour the memory of the genius of Shakespeare. He has already built a more impressive and ever-lasting monument through his works (plays and sonnets) which are strong and perpetual than any other monuments.

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

Milton calls him the ‘dear son of memory, great heir of fame.’ He needs no man-made, structure as witness to his genius. His writings cover almost every aspect of human emotions, actions and behaviour. His thoughts, philosophy and style have influenced poets coming after him. They have learnt great lessons from his works. Thus, he has been a source of inspiration for all poets and writers in the last four centuries and he will be in future also.

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

Shakespeare was a great genius. He has created immortal works of literature. No literature has outlived all times and it will still be relevant in future also. Therefore, the best tribute to him will be the respect, adoration and love of his readers to his works. 

7. What does the poet mean by ‘thy easier numbers flow’ ?

The line ‘Thy easier numbers flow’ refers to the large number of Shakespeare’s works which are dominated in the readers’ minds. 

8. Explain the significance of the last two lines?

Anyone, including a king, would envy this kind of resting place. It will never decay or die as it is passed on from reader to reader for the rest of conceivable human history. 

9. Why does John Milton say that Shakespeare is lying in “pomp dost lie”?

John Milton says that king will envy the grave of Shakespeare that he lies in such a pomp(grandeur) that he lives in the hearts of the readers.

10. Why does John Milton refers to kings?

Milton refers to kings because usually kings used to build monuments to perpetuate their glory but here indirectly Milton says that great poets and writers like Shakespeare do not require any monuments to keep their glory alive.

11. What is the setting of the poem?

Setting of the poem is Shakespeare’s grave.