Are you ready to delve into the timeless masterpiece “On Time” by John Milton? In this blog post, we explore the profound themes of truth, peace, and the fleeting nature of time. Milton articulates these themes brilliantly in his poem. You’ll find a detailed summary. There is also a line-by-line explanation. Additionally, a thorough analysis of each word’s meaning will help you understand the classic work’s deeper significance. Whether you’re a student seeking answers, this post will guide you through the layers of meaning embedded in Milton’s verses. Are you a literature enthusiast looking for new insights? This post will guide you through the layers of meaning embedded in Milton’s verses. Dive in and explore how time, as depicted by Milton, shapes our understanding of life itself.
Examiner’s Note: “Milton’s ‘On Time’ is not just a poem about a clock; it is a metaphysical challenge to mortality. The biggest mistake students make is analyzing the poem as a complaint against Time. It is actually a celebration of Eternity. Milton personifies Time as ‘envious’ and ‘glutting,’ urging it to speed up and consume everything bad in the world. Why? Because once Time finishes its job, only ‘Eternity’ and ‘Truth’ will remain. In your explanation, focus on this paradox: the poet isn’t afraid of Time; he is commanding it to hurry up so he can reach Heaven sooner.”
Summary of On Time by John Milton
The poem On Time by John Milton reflects on the fleeting nature of time and its limited power. The poet challenges time. He urges it to rush ahead. By doing so, he wants it to consume all that is false and worthless in the world. He considers time’s impact to be minor. He believes the losses it brings are insignificant compared to the eternal joy awaiting the virtuous.
Milton contrasts the temporary nature of earthly life with the everlasting happiness of eternity. He envisions a divine moment when time ends. In this moment, souls ascend to a state of pure bliss, truth, peace, and love. This eternal state is portrayed as far greater than anything time can offer or take away.
The poem ends with a triumphant declaration. Once freed from earthly burdens, humanity will sit among the stars, victorious over death, chance, and time itself.
This poem is often studied in Class 12 Poetry under the NCERT Kaleidoscope syllabus. It offers deep insights for students exploring themes of mortality and eternity in Class 12 Elective English.
Important Themes in On Time by John Milton
The Fleeting Nature of Time
Milton presents time as a relentless force, yet its impact is limited and temporary. He urges time to run its course, calling it “lazy” and “leaden-stepping,” emphasising its slow and heavy pace. Despite its seemingly powerful grip on life, time only consumes what is false, mortal, and insignificant. Milton views time as a devourer of earthly dross, incapable of touching eternal truths. This theme encourages readers to ponder the temporary nature of worldly concerns. It highlights the greater value of spiritual and eternal pursuits.
The Insignificance of Earthly Loss
The poet downplays the losses brought by time, labelling them as trivial and unimportant. What time destroys is portrayed as mere “mortal dross,” or the false and vain aspects of life. Milton suggests that these losses pale in comparison to the eternal rewards awaiting the righteous. By minimising earthly suffering, he shifts the focus to the enduring joy of spiritual fulfilment. This theme encourages readers. It especially urges Class 12 Elective English students to see beyond material concerns. They can find solace in the promise of eternity.
The Triumph of Eternity
Milton contrasts time’s temporal power with the everlasting nature of eternity. Once time has consumed all evil and itself, eternity greets the virtuous with boundless joy and peace. The poet envisions this eternal state as filled with divine light, truth, and love. It embodies the bliss of being in God’s presence. This theme highlights the poet’s belief that the spiritual realm is supreme over the physical. It encourages readers to aspire towards a life guided by virtue and faith.
Victory Over Death and Chance
In the poem’s conclusion, Milton celebrates humanity’s ultimate triumph over time, death, and randomness. He imagines the soul, freed from earthly limitations, ascending to the heavens and taking its place among the stars. The poet’s vision of eternal triumph serves as a powerful reminder of the transience of worldly troubles. This theme encourages readers to embrace hope. It emphasizes perseverance. It highlights the enduring victory of the divine over the fleeting challenges of life.
This exploration of themes aligns well with the NCERT Kaleidoscope syllabus for Class 12 Poetry. It provides valuable insights for students studying On Time.
Line by Line Explanation of On Time by John Milton
Fly envious Time, till thou run out thy race,
The poet tells time, which he sees as jealous, to keep moving until it finishes its course.
Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours,
He describes time as slow and heavy, urging it to keep going.
Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace;
Time moves as slowly as a heavy object falling.
And glut thy self with what thy womb devours,
The poet mocks time, saying it feeds on everything it destroys.
Which is no more than what is false and vain,
What time destroys is only the worthless and unimportant things in life.
And merely mortal dross;
It only consumes things that are earthly and temporary.
So little is our loss,
The poet says losing these things doesn’t really matter.
So little is thy gain.
Time doesn’t gain much from its destruction either.
For when as each thing bad thou hast entomb’d,
When time has destroyed everything bad in the world,
And last of all, thy greedy self consum’d,
And finally, when time destroys itself,
Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss
Eternity, which lasts forever, will bring endless happiness.
With an individual kiss;
Eternity will welcome each soul personally and lovingly.
And Joy shall overtake us as a flood,
Happiness will overwhelm us completely, like a flood.
When every thing that is sincerely good
At that moment, all that is truly good
And perfectly divine,
And completely pure and godly,
With Truth, and Peace, and Love shall ever shine
Truth, peace, and love will shine forever.
About the supreme Throne
This will happen around God’s throne.
Of him, t’whose happy-making sight alone,
God’s presence alone brings ultimate joy.
When once our heav’nly guided soul shall clime,
When our soul, led by divine guidance, reaches heaven,
Then all this Earthy grossnes quit,
We will leave behind all earthly troubles and impurities.
Attir’d with Stars, we shall for ever sit,
Dressed in heavenly glory, we will sit among the stars forever.
Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee O Time.
We will celebrate victory over death, randomness, and even time itself.
This simple explanation makes On Time easier to understand for students of Class 12 Elective English. It also aligns with the NCERT Kaleidoscope syllabus.
Words Meaning of On Time by John Milton
| Word/Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fly envious Time | Time, which is jealous, is asked to move ahead quickly. |
| Leaden-stepping hours | Time moves slowly, like heavy lead. |
| Heavy Plummets pace | Moving as slowly as a weight dropping. |
| Glut thy self | Overeat or fill yourself excessively. |
| Thy womb devours | Refers to time consuming or destroying everything it holds. |
| Mortal dross | Things that are unimportant, temporary, or worthless in life. |
| Thy gain | The benefit or advantage time gets (which is very little). |
| Hast entomb’d | Have buried or destroyed. |
| Thy greedy self consum’d | Time consuming or destroying itself due to its endless hunger. |
| Long Eternity | A never-ending state of existence after time ends. |
| Individual kiss | A personal and loving welcome from eternity. |
| Overtake us as a flood | Happiness overwhelming us completely, like a flood. |
| Sincerely good | Things that are genuinely and truly good. |
| Perfectly divine | Completely pure, godly, and heavenly. |
| Supreme Throne | The seat of God, representing divine authority and presence. |
| Happy-making sight | The vision or presence of God, which brings ultimate joy. |
| Heav’nly guided soul | A soul led by divine or heavenly guidance. |
| Earthy grossnes | Earthly troubles, impurities, or unimportant things. |
| Attir’d with Stars | Dressed in heavenly glory, symbolising greatness or divinity. |
| Triumphing over Death and Chance | Celebrating victory over death, random events, and time. |
On Time Questions and Answers
Understanding the Poem
1. Why has the poet pitted the flight of Time against the ‘lazy leaden-stepping hours’ and ‘the heavy Plummets pace’?
The poet compares time’s slow movement to the heavy and sluggish pace of a lead weight. He mocks time’s laziness, suggesting that despite its destructive role, it moves too slowly to be feared or respected.
2. What are the things associated with the temporal and what are associated with the eternal?
Temporal things include falsehood, mortality, and materialistic concerns, described as “mortal dross.” Eternal things include truth, peace, love, and divine joy. The poet contrasts these fleeting worldly matters with the lasting rewards of spiritual and heavenly existence.
3. What guides human souls towards divinity? Who is the final winner in the race against Time?
Heavenly guidance, symbolised by divine truths and virtues, leads human souls toward divinity. In the end, eternity and the virtuous soul triumph over time. Time, which consumes itself, is powerless before eternal joy and divine love.
Appreciation
4. How does the poet contrast time with eternity in the poem?
The poet presents time as a temporary, consuming force that devours mortal and insignificant things. Time is described as greedy, slow, and ultimately self-destructive. However, eternity is depicted as infinite and unchanging. It brings everlasting joy, truth, and divine bliss to virtuous souls.
The poet envisions eternity as welcoming each soul with a personal and loving embrace. This stands in stark contrast to time’s destructive nature. Eternity represents freedom from earthly burdens, where truth, peace, and love shine forever around God’s throne.
Milton’s contrast highlights the limited power of time compared to the infinite and victorious nature of eternity. This distinction encourages readers to focus on spiritual values and seek the eternal rewards of a virtuous life. Through this contrast, the poem inspires hope and faith. It emphasizes the enduring power of the divine over the fleeting grip of time.
On Time Extra Questions and Answers
Understanding the Poem
1. What does the poet mean by “glut thy self with what thy womb devours”?
The poet taunts time, saying it greedily consumes everything, but all it devours is false, temporary, and worthless. This highlights time’s focus on fleeting and insignificant aspects of life.
2. How does Milton describe the final moments of Time in the poem?
Milton imagines time destroying all bad things and then consuming itself in its greed. This marks the end of time’s existence, making way for eternal bliss, which is free from time’s limitations.
3. Why does the poet call time “envious”?
The poet calls time envious because it tries to control everything by destroying it. Time seems jealous of eternity, which offers a lasting and joyful existence beyond its reach.
Appreciation
4. How does the poet use imagery to depict the contrast between earthly and eternal realms?
Milton uses vivid imagery to highlight the difference between the earthly and eternal. Earthly life is described with heavy and slow-moving terms like “leaden-stepping hours” and “heavy plummet’s pace,” symbolising burden and mortality.
In contrast, the eternal realm is associated with light and purity, such as being “attir’d with stars.” This heavenly imagery reflects peace, truth, and divine bliss. Through these contrasts, Milton elevates the eternal over the fleeting struggles of earthly life, reinforcing the poem’s spiritual message.
5. What role does divine love play in the poem?
Divine love is a central theme in On Time. It symbolises the eternal reward awaiting the virtuous. The poet envisions a state of bliss where love shines perpetually alongside truth and peace. This divine love guides souls toward God’s throne, offering a vision of everlasting happiness that triumphs over time and mortality. Milton presents it as the ultimate force that transcends earthly concerns and gives meaning to life beyond time’s grasp.
On Time Summary in Hindi
जॉन मिल्टन की कविता On Time समय और शाश्वतता (Eternity) के बीच एक गहरा संवाद प्रस्तुत करती है। कवि समय को “ईर्ष्यालु” और “सुस्त” कहता है और इसे अपनी दौड़ पूरी करने के लिए उकसाता है। वह समय को एक विनाशकारी शक्ति के रूप में दिखाता है, जो केवल नश्वर और तुच्छ चीज़ों को नष्ट करता है।
मिल्टन समय के प्रभाव को सीमित मानते हैं और इसे “मृत्यु का कचरा” कहते हैं, जो कि असत्य, तुच्छता, और नश्वर जीवन से जुड़ा है। कवि मानते हैं कि समय केवल उन चीज़ों को नष्ट करता है, जो अंततः महत्वहीन हैं। इसके विपरीत, शाश्वतता में सत्य, शांति और प्रेम का वास है।
कविता का अंतिम भाग आत्मा की विजय को दर्शाता है, जब यह स्वर्ग में भगवान के सिंहासन के पास पहुंचती है। समय के अंत में, ईश्वर की उपस्थिति में, आत्मा को दिव्य आनंद और अनंत शांति प्राप्त होती है। मिल्टन इस विजय को समय, मृत्यु और संयोग पर मानव आत्मा की अंतिम जीत मानते हैं।
यह कविता आध्यात्मिकता और नश्वरता के बीच संतुलन को दर्शाती है, जो पाठकों को शाश्वत मूल्यों की ओर प्रेरित करती है।
On Time Summary in Urdu
جان ملٹن کی نظم On Time وقت اور ابدیت (Eternity) کے درمیان ایک گہرا تقابل پیش کرتی ہے۔ شاعر وقت کو “حسود” اور “سست رفتار” کہہ کر مخاطب کرتا ہے اور اسے اپنی دوڑ مکمل کرنے کے لیے چیلنج کرتا ہے۔ وہ وقت کو ایک ایسی طاقت کے طور پر بیان کرتا ہے جو صرف فانی اور غیر اہم چیزوں کو ختم کرتی ہے۔
ملٹن کے مطابق، وقت کی طاقت محدود ہے، اور یہ صرف “فانی کوڑا کرکٹ” (mortal dross) کو ختم کرتا ہے، جو جھوٹ، فریب اور دنیاوی زندگی کی عارضی چیزوں سے وابستہ ہے۔ اس کے برعکس، ابدیت میں سچائی، سکون اور محبت کا دائمی وجود پایا جاتا ہے۔
نظم کے اختتام میں، شاعر روح کی فتح کو بیان کرتا ہے، جب یہ آسمان میں خدا کے تخت کے قریب پہنچتی ہے۔ وقت کے ختم ہونے پر، روح کو خدا کی موجودگی میں دائمی خوشی اور سکون حاصل ہوتا ہے۔ ملٹن اس لمحے کو وقت، موت اور قسمت پر انسانی روح کی آخری فتح قرار دیتے ہیں۔
یہ نظم قارئین کو ابدی اقدار کی اہمیت پر غور کرنے کی ترغیب دیتی ہے اور ان کے روحانی سفر کو الہامی بصیرت فراہم کرتی ہے۔
Malik Mohd. Arshad is a Senior English Teacher at STS High School, Aligarh Muslim University, with 21+ years of experience in English Language Teaching (ELT). An M.A. in English and Linguistics, he combines traditional academic values with modern digital learning methods. He is also a certified alumnus of the Texas Intensive English Program (USA).
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