Class 12 Optional English Note || Summary of Sonnet 8 (Captain or Colonel, or Knight in Arms) by John Milton|| Poetry

Sonnet 8 (Captain or Colonel, or Knight in Arms) by John Milton

This sonnet was written during the English Civil War (1642-1651). It is addressed to a soldier who might be approaching the house of someone dedicated to arts and learning. The speaker pleads with the soldier to spare the poet and their home, highlighting the power of poetry and its ability to immortalize noble deeds.

The sonnet is a heartfelt appeal to King’s army for the poet's safety. The sonnet unfolds during the English civil War, when the King's supporters clashed with opposing parliamentarians.

In the poem, the poet asks the King's army to keep him safe during the war. He promises to repay them with something valuable—fame around the world through his poetry. He believes he can make the armies famous and immortalize their deeds through his words.

The poet mentions instances in which warriors protected poets, citing an example from Greece. During a war, poets like Pindarus and Uripides received special protection from Alexander the Great, highlighting the deep respect warriors had for poets.

The sonnet stands as a testament to the transformative power of art, reminding us that sometimes, a soldier's greatest victory lies in recognizing the beauty and value of a single pen.

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) based on the poem

1. **Who is the speaker addressing in the poem?**

a) A fellow poet

b) A military commander

c) A nobleman

d) A servant

2. **What is the main plea or request made by the speaker to the addressee?**

a) To protect a castle

b) To spare a temple

c) To guard the Muses' Bowre

d) To lift a spear against an enemy

3. **What does the speaker offer in return for the addressee's protection?**

a) Wealth and riches

b) Songs and poems

c) Honor and fame

d) Political power

4. **What is the consequence of lifting a spear against the Muses' Bowre, according to the speaker?**

a) Ruin of Athenian Walls

b) Loss of honor

c) Destruction of temples

d) Conqueror's wrath

5. **Which historical conqueror is mentioned as an example in the poem?**

a) Julius Caesar

b) Alexander the Great

c) Genghis Khan

d) Napoleon Bonaparte

6. **What is emphasized as the source of fame in the poem?**

a) Military conquests

b) Gentle acts and deeds of honor

c) Wealth and power

d) Conquering enemy territories

7. **Who is associated with the "Muses' Bowre" in the poem?**

a) Electra

b) Pindarus

c) The speaker

d) The addressee

8. **What is the fate of the house of Pindarus mentioned in the poem?**

a) It is spared by the conqueror.

b) It is destroyed along with the temple.

c) It is rebuilt after destruction.

d) It is abandoned by its inhabitants.

9. **What is the significance of the "Emathian Conqueror" mentioned in the poem?**

a) He destroyed the Muses' Bowre.

b) He spared the house of Pindarus.

c) He conquered Athens.

d) He was a poet.

10. **What power does the air of sad Electra's Poet have in the poem?**

a) The power to save Athenian Walls

b) The power to inspire military conquests

c) The power to bring fame to poets

d) The power to destroy temples and towers