Barbara Benjamin

18 February 1995

 

 

 

Analysis of Sonnet VIII by John Milton

"When the Assault Was Intended to the City"

 

Milton's sonnet regarding King Charles' expected assault on London seems to be lightheartedly poking fun at the attempt.  The overall tone of the poem is fun and teasing.  There is no use of heavy sounds, or of tragic, serious words.  The emphasis is on "s" sounds, which are softening as well as fun sounds, and the use of optimistic, casual-type words like "deed," "honor," "please," "charms," "fame," "gentle," "bright," and "warms."  When a tragic subject is mentioned, the tone of it is kept light through understatement:  Line 11 mentions the sack of Thebes, but it is softened by describing the fall of the city in line 12 as "went to the ground."  "Went" is certainly an understatement of "crashing" "burning" or whatever else would more aptly describe the devastation. 

The speaker opens by speaking to military heads (Captain and Colonel), but then also includes a "Knight in Arms," which moves away from a serious, military realm into more of a fantasy world.  It takes it away from the immediate here and now.  The tone in these opening four lines is meek and helpless:  The speaker begs the Captains, Colonels, and Knights to consider doing a deed of honor by guarding his "defenseless doors" and to protect him from "harms."  But after initially portraying himself as helpless, he goes on in line 5 to give an obliquely veiled threat which, on the surface, looks to be an encouragement to the military guys to consider their "Fame."  The threat comes by the use of the word "requite," which can mean either reward or revenge.  The wording in this section still appears to come from a helpless speaker who wishes for "gentle acts."  However, on second look, he not only bestows upon himself the ability of magical powers---"charms"---but in using the word "requite" he means he can use his powers to either create "Fame" for them, which could be good or bad, according to their actions.  In addition, he has enough power to make their "Fame" known internationally----even beyond (wherever the sun shines!).  Also, there would be an iambic emphasis on the word "can" which adds some weight to the illusion of a threat.  This threat made juxtaposed to his "helplessness" gives an ironic, humorous twist to the plea. 

The speaker increases his stature by making the reference to when Alexander the Great spared the home of the great poet Pindar.  In using this example, he makes the comparison of himself to the poet Pindar.  In other words, by association he places himself in the same league of importance.  At this juncture, his plea goes well beyond a humble poet pleading for protection to those who might harm him.  It's progressed now to a suggestion that he be spared because of his greatness.  But the complement goes both ways because he is also comparing them to Alexander the Great.  Considering the incident this poem is the subject of, this comparison is ludicrous.  The whole world knows of Alexander the Great and the sack of Thebes, but this incident in London apparently never even occurred.  On a scale of importance, it barely exists.  So, the discrepancy in importance adds to the lighthearted, humorous nature of the poem. 

The last two lines are even more humorous.  The poet refers to the power of the words of another poet's song.  When the words were sung, they had such power that the conqueror of Athens apparently was affected by them to the extent that he did not completely destroy the city.  The speaker is indicating that if the military men he's addressing should continue with their assault, that his words can also have the same power to distract and, thus,  their effort will fail.  He again accredits himself with immense power, which lends humor to the poem. 

So, the type of words that are used, as well as the types of sounds the words produce, give the poem its light, playful quality.  And the examples Milton uses gives the poem levity and humor through creating extreme exaggerations.