Name: _______________

Sweet is the Breath of Morning

John Milton

Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet

With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the Sun

When first on this delightful land he spreads

His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,

Glistening with dew; fragrant the fertile earth

After soft showers; and sweet the coming on

Of grateful evening mild; then silent night

With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon,

And these the gems of heaven, her starry train.

Questions

1. Contrast the poets description of morning with his description of evening.

2. How is personification used?

3. Give examples of imagery that appeal to sight, smell, sound, and touch.

4. Explain the metaphor gems of heaven in line 9.

Evening

John Milton

Now came still evening on, and twilight gray

Had in her sober livery all things clad;

Silence accompanied; for beast and bird,

They to their grassy couch, these to their nests,

Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;

She all night long her amorous descant sung.

Silence was pleased: now glowed the firmament

With living sapphires; Herperus, that led

The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon,

Rising in clouded majesty, at length

Apparent queen, unveiled her peerless light,

And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw.

Questions

1. Describe the dress of evening.

2. Where do the various animals go in the evening?

3. Explain the personification in line 7.

4. What are the living sapphires?

5. What kind of imagery is in lines 8 12? Is it effective? Explain.