The Passion (Milton)
Encyclopedia
The Passion is an ode by John Milton
that was possibly written in 1630 and was first published in 1645 or 1646 (see 1646 in poetry
). The poem connects Christ's Crucifixion
with his Incarnation
. It is linked to two other poems of Milton: On the Morning of Christ's Nativity
and Upon the Circumcision
, and it is commonly dated to 1630. However, the ode, along with Upon the Circumcision and On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, were first published in 1645, and they are found within a manuscript that was not started before May 1634. They were composed during a time in which Milton became deeply concerned with Scripture but also one who still relies on myth. They were written during a time of experimentation in genre and subject for Milton. The poem was revised for the publication in the 1645 collection, but Milton found that he would be unable to finish the poem, leaving only three lines which emphasize his shortcomings at the time of writing the poem.
Although he is to introduce the Crucifixion, the third stanza emphasizes the nature of Christ and the Incarnation.
The fourth stanza continues to ignore the Crucifixion by discussing the poetic tone required for such a poem:
The fifth stanza continues this focus and discusses the printing of an elegy:
The emphasis on poetry is dropped for an emphasis on the soul of the narrator in Stanza VI:
The moment of the Crucifixion passes as the poet focuses on himself, and the poem transitions discussing to Christ's sepulchral in Stanza VIII:
The final stanza ends with the poet focusing on his own sorrow:
Attached to the 1645 publication of the poem are three lines which Milton wrote to state that the poem is incomplete and is abandoned because the poet was unable to deal with the Crucifixion as the subject matter:
, Richard Crashaw
, and George Herbert
. However, Milton's poetry reflects the origins of his anti-William Laud
and anti-Church of England based religious beliefs. The topic of The Passion is of Christ's Crucifixion. Although Milton was a Christian poet, he rarely discusses this event within his poetry.
In the poem, he ignores the suffering by diverting attention to a discussion of himself and his own understanding of poetry in a similar way to Donne's "Goodfriday, 1613. Riding Westward". Milton's emphasis is on the nature of Christian poetry, and Stanza V contains a self-referential discussion of writing elegaic poetry, which is a baroque technique similar to the work of Bernini or Herbert in "Good Friday". However, the narrator constantly focuses on himself and his own grief, and this is a common trait in the contemporary Christian poetry of the poem. Unlike many of his contemporaries' works, each aspect of the poem emphasizes that the narrator is unable to actually discuss Christ's crucifixion, and the poem was left incomplete.
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
that was possibly written in 1630 and was first published in 1645 or 1646 (see 1646 in poetry
1646 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Works published:* Guillaume Colletet, Le Banquet des Poètes...
). The poem connects Christ's Crucifixion
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
with his Incarnation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
. It is linked to two other poems of Milton: On the Morning of Christ's Nativity
On the Morning of Christ's Nativity
On the Morning of Christ's Nativity is a nativity ode written by John Milton in 1629 and published in his Poems of Mr. John Milton . The poem describes Christ's Incarnation and his overthrow of earthly and pagan powers...
and Upon the Circumcision
Upon the Circumcision
Upon the Circumcision is an ode by John Milton that was possibly written in 1633 and first published in 1645. It discusses the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and connects Christ's Incarnation with his Crucifixion.-Background:...
Background
The exact date of composition is unknown, but it is likely that Milton wrote the ode while attending Christ's College, CambridgeChrist's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, and it is commonly dated to 1630. However, the ode, along with Upon the Circumcision and On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, were first published in 1645, and they are found within a manuscript that was not started before May 1634. They were composed during a time in which Milton became deeply concerned with Scripture but also one who still relies on myth. They were written during a time of experimentation in genre and subject for Milton. The poem was revised for the publication in the 1645 collection, but Milton found that he would be unable to finish the poem, leaving only three lines which emphasize his shortcomings at the time of writing the poem.
Poem
"The Passion" deals with Christ's Crucifixion but first two stanzas discuss how the narrator can no longer discuss the happiness of Christ's nativity:- Wherewith the stage of air and earth did ring,
- And joyous news of Heav'nly infant's birth
- My muse with angels did divide to sing
- ...
- For now to sorrow must I tune my song,
- And set my harp to notes of saddest woe (lines 2–4, 8–9)
Although he is to introduce the Crucifixion, the third stanza emphasizes the nature of Christ and the Incarnation.
- He sov'reign priest, stopping his regal head
- That dropped with odorous oil down his fair eyes,
- Poor fleshly tabernacle entered (lines 15–17)
The fourth stanza continues to ignore the Crucifixion by discussing the poetic tone required for such a poem:
- These latter scenes confine my roving verse,
- To this horizon is my Phoebus bound,
- His Godlike acts, and his temptations fierce;
- ...
- Me softer airs befit, and softer strings
- Of lute, or viol still, more apt for mournful things. (lines 22–24, 27–28)
The fifth stanza continues this focus and discusses the printing of an elegy:
- My sorrows are too dark for day to know:
- The leaves should all be black whereon I write,
- And letters where my tears have washed a wannish white. (lines 33–35)
The emphasis on poetry is dropped for an emphasis on the soul of the narrator in Stanza VI:
- My spirit some transporting cherub feels,
- To bear me where the towers of Salem stood
- ...
- There doth my soul in holy vision sit
- In pensive trance, and anguish, and ecstatic fit. (lines 38–39, 41–42)
The moment of the Crucifixion passes as the poet focuses on himself, and the poem transitions discussing to Christ's sepulchral in Stanza VIII:
- Mine eye hath found that sad seplchral rock
- That was the casket of Heav'n's richest store,
- And here though grief my feeble hands uplock,
- Yet on the softened quarry would I score
- My plaining verse as lively as before
- For sure so well instructed are my tears,
- That they would fitly fall in ordered characters. (lines 43–49)
The final stanza ends with the poet focusing on his own sorrow:
- Or Should I thence, hurried on viewless wing,
- Take up a weeping on the mountains wild,
- The gentle neighborhood of grove and spring
- Would soon unbosom all their echoes mild
- And I (for grief is easily beguiled)
- Might think th' infection of my sorrows loud
- Had got a race of mourners on some pregnant cloud.
Attached to the 1645 publication of the poem are three lines which Milton wrote to state that the poem is incomplete and is abandoned because the poet was unable to deal with the Crucifixion as the subject matter:
- This subject the author finding to be above the
- years he had when he wrote it, and nothing
- satisfied with what was begun, left it unfinished.
Themes
The Passion with On the Morning of Christ's Nativity and Upon the Circumcision form a set of poems that celebrates important Christian events: Christ's birth, the feast of the Circumcision, and Good Friday. The topic of these poems places them within a genre of Christian literature popular during the 17th century and places Milton alongside poets like John DonneJohn Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
, Richard Crashaw
Richard Crashaw
Richard Crashaw , English poet, styled "the divine," was part of the Seventeenth-century Metaphysical School of poets.-Life:...
, and George Herbert
George Herbert
George Herbert was a Welsh born English poet, orator and Anglican priest.Being born into an artistic and wealthy family, he received a good education that led to his holding prominent positions at Cambridge University and Parliament. As a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, Herbert excelled in...
. However, Milton's poetry reflects the origins of his anti-William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
and anti-Church of England based religious beliefs. The topic of The Passion is of Christ's Crucifixion. Although Milton was a Christian poet, he rarely discusses this event within his poetry.
In the poem, he ignores the suffering by diverting attention to a discussion of himself and his own understanding of poetry in a similar way to Donne's "Goodfriday, 1613. Riding Westward". Milton's emphasis is on the nature of Christian poetry, and Stanza V contains a self-referential discussion of writing elegaic poetry, which is a baroque technique similar to the work of Bernini or Herbert in "Good Friday". However, the narrator constantly focuses on himself and his own grief, and this is a common trait in the contemporary Christian poetry of the poem. Unlike many of his contemporaries' works, each aspect of the poem emphasizes that the narrator is unable to actually discuss Christ's crucifixion, and the poem was left incomplete.