Milton's On The Death Of A Fair Infant Dying Of A Cough

Milton was only in adolescence when he wrote "On the Death of a Fair Infant Dying of a Cough" but he still managed to cram all manner of patterns into his poetry. One of these patterns was textual. In poetry, texture is defined as: "The "feel" of a poem that comes from the interweaving of technical elements, syntax, patterns of sound and meaning" ("Glossary" PG). Certainly, Milton is able to do all those things and his skills are exemplified in this particular early work. Milton's "On the Death of a Fair Infant Dying of a Cough" certainly is replete with textual density as its every stanza is rich with elements that helps elicit feeling. It may be important to note that the poem was created for his immediate family after the death of his …show more content…
The repetition of the "to" word and the rhyme scheme change all add to the mood of this poem. The content of this particular stanza is meaningful. The poet pleads for the life of the infant. Although he knows it is too late--that she is already dead--he cries out to God anyway. It is assumed from the work that the poet is a religious man who believes that the infant was taken for a reason. In some way, he accepts God's doing. If he did not, the work might have been created very differently. In looking specifically at the textual patterns, and determining where the "feel" of the poem comes from, it is clear that Milton's skillful intertwining of technical elements is contributory. The patterns of the sound provide one with a feeling of forging ahead. It is through the repetition of consonants for the most part that one gets the feeling of moving along and not stopping. The words flow and this may be a metaphor for life. The death of a child is perhaps the hardest thing any human being can fathom. Milton makes it clear that it is one step in life's journey. Unfortunately, the parents and people who loved the infant must cope with the loss. But life goes on. That is the feeling one derives from Milton's use of alliteration. Additionally, Milton is skillful in eliciting meaning from the