Summary:
How Soon Hath Time is a sonnet written by John Milton, reflecting on the passage of time and the personal feelings of the poet. Milton, who was in his early twenties when he wrote this poem, expresses a sense of frustration and sorrow about the rapid passage of time. He laments that time has passed quickly, and in doing so, he has not yet achieved all that he hoped to accomplish. In the poem, Milton uses the metaphor of a “young man” in relation to his own age and compares his unfulfilled ambitions with the reality of life’s fleeting nature. He concludes by acknowledging that time has its own purpose, and that everything happens according to God’s will, suggesting that his life and achievements will be fulfilled in time, as per divine design.
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| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | How Soon Hath Time |
| Poet | John Milton |
| Year Written | 1632 |
| Poem Type | Sonnet |
| Main Theme | The passage of time and the poet’s unfulfilled ambition |
| Tone | Reflective, resigned, and contemplative |
| Structure | A 14-line Shakespearean sonnet with a typical ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme |
| Famous Quote | “How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth.” |
| Legacy | One of Milton’s most famous sonnets, reflecting his personal reflections on time and divine purpose |