Ask The Puma Research Guides: When I Consider How My Light Is Spent

When I Consider How My Light Is Spent

John Milton, the author of “Paradise Lost,” wrote “When I Consider How My Light is Spent” at what he considered to be the midpoint of his life. The poem, which reflects the poet’s concern with God, duty, blindness and fulfillment, is known by different titles: “Sonnet XVI,” “Sonnet XIX,” “When I Consider,” and “On His Blindness.”

LINCCWeb online catalog – Search Terms

• Milton, John (Subject)
• When I consider How My Light Is Spent (Keyword)

Call Numbers for Browsing the Shelves

• PR3551 – PR3592 .R4 O38

Circulating Books – A Selected List

•  Bloom, Harold (ed.). John Milton. 1986.

                      Call Number: PR3588 .J64 1986 *(See pp. 247, 248)

• Bloom, Harold (ed.). John Milton: Comprehensive Research and Study Guide. 1999.

                     Call Number: PR3588 .J65 1999 *(See pp. 48-58)

• Lewalski, Barbara K. The Life of John Milton. 2000.

                     Call Number: PR3581 .L45 2000 *(See pp. 305-307, 635 n 68, 636 n 71, 640 n 140)

• Nicolson, Marjorie Hope. A Reader’s Guide to John Milton. 1998.

                    Call Number: PR3588 .N5 1998 *(See pp. 157-161)

• Shawcross, John T. John Milton: The Self and the World. 1993.

                    Call Number: PR3581 .S5 1993 *(See pp.74-75, 101-102, 167-169, 215, 259, 326 n10, 327 n13)

Reference Materials

• Poetry Criticism – Call Number:  REF PN1010 .P6

o Vol. 19, p.214

• Masterplots II:  Poetry Series (Revised Edition). – Call Number:  REF PN1110.5 .M37 2002

o Vol. 7, pp. 3538 – 3540

• Poetry for Students – Call Number: REF PN1112 .P752

o Vol. 3, pp. 260-273

o Vol. 37, pp. 300-323

Research Databases

To access Valencia’s research databases, open your Atlas account, select ‘Search the Library’, then select ‘Databases A-Z’.

• Poetry & Short Story Reference Center (EBSCO) 
• JSTOR
• Lit Finder
• Literary Reference Center
• Literature Criticism Online
• Literature Resources from Gale

This Research Guide is designed to help users find information on a particular topic within the Valencia College East Campus Library. This is by no means a comprehensive list of resources and other resources may be available on this topic. Please check the LINCCWeb, Valencia East’s online catalog, to verify the availability of circulating books within the library. Feel free to ask a librarian for help if you need further assistance.