London, 1802

Question

Milton! thou should'st be living at this hour England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: alter, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,
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Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness. We are selfish men: Ohi raise us up, return to us again And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
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Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free. So didst thou travel on life's common way. In cheerful godliness, and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

What does the personification "she is a fen of stagnant waters" used in lines 2-3 mean?

1. Nature can be beautiful as well as destructive and harmful.

2 Excessive rain has threatened England's ability to fulfill its destiny.

3. England's many problems prevent it from progressing as a nation.

4.Freedom requires examining one's faults and taking steps to improve.

Answer 1

The personification "she is a fen of stagnant waters" used in lines 2-3 refers to England being likened to a swamp or marsh (a "fen") that is stagnant and unproductive. This imagery conveys the idea that England is in a state of decay or stagnation, unable to move forward or grow. Therefore, the most fitting interpretation is:

3. England's many problems prevent it from progressing as a nation.

This interpretation reflects the overall lamentation in the poem about the decline of moral and societal standards in England at that time.