On my First Son Essay Questions

What is Jonson’s tone in “On my First Son”? Cite one moment from the poem to justify your answer.

Jonson’s tone in “On my First Son” is bitter and heartbroken. Midway through the poem, he declares that seen objectively, death is really a blessing, because it frees us from the miseries of life. Although he’s claiming to take on an objective perspective, really his pessimistic view of the world illustrates how grim his perspective has become since his son’s death.

Analyze one metaphor in “On my First Son.” How does it relate to the poem’s broader themes?

In the third line, Jonson compares his son to a loan given by God. It was therefore just for Jonson to have to one day pay the loan back with his son’s death. The metaphor speaks to the poem’s major conflict between Jonson’s desire to comfort himself and his immutable feelings of grief. The metaphor provides a rational argument for not resenting death, but it also suggests that in this moment, Jonson can only see God as someone who holds power over him, rather than someone with whom he shares a loving and intimate relationship.