Why are some of the words capitalized even though they do not refer to God or something Godly?
I am fairly new to poetry and I understand from the Bible that something related to God/God is usually capitalized.
Why is it that in the Milton's poem, When I consider how my light is spent, the words Land and Ocean capitalized? Also the word Talent. Is it because he is referring to the Parable of the Talents?
When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide;
“Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”
I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait.”
Solution 1:
The author is using capitalization to present these particular ideas in a grand, abstract, or conceptual way. The capitals signal not to read these as plain, physical entities, but rather as broader notions with embedded meaning. For example, whereas “land” might suggest “dirt”, “Land” instead suggests the foundation on which humanity has built civilization. The author is effectively indicating that some of these words carry more poetic weight than others.
That said, the simpler explanation is that this is poetry, and that’s simply what the poet felt like doing.