What in your opinion is explored in 'Lycidas', a psychological conflict about the vocation of poetry or a personal lament for a dead friend? Give reasons for your answer. ( MEG 101 ) ( CHRIST'S NATIVITY AND LYCIDAS )

'Lycidas' is a poem written by John Milton as a lament for his friend Edward King, who drowned in the Irish Sea in 1637. The poem is a powerful elegy, which explores themes of grief, loss, and the fragility of life. While the poem does touch on questions of the vocation of poetry, I believe that its primary focus is on Milton's personal lament for his friend.

The poem opens with a description of a pastoral landscape, which serves as a backdrop for the poet's grief. Milton describes himself as a shepherd, mourning the loss of his friend, who was also a shepherd. The poem's central image is that of the drowned shepherd, which represents both King and the poet himself, who is struggling to come to terms with his loss.

Throughout the poem, Milton expresses his grief and his sense of injustice at the untimely death of his friend. He describes the various stages of grief, from shock and disbelief to anger and despair. He also explores the fragility of life, and the sense of the inevitability of death, which is a recurring theme in his poetry.

While the poem does contain references to the vocation of poetry, these references are secondary to the primary focus on the personal lament for his friend. Milton uses the image of the drowned shepherd to symbolize the death of King and the poet's own struggles as a poet. He expresses his doubts about his ability to write poetry, questioning whether he has the talent and the inspiration to succeed. However, these doubts are secondary to the overall sense of grief and loss, which is the main focus of the poem.

In conclusion, while 'Lycidas' does touch on questions of the vocation of poetry, its primary focus is on Milton's personal lament for his friend. The poem is a powerful elegy, which explores themes of grief, loss, and the fragility of life, and which uses the image of the drowned shepherd to symbolize the poet's struggles to come to terms with his loss.