What is the significance of the opening lines of the poem “Il penseroso”? [British Poetry (2018-19) Assignment 2]

 The opening lines of John Milton's poem "Il Penseroso" are:

"Hence, vain deluding Joys,

The brood of Folly without father bred,

How little you bested,

Or fill the fixed mind with all your toys!"

These lines set the tone and theme for the entire poem. The speaker, who is the persona of the "penseroso" or contemplative individual, immediately dismisses the "vain deluding joys" of the world as "the brood of Folly." The speaker is rejecting the superficial, transitory pleasures of the world, and seeking a more lasting, meaningful experience.

This rejection of worldly pleasures is also reflected in the title of the poem, which translates to "the thoughtful one." The speaker is focused on the contemplation of serious and weighty matters, rather than the pursuit of immediate pleasure or amusement.

The opening lines also introduce the contrast between "vain deluding joys" and "the fixed mind." The speaker implies that these two things are incompatible, and that true contentment and fulfillment can only be found by fixing the mind on more significant and lasting things.

Overall, the opening lines of "Il Penseroso" set the stage for the poem's exploration of the contemplative, reflective life, and its rejection of the superficial pleasures and distractions of the world. They establish a tone of seriousness and depth, and signal to the reader that the poem will be a journey of the mind and spirit, rather than a superficial romp through the pleasures of the senses.