A critical analysis of the message by John Donne
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MESSAGE BY JOHN DONNE Form: The poem is set out in stanzas, not paragraphs. The three stanzas are of equal length, although the line length differs within the stanzas. The author charts out in three stages his mortal acceptance of the rejection in love. Each stanza representing a time, depict to the suffering. Lines 1, L2, are of equal length in each stanza and consist of eight syllables, inform ably an iambic tetrameter. In the following two stanzas these lines do not differ unlike line 3, which invariably changes from an iambic tetrameter in the first stanza to seven syllables in L11. Then, L19 has nine syllables within it. Lines 4 and L5 are of equal length in each stanza and consist of four syllables and do not differ in the following stanzas. Similar are lines 6 and L7 except they consist of three syllables. Line 9 and L16 has nine syllables but changes to eight syllables in the last line, L24. The rhyme-scheme is mainly rhyming couplets; i.e., every two lines, with the exception of line 3 which rhymes with line 8, L11 which rhymes with L16 in the second stanza. Then in the third stanza L19 which rhymes with L24. The Message begins using a 4 x 4 metre pattern in L1 and 2, incorporating of a rising duple. L3 changes to a falling triple then a rising triple in L4, L5, L6 and L7. Finally, L8 changes to co-inside with L3 as a falling triple.
John Donne - A Valediction Forbidding Mourning
John Donne - A Valediction Forbidding Mourning At the beginning of 'A Valediction Forbidding Mourning,' the poet, John Donne, engages in a didactic lesson to show the parallel between a positive way to meet death and a positive way to separate from a lover. When a virtuous man dies, he whispers for his soul to go while others await his parting. Such a man sets an example for lovers. The separation of the soul from the body, and the separation of lovers from each other, is not an ending but the beginning of a new cycle. The poem ends with the image of a circle, the symbol of perfection (Hall's 69, 297), representing the union of souls in a love relationship. This perfection is attained by parting at the beginning of the circle and reuniting at the point where the curves reconnect. According to Helen Gardner, the metaphysical poem takes the reader down a certain path, a fixed line of argumentation (17). This valediction, an act of bidding farewell, proceeds in the guise of a monologue in which a speaker attempts to persuade a lover to remain faithful during his absence. The monologue is dramatic in the sense that the stay-behind lover is the implied listener. Donne's monologue is unique because he uses metaphysical comparisons to show the union of the lovers during their period of separation. Although the poem attempts to persuade the lover as an implied listener, it also
The Dampe- a critical commentary.
The Dampe - a critical commentary John Donne's, The Dampe epitomises the curious nature of his genius in seduction, displaying a creative audacity that effectively seduces from a foundation of peculiarity. The title itself immediately creates a somewhat macabre mood; though in contemporary reading the word 'damp' holds little gravity in its association with moisture, its original connotations were that of death and disease. From the morbid beginning, where Donne sees his own grotesque autopsy, he gently slides into a profession of love with remarkable seductive prowess. To begin Donne foresees his death, where he has been laid out upon a table, while his 'friends curiositie' has resulted in his corpse being opened up, in effect being autopsied. The initial image is extremely unpleasant and crude if one considers the autopsies of Donne's era, giving rise to visions of blood and gore. Indeed the simple imagining of his own death and subsequent autopsy is intensely bizarre and uncomfortable. Despite the implications of such a situation, Donne avoids being distasteful or crude by not dwelling on the aspects of an autopsy and lightens the tone with his fluency of addressing his mistress, 'When they shall find your Picture in my heart,' simultaneously transforming death and disease into love and fantasy. The idea of a woman's picture residing in his heart in a literal
Compare the poems by Shakespeare and Donne. Show how, though written in the same era and both connecting love the two parts have different styles through which to express their ideas.
Compare the poems by Shakespeare and Donne. Show how, though written in the same era and both connecting love the two parts have different styles through which to express their ideas. Both these poems were written in the late 16th to early 17th centuries. This is shown by the language used and the things they write about in their poems. They are also both romantic and loving poems. John Donne's poem 'The Sun Rising' is a poem written by a man who is talking to a woman he is lying in bed with. The whole poem is a conceit in that the man is talking to the sun. Despite the fact that it is a love poem the first verse starts off in an angry tone. The man is angry with the sun for waking him up as he wants to stay in bed with the woman. Donne uses argumentative language and aggressive lines and the use of staccato, onomatopoeic words show that the man is angry. 'Busie old foole, unruly sunne, Why dost thou thus,' However, this is mock anger as he is showing off to the girl he is in bed with and wants to compliment her and try to amuse her. The use of repetition and alliteration: 'Through windowes, and through curtains call on us.' shows the persistence of the sun coming through two barriers (the windows and the curtains of the bed) to reach them. Donne insults the sun and asks it in bravado if the must be ruled by it. However this Is a rhetorical question as Donne knows
Discuss "The Flea" as a typically metaphysical poem
"The Flea is a typically metaphysical poem." Discuss this statement The metaphysical genre derives from the older poem of Ovid, but the form of the metaphysical poets did not begin to emerge until the seventeenth century, and although was a style used by many eminent English lyricists during this period, infusing new dynamism in to poetic trend of the time, it was not recognised as a collective style until 1744, by Samuel Johnson. The hallmark of a metaphysical poem is the conceit, a figure of speech or element of the poem that employs atypical and often paradoxical imagery. Many would consider John Donne, poet of The Flea, as the master of the conceit, cleverly entwining well rehearsed persuasive techniques with often flamboyant and seemingly illogical imagery. The Flea is arguably an almost perfect illustration of a poem of the metaphysical genre, and it can be clearly observed that Donne includes an intelligently strong argument, demonstrating his innate ability to fuse thought with passion, whilst using the metaphysical features of the poem's structure itself to support his argument. The Flea's subject itself conveys the literal sense of the metaphysical, with the flea representing much more beyond that of its physical state, which is perhaps one of the reasons that Donne's poems, as will be explored, are such powerful examples of the poetic manner of his period and the
Write a study of a sonnet, looking at examples by two different poets writing before 1900, showing how they use form to express their ideas. You should include at least two sonnets written by the same poet. Accompanying this with a sonnet of your own.
Write a study of a sonnet, looking at examples by two different poets writing before 1900, showing how they use form to express their ideas. You should include at least two sonnets written by the same poet. Accompanying this with a sonnet of your own. The greatest aspect of a sonnet is that it reflects hard work and vigour. It also displays some of the characteristics that the sonneteer may possess. For example, Shakespeare has given himself a wealth of characteristics throughout his works, but what struck me most, was his power to fulfil what he wanted to say and would take up innumerable roles in which to display his message. I believe that this unveils a new side of Shakespeare every time he writes. I feel that my main aim in this essay is to look at the differences, both subtle and outright that make some of the greatest sonnets and sonneteers so very contrasting from one another. Firstly, it is very important to explore a sonnet. The first sonnet is called, "Batter My Heart" by John Donne. This is a classic English sonnet written at the beginning of the Seventeenth century where Donne unravels his negativity towards himself, and how he demands to be freed from his evil and cast back to God's side. The second sonnet is called, "Death Be Not Proud" by John Donne. This is a sort of argument against the rights of Death, exploring why Death does not, in fact, have any
Discuss the importance of the audience or readership to John Donne's Poem, Holy Sonnet No. 5.
Discuss the importance of the audience or readership to John Donne's Poem, Holy Sonnet No. 5. In the seventeenth century, the poet's reliance on patrons and favour at the court of the newly crowned James was paramount to achieving advancement. For Donne, born to an ironmonger and raised by a physician, his placement in any prominent position in the rising form of metaphysical poetry would have to rely not only on his talent, but in associating with equally prominent patrons, and appeasing the dictats of King James' court. Despite the radical lengths to which Donne was prepared to go in order to satisfy the terms of his patronage, his conversion and subsequent ecclesiastical career in the Church of England, I believe that the mechanical and strict religious tone set down in James' own poetry did not force Donne to limit the breadth of his work. Certainly the poetry that Donne produce was designed to appeal to the audience at court, the holy sonnets written mostly during the course of his absence from society, but there appears to be more to it than mere talented sycophancy. Donne's religious poetry often contains elements of monologue directed at God, and whilst this often fulfilled James' requirements, it has such a close correlation with Donne's life, and is performed in such a bold and innovative style, that it prevents us from dismissing his the work as blatant
Love in the Poetry of John Donne.
Love in the Poetry of John Donne a paper by Iain Morrison, student of English Literature at The Edinburgh Academy, under the direction of Mr J. Marsh. It is impossible to say exactly what Donne's attitude to love is precisely because he seems to have many different attitudes. This is due, in part, to the nature of Donne's life which falls neatly into two different periods. The first was from his birth in 1572 to his ordination in January 1615 and the second was from then till his death in March 1631. Most of his devotional poetry stems from this second period and the love poetry from the first. There is however an element of love in the devotional poetry and vice versa. His love poetry can also be divided into two strains; that of the witty and the realistic. He draws some aspects of his style from Petrarch, the Italian sonateer who was perhaps the first poet to write about his love for a woman in an honest but still romantic way. However unlike Petrarch, who considered sexuality a burden, Donne appears not to condemn physical love. It seems unusual now but at the time of Donne's life it was thought that every time a couple indulged in sex, their lives were shortened but Donne treats this physical side of love as a gateway to something higher. In 'The Canonization' Donne takes this idea of death and turns it round. He says that if they die because of their love then they
How do different poets treat the theme of love?
How do different poets treat the theme of love? In this essay, we will explore and discuss the similar and different interpretations of love when used by different poets. We will try to portray a clear, overall view of love and its effects on people and relationships when used in different contexts involving technical devices. This essay aims to include the poet's attitudes, motives and the type of love they feel at the time they wrote the poem and also the different strategies and procedures they make use of to reach their objectives. When looking at this we will in addition consider the different methods used by the poets to conceal their true intentions. Further more, we will endeavour to interpret the feelings of the person who is receiving the poem, their attitude to the poet after receiving the poem and how they respond to the poet's perspective of love. The poems we will be examining according to these aims are 'First Love', 'The Flea' and 'Porphyria's Lover. We will be trying to establish a link between these three poems that connects the poet's or the women in some way. The first poem I will examine is 'First Love'. In this poem Clare strives to illustrate the over-whelming power and strength of the love he is feeling for the woman. We can see this when he says 'I was ne'er struck before that hour'. The use of the word 'struck' is significant because it emphasises
From the Poems we have read so far, Identify the main Characteristics of Donne's Poetry.
Charlie Hanson From the Poems we have read so far, Identify the main Characteristics of Donne's Poetry. By referring closely to John Donne's poems we can examine the distinct characteristics of his poetry, paying particular attention to the Relationship Between understanding and Emotion. John Donne often uses a paradox and links things such as love and religion to other things as well. This also shows his range and variety of language also showing his academic and emotional feelings. This also illustrates how much thought goes into his work as well as feeling as it is relevant to him. Many things become apparent throughout John Donne's poetry however one theme is particularly apparent. This is his idea towards understanding the relationship between man, woman and God. Donne has a strong idea of how this relationship should take place and of how man is to relate to God and he often links it to a relationship between a man and a woman. However, Donne believes that however strong this bond between man's relationship with God and how alike to man and women it is, he believes that the spiritual bond is much stronger. Once this bond has been made, it is difficult to break. In the poem A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning Donne speaks of this relationship as, 'Stiff twin compasses' also indicating that each is always pointing towards the other. Through this poem and many other