Essay on John Donne - 1928 Words

John Donne John Donne had a rich life full of travel, women and religion. Donne was born in 1572 on Bread Street in London. The family was Roman Catholic which was dangerous during this time when Catholicism was being abolished and protestant was taking over. Donne’s farther was an iron monger who died in 1576. At 11 Donne and his younger brother went to university and studied there for three years then he went to Cambridge for a further three years. He left without any degrees because as a Catholic he could not swear the ‘Oath of Supremacy’, which made you swear an oath declaring Henry VIII as head of the Church of England, Donne refused to swear this. In 1592 Donne joined a law practice and a legal career seemed ahead of†¦show more content†¦When there marriage was discovered Donne was thrown into prison by Anne’s father along with several other of Donne’s friends who were involved. John Donne lost his job and for the next few years struggled to provide for his family through his writing of poetry and practising some law and ‘tutoring’ rich women. It was not until 1609 that Donne was reconciled with his farther-in-law who then provided John and Ann with a dowry. Later on his life Ann died in labour of his thirteenth son. He then lived his life out as a protestant and part of the new Church of England. I shall now talk about how religion relates to Donne’s poetry. His life passed during a major change of religion in England the king wanted all control of the church so he could divorce his wife, he declared himself head of the Church of England. My first poem that relates to religion is ‘The Flea’ in this poem Donne is trying to convince a woman to sleep with him by using religion to sanctify him sleeping with her for example when he says ‘Where we almost, nay more, than married are†¦our marriage bed, and marriage temple is[2]’, he makes the bed seem holy and that g-d wants them to sleep together this may of reassured her as it connects g-d and the church together to make everything alright and holy . This poem proves that Donne is a veryShow MoreRelated Biography of John Donne Essay3729 Words   |  15 PagesBiography of John Donne John Donne was an English poet and probably the greatest metaphysical poets of all time. He was born in 1572 to a Roman Catholic family in London. His father died when John was young leaving his mother Elisabeth to raise him and his siblings. Throughout Donne’s life his experiences with religion were full of trials and tribulations, something that can be clearly seen in his poetry over time. He remained Catholic early in life while he attended both Oxford and CambridgeRead MoreJohn Donne Poetry Analysis2693 Words   |  11 PagesJohn Donne Poetry Essay The metaphysical poets were segregated in the seventeenth century to form a new and distinct style of poetry that employed immaculate wit, complex metaphors and luminous imagery. John Donne’s poetry is no exception to the form and thematic volume of the metaphysicals. Donne explores ideas in a manner which some readers find confronting and enlightening through relentless use of metaphysical conceits and his direct address to an individual or god. Donne confronts and enlightensRead MoreMetaphysical Poetry By John Donne1590 Words   |  7 Pagesgot involved in metaphysical poetry like: Samuel Johnson who wrote his book which is known as ‘’Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets’’, Henry Vaughan, Andrew Marvel, Richard Crashaw, George Herbert and finally who was the main founder, John Donne. John Donne (1572 - 1631), the founder of the Metaphysical school of poetry, lived and wrote during the succeeding reigns of Elizabeth I, James 1 and Charles I. His early life was passed in dissipation and roguery, much occupied with secret love-makingRead MoreMetaphysical Poetry of John Donne1441 Words   |  6 PagesKirsten Furnish AP Literature Mrs. Hendricks November 1, 2012 Literary Analysis of John Donne This examination of John Donne’s metaphysical poetry includes analysis of Donne’s use of topic, structure, scansion, style and theme. John Donne is known as one of the best writers of metaphysical poetry, a genre of poetry that is characterized specifically by themes of knowledge, intellect, and having a somewhat unrecognizable meter or rhyme. Metaphysical poetry forsakes pure and genial nature of otherRead MoreJohn Donne And George Herbert942 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Donne and George Herbert are two metaphysical poets that lived in the United Kingdom around the 17th century. Although they are almost a generation apart in age, both poets showcase an unbelievable amount of comparison in their poems. Each of these poets has written about their life experiences from troubling times to love and compassion. Though they share similar backgrounds, each poet has a unique style that shows a great amount of symbolism, irony and spirituality. The poems EasterRead MoreSonnet 116 And John Donne1059 Words   |  5 Pages William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Sonnet 116† and John Donne’s â€Å"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning† similarly explore the theme of everlasting true love. However, both poems differ in rhyme scheme, techniques, and meaning. The poets use these tools to convey to the reader that everlasting true love does in fact exist. Although both speak so passionately about said love, only the speaker of Donne’s poem has actually experienced it. While both poems explicate eternal true love, their rhyme scheme differencesRead MoreDeath Be Not Proud By John Donne1329 Words   |  6 Pagesthe insignificance of death as a state in Donne’s time. However, this value does not transcend to our modern existential contexts, as epitomised in W;t, where death, seen as a terrifying fate, is the end of everything. Through irony and wit, we see Donne finally dismissed death, â€Å"Death, thou shalt die.† Consequently, we see how, through Donne’s context, the perennial issue of death is ridiculed and disempowered. In contrast to Donne’s poetry we see how the transition through time of sociologicalRead MoreDeath Is Inevitable By John Donne Essay1560 Words   |  7 PagesMeditations XVII by John Donne, the speaker talks about how everyone has a path in life and God is the one that decides who dies and who doesn t. By many, death is seen with fear, anger, denial, and grieve. In the poem, I Felt a Funeral in My Brain by Emily Dickinson, the speaker appears to be losing her mind and uses funeral as a metaphor; a representation of the speaker s emotions dying. For me, death is a way for a person to start a new chapter. Perhaps even a better â€Å"life†. John Donne was an EnglishRead MoreJohn Donne s A Fever1270 Words   |  6 Pagesmetaphysical poet, John Donne is known for use of strange paradoxical imagery, complicated thought, and questioning the nature of the reader’s reality. In the sonnet, â€Å"A Fever,† Donne explores an unusual and complex love that he has for a woman. Throughout this poem Donne makes use of the contrasting themes of love and hate. While some might this consider this unusually, Donne’s use of the contrasting themes of love and hate show that the love a woman can give purpose to a man’s existence. Donne begins hisRead MoreDeath, Be Not Proud, By John Donne1303 Words   |  6 Pagesstages of your own life you will experience death in some way. In the poems, â€Å"Death, be not proud† and â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,† the speakers possess two similar ideas of just what death is. â€Å"Death, be not proud† is a poem written by John Donne and maintains a direct approach to the coming of death. â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,† is another poem discussing death and mortality, written by Dylan Thomas, and reflects his somewhat more defiant attitude towards death. In both poems