John Donne’s Poetic Philosophy of Love By Dr. David Naugle Stand still‚ and I will read to thee‚ A lecture‚ love‚ in love’s philosophy. —John Donne‚ “Lecture upon the Shadow” For the enormously complex and vexed John Donne (1572-1631)‚ the one in whom all “contraries meet‚” (Holy Sonnet 18)‚ life was love—the love of women in his early life‚ then the love of his wife (Ann More)‚ and finally the love of God. All other aspects of his experience apart from love‚ it seems‚ were just details. Love
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John Donne and “The Bait” John Donne was born in 1572 into a Roman Catholic family. For most of his life he was an outsider‚ a Catholic in Protestant England. Yet‚ after traveling abroad and studying theology‚ Donne converted to the English church. During that time‚ some of his poems display his interest in and critiques of English society‚ as well as his quest for true religion. In 1596-97‚ Donne joins a military expedition against Catholic Spain‚ which inspired him to write two poems about life
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How does Donne treat physical and spiritual love in his works? Answer: As a Metaphysical poet‚ Donne often uses physical love to evoke spiritual love. Indeed‚ this metaphysical conceit in much of the love poetry is not explicitly spelled out. To this end‚ Donne’s poetry often suggests that the love the poet has for a particular beloved is greatly superior to others’ loves. Loving someone is as much a religious experience as a physical one‚ and the best love transcends mere physicality. In this
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“The Flea” was written by John Donne in 1633. Donne was the greatest preacher of his time. While‚ spending his life of preaching at the St. Paul’s Cathedral in England‚ London. Donne was well known for his speeches‚ people would come all over just to hear his sermons. In this poem Donne uses imagery to tell a story to the audience‚ as if someone can see it all playing out in front of them. In this poem Donne uses imagery of “The Flea”‚ marriage and religion‚ and sex to establish a union with his
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Biography of John Donne John Donne was an English poet‚ satirist‚ lawyer and priest. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are noted for their strong‚ sensual style and include sonnets‚ love poetry‚ religious poems‚ Latin translations‚ epigrams‚ elegies‚ songs‚ satires and sermons. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and inventiveness of metaphor‚ especially compared to that of his contemporaries. Donne’s style is characterised by abrupt
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I. Opening Paragraph 1. elements in British poetry remain constant 2. William Shakespeare and John Donne a. common themes of love and adoration 3. environment and customs affect a poet’s work II. Renaissance and 18th Century Comparisons 1. Renaissance a. drinking‚ gambling‚ gossip‚ theater b. Puritanism‚ a Calvinist attitude within the Anglican church c. issued a fine for not conforming to the established religion; not going to Protestant services d. betrothal: the two people join
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The Power of John Donne’s Poetry Louis Hunt John Carey’s description of Donne’s “power” is laudable‚ and to a certain extent‚ accurate. Carey captures the masculine nature of Donne’s tone; the vividness of Donne’s imagery; the subtle coercion of Donne’s metaphor. Carey also notes Donne’s application of syntax and rhythms‚ writing that Donne’s words‚ “are packed into the poems like boulders… Inversions and interjections fracture the run of the lines‚ necessitating a strenuous advance.” Carey
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JOHN DONNE‚ we sometimes forget‚ was an Elizabethan. Scholars do well to warn us against over-simplifying the pattern of literary change into a simple succession ofmovements and ’reactions’‚ and to remind us that in periods of heightened vitality developments in different directions often exist side by side.1 By no means all of what we now consider typically Elizabethan poetry was in existence when Donne began to write. It remains true‚ nevertheless‚ that Donne chose to do something different
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Canonization by John Donne Love is true and pure‚ a divine experience‚ a way to live more and to surpass even death. It is a sublime fantasy that is real and better than the material world. Love is life’s paradox. This is the idea that John Donne is expressing in the poem The Canonization. It is a reply as well as a declaration that the poet makes to the world- a world that treats lovers harshly. He scorns the worldly‚ he questions the inquisitive‚ he proves the myths true‚ he places his love high and
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“The Canonization” by John Donne Define canonize. 1 to declare (a deceased person) an officially recognized saint 2 to make canonical 3 to sanction by ecclesiastical authority 4 to attribute authoritative sanction or approval to 5 to treat as illustrious‚ preeminent‚ or sacred 6 Don’t know 1. How many steps? 5steps. 2. What does it mean to be beatified? to give a dead person a title of honor for being very good and holy Stanza 1 1 Presumably‚ what has been said to the speaker
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