Key Terms: Main points: Significant quotes: Hyperbole- a far-reaching exaggeration Metaphysical- coined by Jon Dryden: poets sought to explain abstract concepts in order to make sense of the world. Conceit- A form of extended metaphor. A scholarly comparison between two things. Syllogism- A form of cyclic reasoning used in philosophy.
Sonnet- lyric poetry with a 14-line structure. Paradox- A statement which initially seems absurd but on closer examination proves to be true and logical. Critical response: Ben Johnson criticised Donne’s work for being ‘over intellectual’. Leishman claimed that Donne’s best work had a balance of intellect and passion. T.
S. Eliot praised Donne for being able to play around with and idea like a cat plays with a mouse. Context: (1572-1631) – time of Elizabeth I and James I An age of geniuses: Ben Johnson, Donne, Newton, Shakespeare. o The poetry before Donne ect, was extremely flowery o Learning during the period was valued as were culture and the arts. Personal: o Fierce and staunch catholic o Persona of Jack Donne – At (31) Married Anne Moore (17) without her father’s permission.
– At (42) converted to the Church of England for professional success. Busi e old fool e, unruly Sunne, Why dost thou thus, – The Sunne Rising The way in which the speaker address the sun, incredibly revered in Donne’s time, shows a blasphemous attitude. All honor’s mimi que; All wealth alchemie. – The Sunne Rising All wealth is counterfeit compared to the wealth of their relationship. ‘Alchemie’- a reference to scientific fields.
The Essay on Donne Donne Sunne Rising
John Donne's poetry John Donne's finest achievements can be found in his love poetry. The Sunne Rising, A valediction Forbidding Mourning and The Relique are three examples of this. Whether speaking directly or indirectly to his subject, in each of the poems, Donne describes his love for his lady. He does this using personification, metaphors, rhetorical devices and many other techniques to ...
Batter my heart, three person’d God; – Batter my heart Immediately sets the tone for the piece- a remorseful cry to God. Take mee to you, imprison mee, – Batter my heart The speaker is begging God to kidnap him from the state of unholiness he is now in. – There is nothing Donne can do to get into heaven, he needs God to help him. Guardian angeles doe – The Relique Donne and his mistress loved in an order so high it was likened to that of Guardian angels. Our hands ne ” er touch the seales, – The Relique ‘seales’- social conventions. Donne’s wife was only 17 when they married..
