John Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud” and Anne Finch’s “To Death” personify the abstraction of death through their manipulation of apostrophe and figurative language. Their vivid descriptions extend beyond a mere conversation with death, revealing their inner thoughts toward the inevitable demise of every human. Though examining the same theme, Donne and Finch develop vastly different tones. Donne’s tone of defiance juxtaposes Finch’s tone of resignation, cultivating these through the use of apostrophe and figurative language.
Manipulation of apostrophe creates Donne’s tone of defiance and Finch’s contrasting tone of resignation. Donne’s poem directly addresses death, his voice marked with defiance. Proclaiming, “One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
Manipulation of apostrophe creates Donne’s tone of defiance and Finch’s contrasting tone of resignation. Donne’s poem directly addresses death, his voice marked with defiance. Proclaiming, “One short sleep past, we wake eternally,