The Dream, by John Donne, is a poem that is filled with passionate diction, syntax, and figurative language along with a tender tone meant to convey the almost celestial feelings Donne has for his lover.
…show more content…
the poet wants to stand out. These four-syllable statements include ?It was a theme? and the most powerful, ?Thou art not thou?, when he initially becomes dubious of his lover?s intentions. This line, which reinforces the ambiguity of the dream-state, is also a paradox, among others. To accentuate the sudden outbursts of pleasure and overwhelming emotion, Donne employs the ABBA end rhyme scheme ?Dear love, for nothing less than thee/Would I have broke this happy dream, /It was a theme/For reason, much too strong for fantasy?. The last line of a poem is always full of the most meaning, and Donne delivers this concluding line with a hyperbole of death and a period to signify finality: ?Will dream that hope again, but else would …show more content…
Donne compares his lover to an angel, which would be considered a religious allusion constructed during his religious phase in life, yet the almost erotic undertones imply that the poem was written in his earlier years. ?(For thou lovest truth) an angel, at first sight,?(l.14). Donne was saying that he was having a dream about his lover, who accidentally woke him up with her angelic presence, but instead of being ?woken up? from his dream, the lover merely continued it(another paradox). This path of action is shown in the following quotes: ?My dream thou brok?st not, but continued?st it?Not to dream all my dream, let?s act the rest.?(ll.5-10). This line also maintains the youthfulness and sensuality of the poem, by adding a playfulness to what could be a very serious and chaste work. Donne continues to attribute his lover?s presence to the fact that she somehow knew that he would be elated just by her being there ??when thou knew?st when excess of joy would wake me,?. Although Donne is still comparing his lover to an angel, it is almost with an insubordinate tone. The tone itself is a paradox, because while he is blatantly stating that he is impervious to her love, even while asleep, he is also slightly condemning her for taking his private emotions into her own hands and toying with them at her
the poet wants to stand out. These four-syllable statements include ?It was a theme? and the most powerful, ?Thou art not thou?, when he initially becomes dubious of his lover?s intentions. This line, which reinforces the ambiguity of the dream-state, is also a paradox, among others. To accentuate the sudden outbursts of pleasure and overwhelming emotion, Donne employs the ABBA end rhyme scheme ?Dear love, for nothing less than thee/Would I have broke this happy dream, /It was a theme/For reason, much too strong for fantasy?. The last line of a poem is always full of the most meaning, and Donne delivers this concluding line with a hyperbole of death and a period to signify finality: ?Will dream that hope again, but else would …show more content…
Donne compares his lover to an angel, which would be considered a religious allusion constructed during his religious phase in life, yet the almost erotic undertones imply that the poem was written in his earlier years. ?(For thou lovest truth) an angel, at first sight,?(l.14). Donne was saying that he was having a dream about his lover, who accidentally woke him up with her angelic presence, but instead of being ?woken up? from his dream, the lover merely continued it(another paradox). This path of action is shown in the following quotes: ?My dream thou brok?st not, but continued?st it?Not to dream all my dream, let?s act the rest.?(ll.5-10). This line also maintains the youthfulness and sensuality of the poem, by adding a playfulness to what could be a very serious and chaste work. Donne continues to attribute his lover?s presence to the fact that she somehow knew that he would be elated just by her being there ??when thou knew?st when excess of joy would wake me,?. Although Donne is still comparing his lover to an angel, it is almost with an insubordinate tone. The tone itself is a paradox, because while he is blatantly stating that he is impervious to her love, even while asleep, he is also slightly condemning her for taking his private emotions into her own hands and toying with them at her