Holy Sonnets

The Holy Sonnets and other Poems by John Donne (1572-1631) as well as the post-modern theatrical production “W;T” by Margaret Edson (1995) explore the enduring themes of the human condition, such as the mortality of man, and the interpersonal bonds that define humanity. These themes manifest in a religious context through Donne’s English Renaissance (1590 – 1710) due to the Calvinist beliefs of his time; such as life after death and an intrinsic potential for human bonds to be spiritual and transcend the physical. On the other hand, Edson’s 20th century society has moved away from these beliefs and onto scientific data and nihilism, espousing instead post-modern literary movements such as Beckett, whom used absurdist performances to comment…

“Holy Sonnet XIV” by John Donne describes the desperate want but incredible difficulty of reaching God. Through figurative language such as imagery, alliteration, and simile, the author is able to convey that despite the difficulty, it is possible to be close to God by fully submitting oneself to him. Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of successive words to provide rhythm and emphasis for readers. In line 4, the speaker asks for God to “break, burn, [and] blow”…

I am writing this letter to you because of your poem Holy Sonnet 10. Your poem has made me rethink my opinions, and gain a completely new perspective on Death. When I first read your poem, I was confused by it’s meaning and began to do my own research on it. Later I discovered it’s true meaning, which shocked me, and thus I am writing a letter to you because of how it has changed me and what my reaction to it was. As you wrote in your poem, “Death be not proud, though some have called thee…

In “Holy Sonnet 10,” Donne presents the idea that death has no power over human beings. Even though many people fear death, Donne believes our fears are irrational because death actually has no control over us. To get rid off such fears he may have, Donne bestows his argument and speaks out against death. He starts with an apostrophe, “Death, be not proud,”(l.1) in which he directly addresses death, a metaphysical thing that cannot respond to him, and makes this the subject of the rest of the…

Holy Sonnet 10: “Death be not proud,” poem is by John Donne published in 1609 most likely Petrarchan sonnet with using the iambic pentameter. Using the iambic meter makes the rhythm of the poem sound flow. Just looking and reading throughout the poem, a reader can assume that John Donne must have been a good talker. A reader can also assume that he must have been an aggressive argument maker by looking at a human title that he has. Donne was a preacher and he had many sermons throughout his life…

differences and similarities in Donne’s courtly sonnets and holy sonnet sequence, with reference to “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” and “Holy Sonnet XIV”. “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” depicts through various conceits and metaphors the theme of the bond between two lovers who are separated physically, but are not ready to sacrifice their relationship and passion due to the mere fact that they are separated by distance. This poem portrays the undying earthly love between two individuals…

The poem, "Holy Sonnet XIV" was written by John Donne and published in the year of 1633, two years after his death. Donne was born and raised as a Catholic, later becoming an Anglican cleric. The Christian faith is clearly reflected in his writings, and his "Holy Sonnet XIV", is a sinner's prayer to God. Through the utilization of diction use and literary devices such as allusion and imagery, Donne draws the audience into intimately experiencing the speaker's desperation, despair, and devotion…

Analysis of Holy Sonnets 7 The Holy Sonnets,7 by John Donne is a Petrarchan Sonnet, which is also an iambic pentameter. It’s end-rhyme scheme is abba abba cdcd ee, with variations in several lines. The poem consists of an octave and a sextet with a turn after line eight. After the basic information of this poem, I will illustrate several terms with examples found in it. As for the rhyme, full rhymes appear frequently at the end of lines, such as ‘space’ and ‘grace’. These full rhymes give the…

(13-16) In this poem, fire is representative of death and illness, as the fire is what is killing the woman he loves. Fire is mentioned again in Donne’s Holy Sonnet 7, From death, you numberless infinities
 Of souls, and to your scattered bodies go,
 All whom the flood did, and fire shall o'erthrow,
 All whom war, dearth, age, agues, tyrannies,
 Despair, law, chance, hath slain, and you whose eyes,
 Shall behold God, and never taste death's woe. (3-8) In this particular poem, although…

Human mortality. One would know that it is the primary term that usually categorizes death. But can we categorize the aspects of death into one group? When one thinks of human death, it is easy to perceive it in a negative light. But with the help of the three poems "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas, "Holy Sonnet X: Death Be Not Proud" by John Donne, and "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson, these selections highlight how death can have different…