John Donne Poetry
'The Flea'
Conceit- the flea symbolizes their union, Carpe Diem- seduction poem, Religious connotations to further his argument, Imperative and colloquial, Rhyming couplets (the two lovers) and Rhyming triplets (holy trinity)
Holy Sonnet XI - Spit in my face you jews
Harsh opening, This sonnet follows the typical Donne rhyme scheme abba abba cdcd ee, donne wants to suffer like christ, his own death wouldn't save him. Finally, in the last four lines, Donne develops a comparison between Jacob (in his rebellious early life) and God. The final two lines deliver conclusion: God took on human form so that he would be frail enough to suffer the pains deserved by mortal men.
'The Sun Rising'
Imperative and absurd,Apostrophe- the inanimate object being personified end focus - the lovers are special and don't have to conform to the suns time, Microcosm of the universe, Aubade- lovers having to part ways ( Romeo and Juliet Act3 Scene5)
Holy Sonnet XIX O to vex me
Inconstancy with the voices relationship with god, he is inconstant and confused paradox, 4 humour language, the final couplet concludes that His faith is sealed, and now he can await the call to Heaven.
Twicknam Garden
Marvell's 'The Garden' uses similar imagery, trying to cure his lovesickness, two sides of love the spider and serpent. the garden of eden imagery. hyperbole third stanza of unreciprocated love, dramatic
'The Anniversary'
Regular Rhyme scheme, themes of immortality and momento mori, Royal lexis - contrasting the images of the sun(nature), to encompass the highest points in the world. Focuses on the immaterial and spiritual over physical- similar to Holy Sonnet X where Donne refers to the eternal life of the soul.
'Woman's constancy'
Rhetorical questions highlight sarcasm and bitterness as well as male vulnerability. Dramatic monologue- directly addressing the woman.Humour and paradox towards the end of the poem. Astrology and mutability in the renaissance era.
Holy Sonnet XVII: Since she whom I loved
The first two quatrains depict how the lyrical voice, having loved his wife, seeks and finds the love of God after her death. The sestet presents the volta, in the poem. The voice presents God as a jealous lover who fears that he will be tempted away by someone or something else. The rhyme in the first part of the poem is made with dental consonants, 'd' and 't', in order to establish harder sounds. These create abrupt noises that can relate to the abruptness of the death of the loved one
Holy Sonnet XVIII show me dear christ
The controlling metaphor in this sonnet features the relationship between a husband (Christ) and a wife (Christ's church of teachings and followers). he speaker also wants to know if Christ's tenants are self-evident and contain both truth and errors. He also asks if they are both "new" and worn-out. erotic and courtly imagery, paradox
'A valediction of weeping'
Water imagery- natural love, weeping, Circular imagery - united, perfect circle, Conceit- what gives worth to the tears is the love with which they are made, Exploration context, Astrological imagery - microcosm, the love is more powerful than the moon, their love can destroy them both.
'Farewell to love'
awareness and remorse at his seemingly insatiable sexual appetite. He no longer wishes for just flesh and he tries to stay way from these beauties. Humor and sexual connotations. Fixed and constant rhyme scheme - always in the background like his sexual thoughts.
'Love's Alchemy'
complex argument with the discourse markers, claims those who believe they know what love is are liars
The dissolution
journey through grief, elements 'ashes to ashes',him missing her makes him stronger
Holy Sonnet III - O might those sighs and tears return again
self-judgement, rhetorical balance, paradox,
Love's Deity
speaks to the love god, donne is in love with a woman who doesn't love him, iambic pentameter with constant rhyme scheme, god imagery shows how powerless he is over love.
The Funeral
witty ending, the woman controls his mind and body,