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John Donne


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John Donne (1572-1631) was the most outstanding of the English Metaphysical Poets and a churchman famous for his spellbinding sermons.

Donne was born in London to a prominent Roman Catholic family but converted to Anglicanism during the 1590s. At the age of 11 he entered the University of Oxford, where he studied for three years. According to some accounts, he spent the next three years at the University of Cambridge but took no degree at either university. He began the study of law at Lincoln's Inn, London, in 1592, and he seemed destined for a legal or diplomatic career. Donne was appointed private secretary to Sir Thomas Egerton, Keeper of the Great Seal, in 1598. His secret marriage in 1601 to Egerton's niece, Anne More, resulted in his dismissal from this position and in a brief imprisonment. During the next few years Donne made a meager living as a lawyer.

Donne's principal literary accomplishments during this period were Divine Poems (1607) and the prose work Biathanatos (c. 1608, posthumously published 1644), a half-serious extenuation of suicides, in which he argued that suicide is not intrinsically sinful. Donne became a priest of the Anglican Church in 1615 and was appointed royal chaplain later that year. In 1621 he was named dean of St. Paul's Cathedral. He attained eminence as a preacher, delivering sermons that are regarded as the most brilliant and eloquent of his time.

Donne's poetry embraces a wide range of secular and religious subjects. He wrote cynical verse about inconstancy, poems about true love, Neoplatonic lyrics on the mystical union of lovers' souls and bodies and brilliant satires and hymns depicting his own spiritual struggles. The two "Anniversaries" - "An Anatomy of the World" (1611) and "Of the Progress of the Soul" (1612)--are elegies for 15-year-old Elizabeth Drury.

Whatever the subject, Donne's poems reveal the same characteristics that typified the work of the metaphysical poets: dazzling wordplay, often explicitly sexual; paradox; subtle argumentation; surprising contrasts; intricate psychological analysis; and striking imagery selected from nontraditional areas such as law, physiology, scholastic philosophy, and mathematics.

Donne's prose, almost equally metaphysical, ranks at least as high as his poetry. The Sermons, some 160 in all, are especially memorable for their imaginative explications of biblical passages and for their intense explorations of the themes of divine love and of the decay and resurrection of the body. Devotions upon Emergent Occasions (1624) is a powerful series of meditations, expostulations, and prayers in which Donne's serious sickness at the time becomes a microcosm wherein can be observed the stages of the world's spiritual disease.

Obsessed with the idea of death, Donne preached what was called his own funeral sermon, "Death's Duel" just a few weeks before he died in London on March 31, 1631.

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Recent Forum Posts on John Donne

Song by John Donne

Recently, I read John Donne's Song: go and catch a falling star. Personally, I think Donne launched an attack on women's infidelity which was a commonly believed quality found in women at that time. but my teacher said that the theme of the poem rests on the last lines of the first stanza, " and find, what wind, serves to advance an honest mind". He said that Donne meant to criticise the social customs or manners of his time. Then, if so, what is the point of the next to stanzas which focus on women's inconsistancy? Do we really need to find out something serious or morally instructive in every poem? Couldn't one just assume the poem as a mere expression of the poet's thought? Can anyone give me some advice? Thank you very much.

Posted By edgarcsp at Wed 8 Oct 2008, 1:44 AM in Donne, John || 0 Replies

Please help with Donne's Negative Love

I'm listening to Philip Adams' Harmonium (choir and orchestra) where a huge first chunk is setting this poem (see below) to music. I have no idea what this means, so I have signed up to this board in the hope that someone who is used to reading poems can explain? There was a quick Q+A about this 4 years ago on this board, but the two answers given there tell me nothing. For example: Who are "they Which on an eye, cheek, lip, can prey"? All I can think of is having one's face bothered by buzzing flies, a common occurence in, say, Australia. But what's this about "soaring higher than virtue, or the mind to admire?" What's "higher than virtue" and Admire what? "My love, though silly, is more brave" - why silly, and braver than what? And so it goes - right to the end ("I cannot miss" - miss what?) I'm totally baffled and hence the music makes less sense to me than it probably could or should. (Great recording! On ECM Records). Many thanks NEGATIVE LOVE. by John Donne I NEVER stoop'd so low, as they Which on an eye, cheek, lip, can prey ; Seldom to them which soar no higher Than virtue, or the mind to admire. For sense and understanding may Know what gives fuel to their fire ; My love, though silly, is more brave ; For may I miss, whene'er I crave, If I know yet what I would have. If that be simply perfectest, Which can by no way be express'd But negatives, my love is so. To all, which all love, I say no. If any who deciphers best, What we know not—ourselves—can know, Let him teach me that nothing. This As yet my ease and comfort is, Though I speed not, I cannot miss.

Posted By Ignoramus at Tue 26 Aug 2008, 10:51 PM in Donne, John || 2 Replies

What does Donne's "Undertaking" signify?!

Reading this poem I got confused about the details Donne wants to explain. I think he tries to represent a different kind of love, but what is it that should be hidden from others? Does he refer to the love without cosidering He or She. What does this signify? I have problem about the details and I cannot explain why he uses such metaphors or conceit. Can anybody help me interpreting this poem? I HAVE done one braver thing Than all the Worthies did ; And yet a braver thence doth spring, Which is, to keep that hid. It were but madness now to impart The skill of specular stone, When he, which can have learn'd the art To cut it, can find none. So, if I now should utter this, Others—because no more Such stuff to work upon, there is— Would love but as before. But he who loveliness within Hath found, all outward loathes, For he who color loves, and skin, Loves but their oldest clothes. If, as I have, you also do Virtue in woman see, And dare love that, and say so too, And forget the He and She ; And if this love, though placèd so, From profane men you hide, Which will no faith on this bestow, Or, if they do, deride ; Then you have done a braver thing Than all the Worthies did ; And a braver thence will spring, Which is, to keep that hid.

Posted By sofia82 at Tue 27 May 2008, 1:34 AM in Donne, John || 0 Replies

John Donne

Hi there. I've been studying Donne's poetry and I like to discuss his poems with you who are interested in Donne's poetry. I start this discussion by "The Good-Morrow" THE GOOD-MORROW. I WONDER by my troth, what thou and I Did, till we loved ? were we not wean'd till then ? But suck'd on country pleasures, childishly ? Or snorted we in the Seven Sleepers' den ? 'Twas so ; but this, all pleasures fancies be ; If ever any beauty I did see, Which I desired, and got, 'twas but a dream of thee. And now good-morrow to our waking souls, Which watch not one another out of fear ; For love all love of other sights controls, And makes one little room an everywhere. Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone ; Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown ; Let us possess one world ; each hath one, and is one. My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears, And true plain hearts do in the faces rest ; Where can we find two better hemispheres Without sharp north, without declining west ? Whatever dies, was not mix'd equally ; If our two loves be one, or thou and I Love so alike that none can slacken, none can die.

Posted By sofia82 at Sat 24 May 2008, 3:02 AM in Donne, John || 5 Replies

Whats so good about Donne's writing style?

I was wondering what you guys think is the best aspect, or what are the best qualities of Donne's writing? Please be thorough, i wanna know all the details.

Posted By mn9500 at Mon 7 Apr 2008, 8:31 PM in Donne, John || 0 Replies

Donne Poetry

Well I am not that good at poetry, as I can never seem to understand the meaning :confused: So I was wondering if anyone who is gifted in this field could help me out with some notes or overall summary of the following poem. Please keep in mind you are NOT doing my work for me. I am supposed to prepare an oral presentation about this poem and explain it to the class. Also we were instructed to do some research as long as we are not looking for the paraphrased version of the poem. Thus your help is perfectly fine. Also please only post if you have something meaningful. Donne. The Undertaking.

Posted By meemipod at Wed 27 Feb 2008, 4:48 PM in Donne, John || 1 Reply

Three sonnets comparison

Hi, i need a comparison of three sonnets of John Donne, they're Batter My Heart, Song and The Sun Rising. Could anyone try to post an analysis and comparison between these three sonnets? Thanks

Posted By toketin at Fri 1 Feb 2008, 7:44 AM in Donne, John || 0 Replies

John Donne - Twicknam Garden

Hello everyone! :) I'm currently studying AS Level English Literature, focusing on the poetry of John Donne at the moment. We have each been assigned a poem to read and make a powerpoint on the language and symbolism in the poem. I was given Twicknam Garden...but I am really really struggling to make sense of it! I've got so far as to realise that it's a love poem to a woman who is faithful to her husband, and the biblical references... but I need specific examples of language techniques etc etc. I'm finding it really hard to do, any help would be much appreciated!!! Thanks! Laura x

Posted By laura3007 at Sun 27 Jan 2008, 7:18 AM in Donne, John || 0 Replies

The sun rising by John Donne

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Posted By Albus Dumbledore at Sun 7 Oct 2007, 4:17 AM in Donne, John || 6 Replies

John Donne's "The Funeral"

I've just been recently introduced to John Donne's poetry, and I'm enjoying it. ^_^ He's actually inspired me to start writing poetry again. But in reading his latest poem, I'm a little stuck. "The Funeral" baffles the heck out of me. I get the theme of love and death, but it's a little confusing with the whole spinal cord thing. Someone please help me. It's killing me that I don't get it. Take a look for yourself. This is it: The Funeral WHOEVER comes to shroud me, do not harm, Nor question much, That subtle wreath of hair, which crowns my arm ; The mystery, the sign, you must not touch ; For 'tis my outward soul, Viceroy to that, which then to heaven being gone, Will leave this to control And keep these limbs, her provinces, from dissolution. For if the sinewy thread my brain lets fall Through every part Can tie those parts, and make me one of all, Those hairs which upward grew, and strength and art Have from a better brain, Can better do 't ; except she meant that I By this should know my pain, As prisoners then are manacled, when they're condemn'd to die. Whate'er she meant by it, bury it with me, For since I am Love's martyr, it might breed idolatry, If into other hands these relics came. As 'twas humility To afford to it all that a soul can do, So 'tis some bravery, That since you would have none of me, I bury some of you.

Posted By Hydrangea at Fri 28 Sep 2007, 10:10 AM in Donne, John || 1 Reply

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