John Donne:The Erotic Preacher? Questions on Holy Sonnet 14:Batter My Heart

[firebutterfly07]

I'm writing a paper on John Donne for my english class and I was hoping to get some feedback. The poem that we are analyzing is Holy Sonnet 14: Batter My Heart. Now, John Donne, having a doctorate of divinity was a great motivational preacher for his time, but also a great poet. I find it increasingly interesting as I read through his works how many of his spiritual poems are erotic, and how many of his erotic poems are spritiual. In my paper I am going to be focusing on him as a metaphysical writer, but formost in the context of his eroticism and how that mixed with his content as a preacher. If anyone can offer any links or ideas, I would be eternally grateful. If you think that I could write a better essay with a different focus on John Donne, please let me know, I'll be more that happy to consider it. Also, if you have any commentary/analysis on Holy Sonnet 14 I would looooove to hear opinions! THANKS SO MUCH!

[ShoutGrace]

Batter My Heart is such an interesting sonnet. If you read this poem to anybody, censuring the first line, and they discerned that it had a religious aspect, they'd be off the mark.

In my paper I am going to be focusing on him as a metaphysical writer, but formost in the context of his eroticism and how that mixed with his content as a preacher.

I couldn't think of a better example as far as this is concerned.

Do you know when his erotic poetry was written, in comparision with his divine, or holy poetry? How much overlap there was, etc?

[ShoutGrace]

Oh, I forgot to even make a pretense of helping, sorry.

Here is a link to an essay concerning sonnet 14, from The Luminarium:

http://www.geocities.com/milleldred/...ysonnet14.html


Be sure to tell us what you think of it.

[WriterAtTheSea]

"Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me."

Brilliantly written...His aesthetic presentation of the relationships in this poem are off the charts. The imagery is so intensely thought provoking.