John Donne By Will Appman and Kevin Conwell

Early Life of Donne ( ) Born in London in 1572 Roman Catholic Faith Studied at Oxford University (dropped out) Continued law studies in London, degree in 1596 Completed Spanish expeditions following education Also known for secular works

Work The Holy Sonnets- a collection of sonnets written by Donne Holy Sonnet 10 = Death Be Not Proud Sonnets famous for association with God Donne known secular works

And without further adeiu… We proudly present… Death Be Not Proud

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so, For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow, Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee, Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee doe goe, Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie. Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell, And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well, And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then; One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die. John Donne, published 1633

Explanation, lines i-iv i. DEATH be not proud –Apostrophe, or address to abstract figure –As preacher, Donne was famous for apostrophes –1 Corinthians 15:55- “O death, where thy sting?” i-ii. thou some have called thee mighty and dreadful, … thou art not so –Though many people fear Death, he is not powerful –People fear the unknown, not Death iii-iv. For those whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow, Die not. –Death can kill people by ending their mortal lives –Those people move on to an everlasting life, thwarting Death

Explanation of lines iv-vi iv. poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me. –Donne takes an unorthodox stance towards Death –Thou Donne may die, he too will have eternal life v-vi From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee, much pleasure, then from thee doe go –When people die, they seem to rest and sleep –Donne’s argument  enjoyable?

Explanation of lines vii-viii vii. And soonest our best men with thee do go –D–Donne recognizes that everyone must someday die Low point in middle of poem? viii. Rest their bones, and soules deliverie. –P–Physical bodies rest in peace –S–Souls move on to paradise

Explanation of ix-x ix. Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men –God appoints a certain time for everyone to die, not Death –Death is the true sufferer, as he has no purpose x. And dost thou with poyson, warre and sickness make us dwell –Death uses poison, war, and disease to kill people –These are brutal and unnecessary means of violence

Explanation lines xi-xii xi. And poppie, or charms can make us sleep as well –People have their own means of sleeping/dying –Death’s skills are obselete And better then thy stroake; why swell’st thou then –Our methods are more effective –Why should Death continue his work?

Explanation of lines xiii-xiv xiii. One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally –Though people die quickly, they soon wake in heaven –The eternal bliss of Paradise outweighs life on Earth xiv. And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die –In Heaven, Death cannot touch one’s spirit –Without purpose, Death meets his ultimate fate

The Duel

Additional analysis Donne continues mockery of Death Personification of Death makes him seem like the mortal being, while humans are the true immortals Utilization of paradox Use of metaphor Religious Allegories

Works Cited "John Donne." LitFinder Contemporary Collection. Detroit: Gale, LitFinder. Gale. NORTH ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 12 May "Donne, John ( )." DISCovering Authors. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, Student Resource Center - Bronze. Gale. North Allegheny Senior High School. 13 May < &tabID=T001&prodId=SRC- 3&docId=EJ &source=gale&srcprod=SRC S&userGroupName=pl2552&version=1.0>. “Explanation of: ‘Holy Sonnet 10’ by John Donne.” LitFinder Contemporary Collection. Detroit: Gale, LitFinder. Gale. NORTH ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 13 May