MB UNIUD

JOHN DONNE - SONNET 10

Read the first two lines and the last line of the sonnet.

1. Who is the poem addressed to?

The poem is addressed to Death

2. What is the introductory statement? Do you find it unusual?

The introductory statement is in my opinion very unusual to find in a sonnet: people must not to be afraid about Death.

3. What is the final statement? Is it truthful or absurd?

The final statement tells Death that she will die. This statement is truthful if you place it into Christian culture, where people believe in life after death. For all the rest of men it can be considered absurd.

Consider how the poet sets out to prove the unimportance of death.

a) Here is a list of arguments; they are in random order. Number them in the order they appear in the sonnet and quote the lines.

1. Death falsely believes that it can kill people (lines 3-4)

2. Death has repulsive companions (line 5)

3. Death is a pleasurable experience, not a painful one (line 6)

4. The best of human kind desire death (lines 7-8)

5. Death has no control over events and people (lines 9-10)

6. Sleeping potions can make people sleep better than death (lines 11-12)

7. Christians are promised eternal life (lines 12-13)

b) Which of the arguments above do you think are offered in a playful tone and cannot be accepted unconditionally?

I think arguments 3 and 4 cannot be accepted unconditionally, because every different person lives death in a different way: sometimes it can be a relief, but it also causes pain.

Focus on the structure of the sonnet and its language.

1. Write down the rhyme scheme. Is the structure of the Italian or of the English sonnet?

RHYME SCHEME: ABBA ABBA CDDC EF

It is the structure of the Elizabethan sonnet: it is organized into three quatrains and a final couplet.

2. Point out run-on lines. Do breaks in syntax coincide with the end of lines and/or quatrains?

Breaks in syntax don't always coincide with the end of lines and/or quatrains:

Lines 5-6: From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,

Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow

Lines 11-12: And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well

And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?

Answer the questions below without looking back at the two poems.

1. I fixe mine eye on thine: Who is speaking to whome?

The poet is speaking to his lover. (Whitchcraft by a picture)

2. My picture drown'd in a... teare: Who is crying? Why?

The lady does, because the poet is leaving.

3. Hadst thou the wicked skill: Which word rhymes with skill and justifies the use of wicked?

The word kill rhymes with skill and justifies the use of the adjective wicked.

4. My picture vanish'd, vanish feares: Who feares what? How can feares vanish?

The poet feares to feel guilty forever because of he is departing. Feares can vanish with the passing of time.

5. Though thou retaine of mee one picture more: Is the picture tangible? Where does it lie?

The picture lies in the lady's heart so it is not tangible because the poet says from the malice free.

6. Die not, poor Death: Who won't die?

People Death thinks she can kill won't die.

7. With thee do go: Who goes with Death?

The best men go with Death and their bones will rest and their soul will be free.

8. One short sleep past: What happens afterwards?

After a short sleep, people wake eternally.