Textuality » 4A Interacting
GBBredeon - A Valediction Forbidding Mourning
by - (2010-04-27)
Up to The Metaphysical Poets
A Valediction Forbidding Mourning is a song by John Donne.
First of all you have to analyse the title. Its translation is "Un invito che proibisce di lamentarsi".
The reader cannot immediately understand the situation because through the title he cannot imagine what the song may speak about.
While you are reading the text you can gradually realize the situation and the message that John Donne wants to convey.
A Valediction Forbidding Mourning is a love song. The poet speaks about two lovers that are separated. The speaking voice invites them to meld without making noise, without crying and without sighing.
In the first quatrain, which has an intoductory function, John Donne speaks about some men, called virtuous men, that die without noise and about some friends that hope they don't die. The poet wants to make a comparison between virtuous men who die without confusion and two lovers who are leaving each other. He underlines this concept: the two persons don't have to make noise because of their separation.
In the third quatrain the speaking voice refers to the Earth making another comparison. When the Earth moves you can see the effects. The word "trepidation" is very relevant because it is a feeling that you feel when you are not balanced or when something is unexpected.
In the fifth quatrain the poet speaks about his idea of love: "inter-assured of the mind, care less, eyes, lips and hands to miss". It means that there is another kind of love, that is better, for John Donne. As a matter of fact he underlines that only our minds can give us the certainty that our love will continue while we are distant each other.
In the seventh quatrain you find an other important comparison: the metaphor of the compass. John Donne compares the two lovers to the two feet of a compass. As a matter of fact they stay together but when one of them moves the other have to be stiff.
In the eigth quatrain the poet continues the description of the movement of the compass: "when the other far doth roam, it leans, and hearkens after it, and grows erect, as that comes home".
In the last quatrain John Donne concludes the song repeating again the comparison between the two lovers and the compass. This metaphor reassure them. He uses also the image of the "circle" to convey the perfection of this kind of love.
First of all you have to analyse the title. Its translation is "Un invito che proibisce di lamentarsi".
The reader cannot immediately understand the situation because through the title he cannot imagine what the song may speak about.
While you are reading the text you can gradually realize the situation and the message that John Donne wants to convey.
A Valediction Forbidding Mourning is a love song. The poet speaks about two lovers that are separated. The speaking voice invites them to meld without making noise, without crying and without sighing.
In the first quatrain, which has an intoductory function, John Donne speaks about some men, called virtuous men, that die without noise and about some friends that hope they don't die. The poet wants to make a comparison between virtuous men who die without confusion and two lovers who are leaving each other. He underlines this concept: the two persons don't have to make noise because of their separation.
In the third quatrain the speaking voice refers to the Earth making another comparison. When the Earth moves you can see the effects. The word "trepidation" is very relevant because it is a feeling that you feel when you are not balanced or when something is unexpected.
In the fifth quatrain the poet speaks about his idea of love: "inter-assured of the mind, care less, eyes, lips and hands to miss". It means that there is another kind of love, that is better, for John Donne. As a matter of fact he underlines that only our minds can give us the certainty that our love will continue while we are distant each other.
In the seventh quatrain you find an other important comparison: the metaphor of the compass. John Donne compares the two lovers to the two feet of a compass. As a matter of fact they stay together but when one of them moves the other have to be stiff.
In the eigth quatrain the poet continues the description of the movement of the compass: "when the other far doth roam, it leans, and hearkens after it, and grows erect, as that comes home".
In the last quatrain John Donne concludes the song repeating again the comparison between the two lovers and the compass. This metaphor reassure them. He uses also the image of the "circle" to convey the perfection of this kind of love.