'Funeral , The' by John Donne


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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'it; except she meant that I
By this should know my pain,
As prisoners then are manacled, when they'are 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.


Editor 1 Interpretation

John Donne's Funeral Poetry: A Masterpiece of Metaphysical Poetry

When it comes to the poetry of John Donne, one cannot help but admire the masterly way in which he blends the personal and the universal in his works. His poems are filled with metaphysical conceits, paradoxes, and meditations on life, death, love, and religion. Donne's poetry is highly complex and intellectually stimulating, requiring the reader to engage with the text on multiple levels. His Funeral poems, in particular, are a testament to his poetic genius, as they explore the themes of mortality, grief, and the afterlife in a profound and moving way.

Context and Background

John Donne was a 17th-century English poet and preacher, known for his metaphysical poetry which was highly intellectual and complex. He was born in 1572 in London and was raised in a Roman Catholic family. Donne studied at Oxford University and then at Cambridge, but he never graduated from either institution. He converted to Anglicanism in his early thirties and was ordained a priest in 1615. Donne's poetry reflects his religious beliefs, as well as his personal experiences and emotions.

Donne's Funeral poems were written during a period of mourning, after the deaths of several close friends and family members. The poems are deeply personal and explore the theme of grief in a powerful way. The Funeral poems were published in 1633, two years after Donne's death, and are considered some of his most important works.

Analysis

Holy Sonnet VII: "At the round earth's imagined corners, blow"

In "Holy Sonnet VII," Donne imagines the Day of Judgment, when the dead will rise from their graves and face God's judgment. The poem is divided into three parts. In the first part, Donne describes the angels who will gather the souls of the dead from all corners of the earth. In the second part, he describes the trumpet that will sound to announce the Day of Judgment. In the third part, Donne addresses God directly, asking for mercy and forgiveness.

The poem's opening lines, "At the round earth's imagined corners, blow / Your trumpets, angels, and arise, arise!" immediately set the scene for the poem. The idea of the earth having "imagined corners" is a metaphysical conceit, which suggests that the earth is not a perfect sphere, but rather a shape that is imagined by humans. The word "blow" is repeated twice, creating a sense of urgency and excitement.

In the second part of the poem, Donne describes the trumpet that will sound to announce the Day of Judgment. He uses a series of images to describe the sound of the trumpet, including "ravished" and "ravished with what your tone doth say." These images suggest that the sound of the trumpet will be overwhelming, powerful, and all-encompassing.

In the third part of the poem, Donne addresses God directly, asking for mercy and forgiveness. He describes himself as "a prisoner long detained," suggesting that he has been waiting for this moment for a long time. Donne's use of the word "prisoner" is significant, as it suggests that he feels trapped and confined by his mortality. He asks God to forgive him for his sins, saying "I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun / My last thread, I shall perish on the shore." This line is a reference to the myth of the Fates, who spin the thread of life and cut it when a person dies.

A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning

"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" is one of Donne's most famous poems. It was written as a farewell to his wife, Anne, who was going to be separated from him for a period of time. The poem is a meditation on the nature of true love and the connection between two people.

The poem opens with the lines "As virtuous men pass mildly away, / And whisper to their souls to go." These lines suggest that true love is virtuous and calm, and that it is something that exists between two souls. Donne goes on to use a series of metaphors to describe the nature of true love, including "gold to airy thinness beat," "stiff twin compasses," and "the fixed foot, makes no show / To move, but doth, if th' other do."

The extended metaphor of the compasses is particularly effective, as it suggests that true love is like a circle, with one person at the center and the other person moving around them. The idea of the compasses being "stiff" suggests that true love is unyielding and constant, despite the physical distance between the two people.

In the final stanza of the poem, Donne writes "Dull sublunary lovers' love / (Whose soul is sense) cannot admit / Absence, because it doth remove / Those things which elemented it." These lines contrast the idea of true love with the love of "dull sublunary lovers," who are motivated by physical attraction and sensation. Donne suggests that true love is not dependent on physical proximity, but rather on a deeper connection between two souls.

The Funeral

"The Funeral" is a relatively short poem, but it is one of Donne's most powerful works. The poem is a meditation on death and the afterlife, and it is filled with vivid imagery and metaphysical conceits.

The poem opens with the lines "Whoever comes to shroud me, do not harm / Nor question much / That subtle wreath of hair, which crowns my arm." These lines suggest that Donne is preparing for his own death, and that he wants to be left alone to die in peace. The image of the "subtle wreath of hair" is significant, as it suggests that Donne is not afraid of death, but rather sees it as a natural part of life.

In the second stanza of the poem, Donne describes the afterlife in vivid detail. He imagines himself "embalmed" in the earth, and suggests that his body will become part of the natural world. He writes "And when thou shalt have made me full / Of flowers and of epitaphs, make me a grave / Where I may rest." These lines suggest that Donne wants to be remembered, but he also wants to be a part of nature, and to return to the earth.

In the final stanza of the poem, Donne writes "And I shall find some spacious place / Both in the bosom of my God, and in the bosoms of my friends." These lines suggest that Donne believes in an afterlife, and that he will be reunited with his loved ones in heaven. The idea of finding a "spacious place" in the bosom of God is a powerful image, and it suggests that Donne sees death as a release from the physical world, and a return to a spiritual realm.

Conclusion

Overall, John Donne's Funeral poetry is a masterful exploration of the themes of mortality, grief, and the afterlife. His use of complex metaphysical conceits, paradoxes, and meditations on life and death are both intellectually stimulating and emotionally moving. Donne's poetry is a testament to his poetic genius, and his works continue to inspire and engage readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Donne’s “The Funeral” is a classic poem that explores the themes of death, grief, and the afterlife. Written in the 17th century, the poem is a reflection of Donne’s own experiences with death and loss, and his thoughts on the nature of mortality.

The poem is structured as a series of elegies, or funeral poems, that are addressed to various individuals who have died. Each elegy is a meditation on the nature of death and the afterlife, and a reflection on the life of the deceased.

The first elegy is addressed to the deceased person, and begins with the lines “Whoever comes to shroud me, do not harm / Nor question much / That subtle wreath of hair, which crowns my arm”. These lines suggest that the speaker is aware of his impending death, and is preparing for his own funeral. The “subtle wreath of hair” is a reference to the custom of placing a lock of hair from the deceased person on their arm, as a symbol of remembrance.

The second elegy is addressed to the deceased person’s friends and family, and begins with the lines “He that hath found some fledged bird’s nest may know / At first sight, if the bird be flown”. These lines suggest that the speaker is comparing the death of the person to the flight of a bird from its nest. The speaker goes on to describe the grief of the deceased person’s loved ones, and offers words of comfort and consolation.

The third elegy is addressed to the deceased person’s soul, and begins with the lines “And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell / And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well”. These lines suggest that the speaker is questioning the nature of death, and the idea that the soul can be separated from the body. The speaker goes on to describe the afterlife, and the idea that the soul will be reunited with the body in the resurrection.

The fourth elegy is addressed to the deceased person’s body, and begins with the lines “Since I am coming to that holy room / Where, with thy choir of saints for evermore / I shall be made thy music”. These lines suggest that the speaker is anticipating his own death, and is looking forward to the afterlife. The speaker goes on to describe the beauty of the body, and the idea that it will be transformed in the resurrection.

The fifth elegy is addressed to the deceased person’s memory, and begins with the lines “I cannot hold my peace, there is a voice / Through me, that will be heard”. These lines suggest that the speaker is compelled to speak about the deceased person, and to honor their memory. The speaker goes on to describe the life of the deceased person, and the impact that they had on those around them.

The final elegy is addressed to the deceased person’s friends and family, and begins with the lines “Sleep on, brave soul, / And let the rest betake the like repose”. These lines suggest that the speaker is offering words of comfort and consolation to the deceased person’s loved ones, and encouraging them to find peace in the knowledge that the deceased person is now at rest.

Overall, “The Funeral” is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of death, grief, and the afterlife. Through its elegies, the poem offers a meditation on the nature of mortality, and a reflection on the life of the deceased. It is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience, and to offer solace and comfort in times of loss and grief.

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