poetry essay death be not proud

Death, be not proud Summary & Analysis by John Donne

Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
Poetic Devices
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Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
Line-by-Line Explanations

“Holy Sonnet 10,” often referred to by its opening line (“Death, be not proud”), was written by the English poet and Christian cleric John Donne in 1609 and first published in 1633. The poem is a direct address to death, arguing that it is powerless because it acts merely as a “short sleep” between earthly living and the eternal afterlife—in essence, death is nothing to fear. The sonnet is written mostly in iambic pentameter and is part of a series known as Donne's " Holy Sonnets "(or “Divine Meditations”/ “Divine Sonnets”). In keeping with these other poems, “Holy Sonnet 10” is a devotional lyric that looks at life’s biggest questions in the context of Donne’s religious beliefs.

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The Full Text of “Holy Sonnet 10: Death, be not proud”

1 Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

2 Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

3 For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow

4 Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

5 From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,

6 Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,

7 And soonest our best men with thee do go,

8 Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.

9 Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,

10 And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,

11 And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well

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

13 One short sleep past, we wake eternally

14 And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

“Holy Sonnet 10: Death, be not proud” Summary

“holy sonnet 10: death, be not proud” themes.

The Powerlessness of Death

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Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “Holy Sonnet 10: Death, be not proud”

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,

Lines 11-12

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?

“Holy Sonnet 10: Death, be not proud” Symbols

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“Holy Sonnet 10: Death, be not proud” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

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Alliteration

Personification, “holy sonnet 10: death, be not proud” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

Think'st
Swell'st
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Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Holy Sonnet 10: Death, be not proud”

Rhyme scheme, “holy sonnet 10: death, be not proud” speaker, “holy sonnet 10: death, be not proud” setting, literary and historical context of “holy sonnet 10: death, be not proud”, more “holy sonnet 10: death, be not proud” resources, external resources.

A Clip from Wit — A clip from the film version of Wit, a play by Margaret Edson. The two lead characters discuss the punctuation of Donne's sonnet.

A Reading by John Gielgud — A reading by the influential actor and theater director, John Gielgud.

Britten's "Death, be not proud" — English composer Benjamin Britten set a number of Donne's "Holy Sonnets" to music. Here is a performance of "Death, be not proud."

The Holy Sonnets — A link to the entire "Holy Sonnets" series (based on the Westmoreland manuscript).

LitCharts on Other Poems by John Donne

A Hymn to God the Father

Air and Angels

A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning

A Valediction: Of Weeping

Elegy V: His Picture

Holy Sonnet 14: Batter my heart, three-person'd God

Holy Sonnet 1: Thou hast made me, and shall thy work decay?

Holy Sonnet 6: This is my play's last scene

Holy Sonnet 7: At the round earth's imagined corners

Hymn to God My God, in My Sickness

No Man Is an Island

Song: Go and catch a falling star

The Apparition

The Canonization

The Good-Morrow

The Sun Rising

The Triple Fool

To His Mistress Going to Bed

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Poetry Analysis: ‘Death Be Not Proud’ by John Donne

Death be not proud.

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery. Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then? One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more, death, thou shalt die.

—John Donne

John Donne (born January 22, 1572 – died March 31, 1631) shifted dramatically in his life: The early Donne was the passionate lover and rebel of sense; the later Donne, a man consumed with his own spiritual journey and search for truth.

Donne is known as the first and greatest of metaphysical poets—those of a genre in which “the most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together; nature and art are ransacked for illustrations, comparisons, and allusions,” as essayist and critic Samuel Johnson put it.

Here, Donne has taken a Romantic form and transformed a transcendental struggle of life and death into a quiet ending, one in which death “shall be no more.”

Where Johnson spied cumbersome force, Donne’s style dazzles with soft and calm brilliance, even in the cascade of calumnies against the great “equalizer” Death. “Fate, chance, kings and desperate men” are yoked together, not in bondage but in freedom, in their power to inflict and manipulate death at will. The panorama of life and legacy has overcome death time and again, yet Donne expounds the expansive exploitation of death in one verse.

It is the will of man that triumphs over the cessation of life, the will to believe in what cannot be seen, to dismiss “poor death” as mere “pictures” compared to the substance of life infused with the Spirit.

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

No bragging rights for Death, according to the poet, who in the first two lines of his sonnet denounces in apostrophe the end of life, “not proud,” “not so.”

“Mighty and dreadful,” two weighty terms, do not belong nor confer any majesty on death. “Thou are not so.” A simple statement, a certain indictment, and the poet has dispensed with Death, who is ponderous, no preposterous for the previous fears His presence has impressed on mankind.

For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow? Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

In this neat conceit, Death himself is fooled, limited by the surface. “Thou think’st thou dost overthrow,” the monarch of destruction is an impoverished exile, removed forever more from the room of imperious prominence. “Poor death” is now the object of pity, the last enemy that will be thrown into the lake of fire.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.

The poet compares death not to a savage desecration, nor a fatal, final battle, but instead an extension of any easy rest, one from which a man receives “much pleasure.” ”Rest and sleep” as “pictures,” the poet condescendingly remarks, bring death into the secondary status of demeaning dimension. Men’s bones receive a welcome respite, and their soul the final delivery from this earth. Death has nothing to brag about, for death is put in comparison with rest, with sleep, with regenerative silence. Death does not catch the prey of frail men, but instead sets men free, and without fail.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well? And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?

Here, death as deemed a slave, a unique trope, one, which the poet fashions with wit and wisdom. “Fate” is far greater the force than the end of life which menaces many men. “Chance” is a game, a mere trifle, a toy which men gamble with, whether ending their fortunes or their lives. “Kings” put evil rebels, madmen, and threats to the state, to death. No one escapes the justice, the rule, the righteousness of the king, who even in passing, his dynasty passes on: “The King is dead. Long live the King!” is proclaimed from death to life, where the children of yesteryear become the rulers of today and the progenitors of the future. Death, mere bystander, ushers in the transitions of power.

As for the company of death, the poet outlines simply “poison,” natural or otherwise, which can slay a man in minutes or in hours. Poisons which have ended kings and queens, eradicated vermin and other pestilences, even drugs which prosper and prolong life began as poisons which in improper doses kill, and quickly.

Whether the vain ragings of craven men or glory on the battlefields, “war” covers a range of reigns and rights, ponderings and possibilities. Death is not even a scavenger, but a frustrated element pushed to the limit, expected to do the bidding of the common folk and the ruling elite, the final weapon which man overcomes even in being overcome. In war, where men die for country, they live forever in the memory of their countrymen, mocking Death who has aided their eternity.

“Sickness” is the necessary pause for men who cannot contain their passions, for the growing race of human beings who run the race with no thought to running out. Sickness is the crucial agent that brings a long and much-needed arrest to those who inflict harm on their bodies, who resist the bounds of natural appetite. Sickness also is the final sign, the moments when a man who departs knows well that his time is short, and so the stultifying stops of pains and coughs at least buy him time to say “good-bye.”

“Poppy or charms can make us sleep as well.” “As well” communicates “in comparison” and “in addition,” gaily sporting with the super-abounding grace of nature’s wonders, which man has contrived to ease his pain and quicken his rest. “Poppy” is a joyful word, a colorful, childlike flower winding away with careless wonder in the wind. “Charms,” whether magical or romantic, are bewitching and bewailing, at least for the one who has fallen beneath their spell. Sometimes, the simple charm of a smiling face suffices more, traced with the soft face of a poppy gladly handed to a loved one. And so, Death is outdone once again!

One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more, death, thou shalt die.

“Sleep” appears again, but not in conjunction with rest; instead, rest leads to life eternal, where man will no longer need to rest, fashioned as he will be in a body that does not age, that will never flag or fail, Donne decrees. Death is further impoverished, ruined, left desolate. Man in eternal life witnesses death succumbing to himself. “Death shall be no more,” the poet proudly yet dulcetly declares, not even bothering to speak to death. So certain, so final, so enriched with vigor, the poet then whispers, yet loudly of the import of the paradox: “Death, thou shalt die.”

Death dies, or is Death dying? What a wicked end, the poet has mocked, derided, denounced, and diminished death into a cruel joke, a maxim which maximizes the power of the man reborn, trusting in a higher power to infuse him with eternal life, forever inoculating him from the subtleties of war, poison, and sickness all. Fate is fated to disappear, chance has become certainty, kings of limited renown are dethroned, and desperate men now hope. “Death, thou shalt die.” Death is now bereft of pride, like a witless cowboy who has shot himself in the foot, powerless and wounded, and by his own stroke.

Donne indeed has done and dispensed with Death, and mortal man evermore may rejoice!

Arthur Christopher Schaper is an author and teacher who lives in Torrance, CA. He writes several blogs including Schaper’s Corner .

Originally published on The Epoch Times.

NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets.

The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.

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4 Responses

Here Poppy means opium I think Death is being compared to a mere rest and it need not be proud for both poppy and charms can bring a man rest and peace

John Donne has created, no doubt a masterpiece in English literature by writing Riding Westward . Great analysis.

Good analysis, but it was a huge stretch.

In general with all the poems on this website, I also want to know more about the authors that wrote them too.

By John Donne

‘Death, be not Proud’ by John Donne is one of the poet’s best poems about death. It tells the listener not to fear Death as he keeps morally corrupt company and only leads to Heaven.

He was the best of the metaphysical poets and is remembered for his skill with conceits.

Poem Analyzed by Allisa Corfman

Degree in Secondary Education/English and Teacher of World Literature and Composition

In this poem, the speaker affronts an enemy, Death personified . This enemy is one most fear, but in this sonnet , the speaker essentially tells him off. The way the speaker talks to Death reveals that he is not afraid of Death, and does not think that Death should be so sure of himself and so proud. The confident tone of ‘ Death, be not Proud ,’ and the direct confrontation of Death provides an ironic sense of comfort to the readers by implicitly suggesting that Death is not to be feared at all, but that in the end, Death will be overcome by something even greater.

Death, be not Proud (Holy Sonnet 10) Analysis

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

The speaker immediately creates a personified version of death by talking directly to him. He paints a picture of Death as an arrogant being, and one who needs to be humbled. The speaker assumes the position of the one who must humble this being, Death. He tells him that he ought not to be so proud, even though for generations people have feared Death and called him “mighty and dreadful”. The speaker, however, with a voice of absolute authority on the matter, simply states, “thou art not so”. This poet uses the literary tactic of “ apostrophe ” to drive home his point. Apostrophe occurs when a writer addresses a subject who cannot respond. Readers know immediately that this sonnet will consist of one speaker who will do all of the talking and accusing of his subject. Death, though adequately personified, cannot respond to the accusations of the speaker.

For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

Here in ‘ Death, be not Proud ‘, the speaker accuses the death of having illusions of grandeur. He claims that while Death thinks that he has the power to kill, he actually does not. The speaker first humbles Death by telling him that his idea that he has the power to overthrow lives is simply an illusion , and that he has no such power at all. Then, to further humiliate Death, the speaker calls him “Poor Death”. It sounds almost as if the speaker is making fun of Death for having lived under the illusion that he had any sort of power over life or death. Then, he addresses Death in a more personal manner, challenging him by saying, “yet canst thou kill me”. It seems dangerous for one to threaten death in this way. However, knowledge of John Donne’s background and ideologies can give some insight into the speaker’s confidence here. Though everyone knows that physical death does indeed occur, the speaker is challenging Death in a different way. He uses the Christian theology of eternity to taunt Death by telling him, essentially, “Even if you take my physical body, you can never truly kill me.”

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,

With these lines, the speaker compares death to “rest and sleep” and even uses the word “pleasure” to describe how one should feel about death. Just as a restful night of sleep brings pleasure, so should death. The speaker implies that sleep is simply a small glimpse of Death. Thus, there is nothing to fear in death, for death will bring something like a pleasurable sleep.

And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.

Here in ‘ Death, be not Proud ‘, the speaker says that the best men seem to experience death the soonest. While others have long questioned why it seems as if the best people die soonest, the speaker offers an answer here, suggesting that the best among men deserve to experience the peaceful rest of death sooner, without having to endure the agonies of a long life on the earth. The speaker describes Death as “rest of their bones” and “soul’s delivery”. Both of these descriptions make Death seem like a welcome friend who comes to graciously offer rest and peace and the deliverance of one’s soul from an earthly body where pain and suffering abide.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,

Here, the speaker takes on a stronger tone and begins to taunt Death with more ferocity than he did at first. Here, he calls Death a slave to “ chance , kings, and desperate men”. He tells Death that he is not mighty and dreadful, but rather a poor slave who cannot even act on his own but is driven not only by fate and chance, but also by people, rich and poor alike”. He then accuses Death of having lowly companions such as “poison, war, and sickness”. He has taunted Death, telling him that he is not to be feared, but rather that he is a slave to the will of fate and men, and that as a lowly slave, his companions are the even lowlier beings such as sickness and war. These accusations serve to allow the readers to feel a sense of power and victory over Death. The speaker certainly feels authority over Death, and he passes this feeling along to his readers when he puts Death in his place by talking down to him.

Lines 11-12

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?

The speaker continues to taunt Death, even more, saying that all he brings is a little sleep, and he doesn’t even do that as well as some other bringers of rest such as “poppy” or “charms”. This comparison further portrays Death as something not only weak, but even pleasurable. The speaker questions Death, asking “why swell’st thou then?” He is asking him why he is so puffed up with pride, when he cannot even do his job, as well as others, can.

Lines 13-14

One short sleep past, we wake eternally And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die

With these final lines of ‘ Death, be not Proud ‘, the speaker reveals exactly why he has been taunting death so relentlessly. Although it is obvious that Death is real, and that people who experience Death do not come back to earth, the speaker reveals his reasons for claiming that Death is weak and easily overcome. He claims that Death is only “one short sleep” and that those who experience Death “wake eternally”. Then, he claims that “death shall be no more”. Finally, he tells Death, “thou shalt die”. The speaker has not only told Death that he has no real power over anyone, but that he will experience the end of himself when all wake in eternity and death will be no more.

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This was actually super helpful. I missed the lecture for this poem, but this analysis was enough. Thanks!

Awesome – glad we could help!

what are all the devices?

If you read through the analysis our writer talks about some of the key literary devices used in the poem.

is it pronounced Schoology or Schoology? Somebody send me a video recording yourself saying Schoology? Send it through google drive preferably. Thanks in advance.

If it were me I’d just type, “how to pronounce Schoology” into Google and it comes up with the correct pronunciation.

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Corfman, Allisa. "Death, be not Proud (Holy Sonnet 10) by John Donne". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/john-donne/death-be-not-proud-holy-sonnet-10/ . Accessed 10 July 2024.

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The English writer and Anglican cleric John Donne is considered now to be the preeminent metaphysical poet of his time. He was born in 1572 to Roman Catholic parents, when practicing that religion was illegal in England. His work is distinguished by its emotional and...

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Home › Analysis of John Donne’s Death Be Not Proud

Analysis of John Donne’s Death Be Not Proud

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on July 7, 2020 • ( 1 )

While discussion continues over the order in which John Donne wrote the individual poems that compose his Holy Sonnets , the critic Helen Gardner has argued convincingly that Death Be Not Proud was published in 1633. Structured as a variant of the Italian, or Petrarchan sonnet, the poem’s rhyme scheme is abbaabbacddcee. Donne became popular while serving as the dean of St. Paul’s, writing and preaching sermons that also occupy an important position in his works. As one who tended to the spiritual life of others, he dealt regularly with death, and the sonnet probably reflects the theme of hope he attempted to pass to the grieved. He had two strict views about the soul. He believed it immortal by the will of God and believed that a virtuous soul is taken to heaven at the moment of death; it does not linger to arise with the body on the last day, described by the Bible as the day of reckoning.

Donne could turn to the Bible for a model in his opening apostrophe to death, which he personifies through figurative language: “Death be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so.” Christian tenets held that a person need fear death only when burdened by sin. Because Christ had assumed that burden during his own death by crucifixion then arose from that death state, humans who accepted him as their savior stood redeemed from sin. The King James Bible (1611) translation of 1 Corinthians 15:55–57 reads, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Donne could call on verses such as these to support his claim against the power of death. The sonnet’s third line continues the speaker’s direct address of Death, stating, “For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow, / Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.” By adopting a pitying attitude toward “poor death,” which cannot hurt true believers, the speaker co-opts the power that even the term death possesses to frighten humans.

Donne next adopts a familiar trope for death, that of sleep, one that Shakespeare used in Hamlet’s famous soliloquy that begins, “To be or not to be.” In his thoughts, Hamlet noted that death must offer an opportunity to men “perchance to dream.” However, because no communication from beyond the grave has ever occurred, he cannot be confident that his hope for a peaceful sleep will be fulfilled. Donne, however, has no doubts, as his speaker tells death, “From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, / Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow.” The poem’s persona remains completely and calmly convinced that death merely imitates a pleasurable sleep, and because it is long-lasting, humans will derive even more pleasure from death. The speaker even repeats the term much to convince his audience. When he acknowledges in the next lines that “soonest our best men with thee do go,” he describes that journey as rest for “their bones,” or flesh, but “delivery” for the soul, their spirit that will be released from its confines. This line concludes the first grouping of eight, which in the Italian sonnet propose a problem or issue. The secondary grouping of six lines will act as response.

Momentum in the final six lines gathers initially not only through Donne’s driving use of two series, but through the rising realization by the audience that death, indeed, is to be pitied. The speaker presses the idea of the reversal of power, with those in a position of strength, the humans, indulging in pity of death, which is weak. Death serves as merely one small part of a general plan of transitory earthly existence and attends humans only when circumstances determine. He acts as a slave, and as such, lacks any control over humans: “Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, / And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell.” Death keeps desperate company and draws no joy from his companions. The speaker makes clear that death’s power to promote sleep is nothing remarkable. It is shared by drugs concocted from nature by humans, as opium is derived from the poppy flower: “And poppy, or charms can make us sleep as well, / And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?” Not only can such drugs and “charms” help people sleep, they prove superior to death. Donne chides death as if he were a child, asking why he would swell with pride over power not exclusively his own. The final couplet brilliantly declares victory over death as a transitory state, as the speaker claims the promise of eternal life made by God to all Christians: “One short sleep past, we wake eternally, / And death shall be no more, Death thou shalt die.” Donne concludes with a stunning paradox, declaring that death shall suffer the only permanent destruction.

In the 1940s the American journalist John Gunther adopted Donne’s opening line, “Death be not proud,” as the title of what critics term an “illness narrative.” He wrote in memoir form about the 15-month fight with cancer and subsequent death of his teenage son. As Donne, he chose to believe that death proved only a beginning of life beyond that experienced by mortal humans. Donne’s sonnet remains popular into the 21st century, read often at funeral services and readily available in electronic and print form.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Gardner, Helen, ed. John Donne: The Divine Poems. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1969. Lancashire, Ian. “John Donne.” Representative Poetry on Line. The Department of English, University of Toronto. Available online. URL: http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/ poem658.html.

Death Be Not Proud

Background of the poem.

“Death, not be Proud” is written in England of the seventeenth century. It was the time when the British were expanding across the world. Also, it had been a time of great religious turmoil. Life at that time in England was uncertain, violent, and unstable. Donne was living in the time of the anti-Catholic environment. People were imprisoned for their Catholicism. They were killed as well. During that religious tension, Donne converted from Catholicism to Anglicanism. Later, he became a cleric. His religious experience and beliefs are the main subject of this poem.

Historical Context

At this tough time, the realism and optimism of John Donne’s poetry caught the attention of the seventeenth-century English public. Poems like “Death, be not Proud” got popular due to two main reasons. Firstly, the universal subject of death and the Christian concept of eternal life was appealing for the chaos stricken English society. Secondly, using written words as a source of communication made it possible to convey a message to all the sections of society.

Death Be Not Proud Summary

The speaker compares Death to rest and sleep. He calls them the other images of Death. He predicts Death to be more pleasant and delightful than rest and sleep. The speaker calls those people “best men” who are taken away by Death. The reason for this is because Death is nothing more but a means of the resting of these bodies and the transformation of their souls to the eternal world.

Next, the speaker says that Death is just a short sleeping phase between the temporary world and the eternal afterlife. There in the eternal world, Death visits no more. It is the Death itself or a certain scary idea of Death that is going to die.

Themes in the Poem

Death is powerless.

The speaker calls rest and sleep the other pictures of Death. He says that people feel pleasant after rest and sleep. Therefore, they must feel good after death as well by taking it as a short resting phase. Death only keeps the physical bodies of people in rest and carries their souls to the afterlife. Death is a resting phase between the temporary life on earth and the timeless and limitless afterworld.

To describe Death’s powerlessness more, the speaker calls Death a slave to earthly kings. Death is linked with fate, chances, kings, poison, wars, and sickness. It relies on worldly things for its existence. It needs partners because it cannot cease the lives of people alone. Death is not a master, but a slave. Death is even inferior to poppy and other charms.

Eternal Life

Appearance vs. reality, mortality vs. immortality, death be not proud literary analysis.

The way the speaker confronts Death shows that he is not afraid of it. The speaker believes that Death should not be so sure of itself because it is a slave. Death always needs a partner to do the job on its behalf. The bold conversation of the speaker with Death provides a sense of comfort to readers.

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

Much pleasures; then from thee much more must flow,

Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.

Lines 11-12

Lines 13-14.

One short sleep past, we wake eternally

Literary Devices

Personification, alliteration.

In the seventh line, the speaker says, “our best men with thee do go.” It refers to the general truth of the sixteenth century that “only the good die young.”

Speaker of the Poem

Setting of the poem.

The tone of the poem is dark, challenging, and mocking. It begins as a challenge to Death but in the later parts, the one-sided conversation humiliates Death.

Poem Death Be Not Proud by John Donne, Summary and Critical Appreciation

Introduction of the poem:.

The poem entitled “Death Be Not Proud” is one of his popular “Holy Sonnets. ” It deals with the theme of death. After Anne More's death in 1617, John Donne was haunted with the fear of death. He was highly dejected at the death of his beloved wife. He felt himself alone. His miserable condition forced him to follow the way of worshipping of God. He derived great peace of mind in God's shelter. He became highly religious - minded. The more religious - minded he became the greater was his consciousness of his sins. Soon the consciousness of his sins gave rise in his heart to the fear of damnation and it gave rise to the fear of death. The poem gives the message that there is no need to fear death.

Poem Death Be Not Proud by John Donne, Summary and Critical Appreciation

Summary of the Poem:

The poet personifies death and asks it not to have the feelings of proud. In poet's attitude, death has great proud on its power. There are many people who suppose death mighty and horrible. But, in fact, it is neither mighty nor horrible for it cannot kill anyone. It kills only human bodies not their souls which are immortal and the part of divine. The people whom it supposes to have killed, do not die a mean death, but only fall asleep. The poet does not fear of death and says that it cannot kill him. He accepts death a way to the eternal life. Death is just like rest and sleep which form the routine of life. Rest and sleep are only images of death. As a great comfort and pleasure results from sleep, so greater comfort and pleasure must result from death. So, a great pleasure must flow to a dead person, from death. (In other words it can be observed that death is the greatest source of true pleasure and delight because it relieves man from the pangs of sorrows and sufferings of life). The virtuous people die young for God loves them. Death merely frees their souls from the prison of their bodies. Their bodies repose in the graves. As death brings rest and quiet, it cannot be regarded as dreadful in any way.

Death is not mighty. It has no independent power; hence there is no need to fear death. It is slave to the forces of destiny which plays a vital role in human life with the force of Fate and Chance. The role of chance too plays wickedly in bringing about death to someone. It is the rage of a King or revengeful attitude of a desperate man that a man is hanged or killed untimely. Untimely deaths are caused by the sudden spread of poison, war and disease also. There are various causes of death. Death cannot be regarded as glorious or mighty in any way. When the poet compares the sleep given by death with that of the sleep which comes under the effect of opium or magic spells, he finds that opium or magic spells can give a man more comfortable and pleasureful sleep than death. Death may be the cause of pain, grief and suffering before giving an eternal sleep to man. But opium or magic spells can make man free from pains and griefs and succeed in bringing a very sound sleep. In this way, the poet does not find any superiority in death and there is no reason at all for death to be proud of its powers. Death can make us sleep only for a short while. After our short sleep in the grave, we wake up in the other world and live there eternally. (According to Christianity, after death, there is no other death. Thus, in reality death does not kill us, but it is death itself which dies.)

Critical Appreciation of the Poem:

Introduction: .

Donne's sonnet, entitled Death Be Not Proud is one of his Holy Sonnets: Divine Meditation . It deals with the theme of death. After the death of his beloved wife Anne More, Donne was badly haunted by the idea of death. He was completely drowned into the sea of gloominess. He felt that after his wife's death, his life lost meaning. He felt much lonely and dejected. He wanted mental peace and consolation. In order to preserve his normal state, he became a religious - minded person. He turned towards the adoration of God. He attained the way of spirituality. The more religious minded he became, the greater was his consciousness of his sins. Due to being a man of religious and spiritual nature, his fear of death began lessening. He came to know the real meaning of death and immortality of soul. Now he realised that death is rather a way out to the eternal life. There is great controversy taking the date of its composition. The date of its composition is supposed to be either Jan., 23, 1615 or August 15, 1617. It seems that Donne wrote this poem to free himself from fear of death and for the same cause, he gave religious interpretation of the nature and result of death. In this sonnet, he bases his belief on the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.

Thought - Content:

This sonnet is addressed to death which is supported to be mighty and dreadful, but in reality it is neither mighty nor dreadful. The poet asks death not to be proud of its power. Some poets and writers have called it the most powerful and the most terrible form of human life. They call death a horrible truth. But the poet condemns this idea and rejects it by saying that death does not have any independent power. For those who are supposed to have died, do not die a mean death, but they sleep a long and peaceful sleep. Rest and sleep resemble death. Death kills only the human body not soul. Human soul is immortal. Death makes free man from the pains and sorrows of this physical world. In this way, death provides comfort and pleasure to man. Virtuous men are called by God very soon because they die in their youth or in a very short age. God does not want that the virtuous people should endure any trouble in this physical world. The poet calls death a slave. It is a slave of fate, chance, wicked persons, poison, wars and sickness. Death is not the cause, but the instrument. It obeys the call of accidents, kings, wicked murderers, poison, war, old age and sickness. It is not a free agent, but a miserable slave who lives in such a wretched company as sickness and old age. It cannot be regarded as glorious or mighty in any way. Opium or magic spells can give a man better sleep than the blow of death. There is no reason at all for death to be proud.

Moral Theme of the Sonnet:

Through this sonnet, the poet makes his utmost efforts to make free the hearts and minds of people from the great fear of death. He himself was the victim of the fear of death, so he too tries to free his mind from this fear. Death has established a dominating power over the minds of people. Due to great fear of death, they live a life of cowardice. The poet inspires them to live fearlessly for death is neither powerful nor horrible. He thinks that death has no independent power to kill anybody. It works under many other forces and actions to kill someone:

“Thou art slave to Fate, chance, kings and desperate men And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell.”

The poet observes death as a source of great pleasure because it relieves man from worldly pains and sorrows.

The Poet's Conveying the Idea of the Immortality of Soul:

The poet, due to being religious minded, presents a truth about the immortality of soul. He thinks that death kills only human body not human soul because soul is the part of divine. After death, human body perishes into dust but soul travels to another world. Death, therefore, is not a matter of sorrow. It is a blessing for after death body gets rest in grave and the soul gets liberation from the bondage of body and worldly life. Death relieves man permanently from the tension of the worldly life. It wakes people from the sleep of worldly life to open eyes in eternity. It is thus death itself dies in this process for the man attains spiritual existence which is immortal and beyond the power of death. Shelley in his elegy ‘Adonis’ presents the idea that death is an awakening from the dream of life . When Keats is dead he comments:

“Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep! He hath awakened from the dream of life.” (39)

The Poet's Following the Doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church:

According to the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, the soul of a dead person is first of all purged of all its memories and sins of life. For the purpose, it is put into the fire of the purgatory. When purgation has purged it of all its memories of pleasures, pains, sins, etc., the soul wakes upto the glory of God. So, it keeps vigil throughout the long night of the grave. Particularly the souls of the virtuous keep vigil, which is waking up forever. After death, therefore, there is no other death, according to Christianity. So, the poet says that at death it is not person that dies. It is rather death itself that dies.

Donne's Contradictory Views:

According to Christianity, the souls of the dead sleep thousands and thousands of years, till Doomsday. Then Jesus Christ rises from the tomb, blows his bugle, and all the souls rise and are awarded the fruits of their doings. But Donne here says that after death “we wake up eternally”. So literally he is at variance with the above belief. Yet figuratively he means the same thing. He implies that after death the souls of the dead wake up from the sleep of life.

Poet's High Imagination:

The poet imagines that when a person rests or sleeps, he seems to be the very image of a dead person. So rest and sleep may be called only images of death. Since rest and sleep are pleasant, a great pleasure must flow to a dead person from death:

“From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be. Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow.”

He imagines about those virtuous people who are called by God very soon i.e., the virtuous die in their very youth. The poet thinks perhaps God does not want that the virtuous people should live midst the evils and sins of this materialistic or physical world. He cannot see them in trouble in this mortal world, so he calls them early.

“And soonest our best men with thee do so.”

He imagines that after death, the people do not die but get rid of the bondage of body and worldly life and they open their eyes in the eternal world where death does not exist:

“One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more, Death thou shalt die.”

Style and Language:

This sonnet does not follow the popular patterns of Italian and English sonnets. It has an octave consisting of two quatrains of four lines each. The rhyme scheme of the octave is: abba, abba. But the rhyme - scheme of the sestet is peculiarly Donne’s. It is: cdd, cee. Donne's thyme scheme has a typical feature. The rhythm of the poem is that of spoken language of an angry but pious priest. It is poetic rhythm close to the natural rhythm of speech, with mixed feet, and frequent single stressed syllables. The last two lines being in rhyme produce the striking effect of the concluding couplet in the English pattern. The sonnet ends with a paradox which the poet has already proved and established.

Finally it may be observed that the poem is great sonnet characterised by lyricism, impressive paradox, and strong dramatic speech rhymes. Its language is simple and is marked by the felicity of expression, sweet rhymes and noble thought.

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Holy Sonnets: Death, be not proud

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,

Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,

And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well

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

One short sleep past, we wake eternally

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

The English poet and Anglican priest John Donne (1572-1631) wrote in two distinctly different styles. His early poems reveled in earthly, sensual…

“Death Be Not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” Compare & Contrast Essay

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“Death Be Not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop”: Literary Devices

“death be not proud” and “because i could not stop”: attitude & tone, portray of death, works cited.

One of the strongest and captivating issues about poetry is the ability to describe the same themes in many different and unpredictable ways. Constant discussions about death, its perception by people, and the possibility to avoid death seem to be the most frequent literary issues for consideration. “Death Be Not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” analysis and evaluation will be provided in this paper.

The Main Themes in the Poems

Emily Dickinson and John Donne made two convincing attempts to examine the role of death in the world and the variety of attitudes to this issue. “Death Be Not Proud” by Donne and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death ” by Dickinson are the two poems with different approaches to one problem. However, it is wrong to call death a problem. This is why it is better to say that these two works help to comprehend the essence of death that is impossible to neglect and wrong to be afraid of.

Donne and Dickinson’s works are characterized by the use of different stylistic devices (personification and metaphor), the contrast in tones of the story (sarcasm and obedience), different literary techniques, and different writing styles. These numerous differences make these poems so powerful and so immortal for the readers as well as help them learn and comprehend the essence of death in the most appropriate ways.

In order to define the differences and similarities between the poems under discussion, it is crucially essential to clear up the main themes of the works and authors’ intentions. Though the authors use the same idea to start their poems, the chosen approaches to defining the central point remain different. Dickinson’s poem begins with the phrase “because I could not stop for death” (Dickinson line 1), which is also the title of the poem.

Donne opens the poem in the same way, using the title of the poem as the first line and introduction of “Death Be Not Proud” theme(Donne line 1). Dickenson defines death as a visit to the narrator, according to which death takes her towards her eternal grave. In his turn, Donne tries to criticize death from numerous perspectives calling it a slave who does not have any control over the narrator.

At the same time, it is clear from the poems’ summaries that both authors portray death contrary to the popular beliefs presenting it as harsh, cruel, powerful, or supreme. They are not afraid of showing their attitudes towards the end, but, at this, they do not insist that their beliefs are the only correct ones.

All they try to do is to introduce their personal ways of how it is possible to treat death and be ready to accept it when the time comes. Though their central theme is death, it does not mean that they introduce similar ideas and approaches, and this is what attracts the readers’ attention and makes people believe that death has its own weak and strong sides.

One of the main differences which have to be mentioned is the use of different figures of speech and stylistic devices such as paraphrases, personification and metaphors that help to introduce death to the reader. To prove that death is something that people should not be afraid of, Donne tries to personify it from the very beginning. The use of such Old English personal pronouns as thee and thou demonstrate the author’s intentions to represent death as something clear and evident.

With the help of personification, the author creates the irony of mortality, and it is not that difficult to believe that death is not as scary as it seems. Even if “our best men with thee do go/ Rest of their ones, and soul’s delivery” (Donne lines 7-8), there is no reason to be afraid of this personalized issue. As for Dickinson’s poem, the decision to use another type of metaphor is made.

The image of a journey in “the carriage held but just ourselves” (Dickinson line 3) is used to describe her life and movement towards the end of life. Children who play in the yard symbolize her youthful days. The field of gazing grain becomes a symbol of the mature age, and the setting sun becomes a symbol of her old age. As soon as the narrator moves towards her eternal home, she becomes more mature and exhausted to resist death, and the things around her become animate.

Just like Donne, this author tries to give an explanation that death is not as invisible and intangible as many people tend to believe. However, it is wrong to personify it because it is not about a life that is given to every person but, on the contrary, it is the end of this life, the eternal sleep that has to be accepted.

One more peculiarity of these two poems is the attitude and the tones which are used by the authors: for instance, Donne cannot believe that death may have enough power to make orders and influence people’s lives while Dickinson cannot find enough strengths to resist this power and reject the journey offered to the narrator.

As is clear from “Death Be Not Proud” analysis, Donne’s poem is full of sarcasm. This author uses strong diction and mocks at death that tries to become a powerful person to be proud of. His poem brings death to the level of nothingness. In the conclusion it is seen that death is a thing that has no power, no control over itself and other people’s desires, and no rights for existence. Such words as “poor” and “slave” are used to laugh at death. Toward the end of the poem, he sarcastically states, “why swell’st thou then?” (Donne line 12).

This question and the tone emphasize how weak and miserable death can be and how easy it is to mock at her. “And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die” (Donne line 14). These words reflect Donne’s strong, sarcastic tone one more time and create an idea that people cannot die, but it is death that has to die because human souls continue living in the eternal world.

Dickenson’s poem has a tone that is more submissive. The narrator depicts her submission before death and travels with it towards her eternal destination. Her sense of submission is evident from the fact that she gives life to inanimate objects and makes herself lifeless.

Other words, such as “he knew no haste” (Dickinson line 5) and “he kindly stopped for me” (Dickinson line 2), prove the fact that the narrator accepts her status of a slave to death. During the whole poem, it is possible to observe that the tone chosen by the narrator starts changing.

The narrator feels that everything around her is going to change and betray her. She is not informed about what should happen to her in the nearest future. She is lost, and no one can show the right way. This journey is over for her, and nothing can be changed, and no other journeys can be taken. It is the end that she did not expect, and it is hard to believe that somebody or something can treat her this way.

Among the variety of literary techniques that influence the writing style of the author, it is possible to define the use of conceit and monologues in the poems. Conceit is farfetched personifications according to which two unlike objects are compared and made look similar.

Donne seems to be a master of conceit; his poem draws a strong and influential comparison between death and a person who considers himself to be proud. “Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so” (Donne line 2) – this phrase is used to indicate death’s notions about itself.

Dickinson also uses the same conceit and portrays death as a man; however, the use of such words as “kindly,” “civility,” “no haste” cannot create any positive impression about death and its functions in the poem. This metaphor is more profound and more serious as it gives life: “we passed the fields of gazing grain/ we passed the setting sun” (Dickinson lines 11-12).

What is more, death may be perceived more like a suitor who has come to marry the narrator and take her away. However, it is not the only image of death that can be observed in the poem. There is another silent person in the carriage that is called “Immortality.” It is not the example of personification as it is in Donne’s poem; however, it is one more idea to think about and realize what death is.

Due to such specific and powerful literary techniques, it is not very difficult to analyze the style of writing and the messages which are presented by different authors. Donne, as the author who does not have either respect or fear of death, tries to use as many offensive words as possible to show how miserable can death be. His style of writing seems to be a bit difficult due to the use of some Old English words; however, in general, every message is clear and comprehensible.

As for Dickinson’s writing style, “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” analysis and critical appreciation show that there are no difficulties in comprehending each of her words and thought. She is lost, scared, and confused about what happens to her. Still, she is able to say clearly what may bother her and why. Her writing style and the chosen sequence of ideas attract many readers; this is why it is always interesting to re-read this poem and try to find out another detail and enjoy this story and this journey once again.

The comparative essay on “Death, Be not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death ” showed different approaches of the authors to one theme.Without any doubt, Donne and Dickinson’s poems are the two masterpieces in English literature, as the theme of death has fascinated writers for centuries. Their treatment of the subject is a reflection of the individuality of both poets. The poems under consideration present a deep insight into the views of the two poets.

The use of different literary techniques, tones, and styles of writing may serve as a compelling reason for the fact that these poems have maintained their individuality. Dickinson and Donne are the great authors who provide their readers with a chance to evaluate the role of death in our world and decide how exactly it should be met by those who it comes for.

Dickinson, Emily. “ Because I Could Not Stop for Death .” The Literature Network. 2010. Web.

Donne, John. “ Death, Be Not Proud .” Poetry.org. 2010. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2018, July 10). “Death Be Not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”. https://ivypanda.com/essays/comparison-of-poems-donnes-death-be-not-proud-and-dickinsons-because-i-could-not-stop-for-death/

"Death Be Not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death." IvyPanda , 10 July 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/comparison-of-poems-donnes-death-be-not-proud-and-dickinsons-because-i-could-not-stop-for-death/.

IvyPanda . (2018) '“Death Be Not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”'. 10 July.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Death Be Not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death." July 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/comparison-of-poems-donnes-death-be-not-proud-and-dickinsons-because-i-could-not-stop-for-death/.

1. IvyPanda . "Death Be Not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death." July 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/comparison-of-poems-donnes-death-be-not-proud-and-dickinsons-because-i-could-not-stop-for-death/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Death Be Not Proud” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death." July 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/comparison-of-poems-donnes-death-be-not-proud-and-dickinsons-because-i-could-not-stop-for-death/.

John Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud” Poem Analysis

John Donne is often considered as one of the most remarkable literary figures of the Elizabethan age. ‘Death Be Not Proud’ is regarded as his most widely accepted religious poem. A closer examination and analysis of his religious poems reveals that Donne broke away from the conventional Elizabethan traditions and revolted against the easy, flexible style & stock imagery that was synonymous with the poetry of the age. Donne’s poems; especially his religious poems, reveal the struggle in the mind of the English people who lived in the 16th and 17th century before taking orders from the Anglican Church, their horror of death, their fear of God’s rage and their desire for God’s love. The major theme of the poem is pretty much obvious for the reader. The poem clearly states that death has no right to be proud in this world as people do not die but continue to live after a short sleep. Donne’s poem Death Be Not Proud discusses the ineffectiveness of death and the poet compares death to a slave who must obey another’s command.

As a metaphysical poet, John Donne follows an argumentative style in his poem – Death Be Not Proud . It is a Shakespearean sonnet which comprises fourteen lines. In his sonnet the poet expresses the concept of death and tries to prove that man’s greatest fear never deeply affects him. Donne pictures death as a blessing. The entire poem displays a passionate approach of the poet towards death and one realizes that the poet has employed an effective vocabulary to create a specific attitude in the reader towards the theme of the poem. The poet employs an emotive language and the diction is exaggerated. The reader instantly gets the feeling that the poet has succeeded to an extent in conveying his thoughts and emotions using effective diction. Sometimes it interrogates the reader’s attitudes and thoughts on death.

Another significant fact, which is to be mentioned here, is that Donne’s poem gives examples of the effective use of poetic devices such as metaphor, connotation, personification and imagery. In the poem, the reader can feel the continued presence of an unnamed hero who absolutely denigrates death and provides new hope and relief to the community, thus revealing his pity towards death’s pride. It is clearly evident that Donne’s use of words in ‘Holy sonnet 10’ compels the reader to deeply analyze the poet’s sincere effort to convey the main theme. The word ‘Eternally’ is a powerful word which gives the reader the feeling of a prolonged period of time. The poet gladly emphasizes that life after death will be a never ending, pleasurable journey. Here, Donne deviates from the conventional mode of poetry and addresses death in a rather strange & unusual way. The poet employs the words or phrases such as ‘poor’,’ slave’ and ’nor yet can thou kill me’. It is easy for the reader to understand the fact that Donne uses connotative language to express the poet’s views about death as well as to illustrate its weaknesses. The poet uses the word ‘pleasure’ which expresses the idea that death is not a fearful element. Here, the reader can easily understand Donne’s conscious effort to generalize the term ‘death’. The poem follows a systematic pattern of rhyme scheme. The rhyming word in the poem Death Be Not Proud is easily noticeable and the rhyme scheme is ABBA, ABBA, CDDC, and EE.

It is the dramatic voice that helps the reader to comprehend the forceful language used by Donne in his divine sonnet. The poet uses the words ‘rest’ and ‘sleep’ which leads the reader to think that death is not a fearful event but instead, an enjoyable experience. The poet’s tone diminishes the seriousness and inevitability of death and reveals its short-term impacts. Throughout the poem, the reader experiences the poet’s attitude of contempt and pity against death. The poet’s connotative tone reaches its zenith when he compares death to poppy or charms. Donne reveals to the reader that both poppy and charms are metaphors for a free and relaxed passing into sleep or a transit into the world of immortality. Thus, he tries to tell the readers that they need not fear the inevitability of death. Protestants strongly believe that death is a curse and it is the punishment given by God. The poet addresses death as; “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee/Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;” (Donne). Here, one can see that Donne considers death as an easy route to escape from this earthly life. The insolent tone of the poet indicates his rebellious attitude towards death.

Excessive use of imagery in Donne’s poem Death Be Not Proud requires serious attention on the part of the reader. The poet succeeds in creating an image of death that is neither fearful nor mysterious and is simply a slave. A slave leads a more responsible and submissive life and he/she must obey another’s orders. Death is described as a slave of poor status and being controlled by various external forces that have greater power and stronger hold than death itself. The image of a slave requires a deeper level of learning from the side of the reader. The poet uses different words such as poison, sickness and war in association with death that has the status of a person belonging to a poor/lower class in society. In the very first reading, the image of death, as a pathetic slave who is waiting for his/her master’s permission to take part in a feast, strikes the reader. Another significant fact is that the poet addresses death using different pronouns such as ‘thee’, ‘thou’, and ‘thy’. On a deeper evaluation of the poet’s treatment of death, the reader can very well gather the image of a simple conversation between two individuals.

The image of poppy and charms constitutes Donne’s perfect use of argumentative tone in his poems. These kinds of far-fetched images and conceits provide enough force to establish the reader’s views about John Donne and Metaphysical poetry. The book entitled Introduction to Poetry , by Edith. L. Tiempo helps the reader to understand more about the imagery in Donne’s poetry. The author remarks; “The poetic procedure here is the merging of image and argument into a unity of idea.” (Introduction to Poetry 103). ‘Poppy’ and ‘charms’ are simple creations that can provide sleep or relaxation. Here the reader gets a clearer view of the pathetic condition of death. It could be said that both philosophically and aesthetically, Donne has successfully overcome the pressures created by religious influences and the conventional way of writing.

Metaphor and personification play a vital role in Donne’s poem Death Be Not Proud . Donne uses metaphors frequently in the poem Death Be Not Proud which reiterates the significance of the poet’s comparison of death to sleep. This kind of extended metaphor named ‘conceits’ is common in metaphysical poetry. One can find the perfect example of metaphor in line number nine of this poem. Here, the poet describes death as a slave which conveys the idea that death is weak, feeble and vulnerable. The life of a slave symbolizes submissiveness and the slave only has the right to obey, not to order. In line number 11, the readers can come across another example of a metaphor in the images of poppy and charms. Here, the reader may take notice of the fact that the poet is not satisfied with a mere comparison between death and poppy or charms, but instead, he directly implies that death is peaceful and relaxing. In the line, “From rest and sleep, which but thy pictured be, / Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,” (View of death in Donne’s poetry) the reader can notice the comparison of death with earthly sleep. The extended type of metaphor helps the reader realize that if sleep is a pleasurable activity, then death is also enjoyable in this world. Finally, the poet conveys that death is a deeper form of sleep and it is not at all fearful or dangerous. The same metaphor is referred to several times in the poem and it unravels the mystery surrounding the phenomenon of death. The use of personification is yet another important feature of Donne’s holy sonnet Death Be Not Proud. From the very beginning of the poem, the reader can find the poet’s use of personification. In the first line itself, the reader gets a glimpse of the poet’s attitude towards death. The pronouns such as ‘thee’, ‘thou’ and ‘thy’ demonstrate the familiar and friendly attitude of the poet towards death. According to researchers, Donne sincerely utilizes the poetic device of ‘personification’ to convey effective and powerful messages through his poems. In the concluding part of the poem, Donne demonstrates his obvious beliefs about life after death. The poet’s personal beliefs and thoughts are clearly visible in the concluding lines. The poet concludes that death is a mortal thing in this world that men need not have to fear death but instead, accept it as a period of rest. Different poetic devices such as personification, metaphor, rhyme scheme and metrical pattern play a pivotal role in enhancing the aesthetic quality of the poem.

To conclude, this poem demonstrates a thought-provoking subject about the ineffectiveness of death in this world. Throughout the poem, the poet tries to convey his main argument that death has no right to be proud. In a connotative and flexible style of writing, Donne provides a different kind of aesthetic pleasure to his readers. The poet employs an argumentative tone in his poem Death Be Not Proud and the reader can find a number of metaphysical conceits. Through different images poet simplifies the concept of death and reminds the readers that death is a pleasurable experience. Donne’s use of metaphor and personification provides a new world of aesthetic pleasure to the readers. The comparison of death with sleep, poppy and charms are, indeed, perfect examples of poetic craftsmanship and great imagination. The poet uses the word ‘slave’ to describe death; thus revealing the poet’s argumentative approach to the reader. Analyzing Donne’s poem, the reader can understand the fact that the use of an argumentative tone and extended metaphors expresses the ineffectiveness and weakness of death in this world and underlines the similarity between a slave and death.

Works Cited

Donne, John. Holy Sonnets: X. Poem Hunter, 2003. Web.

Introduction to Poetry, 2006. Web.

View of death in Donne’s poetry, n.d. (Provided by the customer).

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Death Be not Proud: Deconstruction of The Concept of Death

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Holy Sonnet 10: Death, be not proud Poem Summary and Analysis
Powered by LitCharts content and AI. "Holy Sonnet 10," often referred to by its opening line ("Death, be not proud"), was written by the English poet and Christian cleric John Donne in 1609 and first published in 1633. The poem is a direct address to death, arguing that it is powerless because it acts merely as a "short sleep ...
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Death Be Not Proud Summary, Themes, and Analysis
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Dickinson's poem begins with the phrase "because I could not stop for death" (Dickinson line 1), which is also the title of the poem. Donne opens the poem in the same way, using the title of the poem as the first line and introduction of "Death Be Not Proud" theme (Donne line 1). Dickenson defines death as a visit to the narrator ...
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John Donne is often considered as one of the most remarkable literary figures of the Elizabethan age. 'Death Be Not Proud' is regarded as his most widely accepted religious poem. A closer examination and analysis of his religious poems reveals that Donne broke away from the conventional Elizabethan traditions and revolted against the easy, flexible style & stock imagery that was synonymous ...
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