Evaluate John Donne as a Love Poet.

Answer

“Donne has come out from the parochialism of traditional poems and ushered in novelty in love poems.” Elucidate with reference to his poems. 

Or, Discuss how John Donne has brought novelty to love poems.

Or, Evaluate John Donne as a love poet.

Or, “Donne has broken the monotony of traditional poems and brought novelty in love poems.” How? Discuss. 

John Donne (1572-1631) is the pioneer of metaphysical poetry. He is especially famous for his love poems. Donne brought novelty to love poems in the early 17th century. Before him, love poems were simple and sweet. The poets praised the beauty of the beloved using beautiful images of nature (like roses or sunrises). But Donne made love poems clever and full of surprising ideas. He blended both thoughts and feelings. Let us see how Donne brings novelty (new ideas) in his love poems.

The Sun Rising: In this poem, Donne talks to the sun like a person. He scolds the sun,

“Busy old fool, unruly sun.”

He tells the sun to go away and stop disturbing him and his lover. Because they are enjoying their moment early in the morning in their bedroom. This is very unique. Most poets praise the beauty of sunrise, but Donne scolds it. He does this to express how much he loves being with her. He says that lovers can enjoy their time whenever they want. They do not have to follow the sun or maintain a routine. He writes:

“Love, all alike, no season knows nor clime”

This means things like seasons, climate, hours, days, and months are not important in love. True love is timeless, and it does not care about time or season.

Moreover, Donne says that he and his beloved are everything to each other. Her presence is more important than all the wealth in the world. So, their bedroom becomes the whole world. He writes:

“She’s all states, and all princes, I,

Nothing else is.”