John Donne Brief Questions
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John Donne Brief Questions
What is metaphysical poetry?
Ans: Metaphysical poetry is marked by the use of elaborate figurative language, original conceits, paradoxes, and philosophical topics.
What is the nature of true love in Donne’s poems? (NU. 2021) ✪✪✪
Ans: True love is unaffected by time and space. It knows no division of time, like hours, days, months, or seasons.
In what sense is Donne’s love Platonic in his poems? (NU. 2021) ✪✪✪
Ans: His love is more than just physical attraction. It is pure and spiritual, so it is called Platonic love.
What is Donne’s view on love in this poem?
Ans: Donne’s view on love in this poem cannot be termed definitely Platonic or sensual, but rather a mixture of both.
What does the poet compare his beloved to?
Ans: He compares his beloved to the spices found in the East Indies and to the valuable metals and stone found in the West Indies.
How does the poet rebuke the sun in the poem “The Sun Rising”? (NU. 2017) ✪✪✪
Ans: In “The Sun Rising,” the poet rebukes the sun as a ‘Busy, old, fool, unruly sun’.
How does Donne use personification in “The Sun Rising”? (NU. 2018)
Ans: In “The Sun Rising,” Donne disparagingly personifies the sun as a “busy old fool” who is “unruly” in the face of some authority.
Why are the East and West Indies famous? (NU. 2016)
Ans: The East Indies for their spices, and the West Indies for their diamond and other mineral substances.
Why is the sun scolded in “The Sun Rising”? (NU. 2020, 23)
Ans: For disturbing the lovers in their bed-room.
Why does Donne call the sun ‘unruly’? (NU. 2022)
Ans. Donne calls the sun ‘unruly’ for disturbing the lovers in their bedroom.
How is the sun scolded in “The Sun Rising”? (NU. 2014) ✪✪✪
Ans: In “The Sun Rising”, the sun is scolded by the poet as ‘Busy, old, fool, unruly sun.
Why does the poet forbid his beloved to mourn?
Ans: Because the speaker and his lover are linked so strongly by spiritual bonds that their separation has little meaning.
What is the nature of love between the poet and his beloved?
Ans: The poet’s and his beloved’s love is spiritual and refined.
What does the poet compare their two souls to?
Ans: The two lovers’ souls are compared to a compass.
“Thy firmness makes my circle just.” Explain. Or, how will the two lovers re-unite?
Ans: The poet says that his beloved has a “firmness” that makes his “circle just,” or keeps it within a limited area. No matter what he does or where he roams, she will always return him to where he began.
What does the word ‘Valediction’ mean? (NU. 2013, 17, 20) ✪✪✪
Ans: The word ‘Valediction’ means farewell.
What do you mean by the expression, “The Phoenix riddle”?
Ans: The Phoenix is a mythical bird that existed at a time, and when its life-term of 500 years is over, it burns itself on a burning pyre and then renews itself from its ashes.
What is the true nature of Donne’s love in “Canonization”? (NU. 2023)
Ans: According to Donne, love must be based on both body and soul.
What is the popular idea about death? (NU. 2023)
Ans. People think death is very powerful and scary. It can kill anyone at any time.
What do you mean by the word ‘canonization’? (NU. 2013) ✪✪✪
Ans: Canonization means the act of declaring a dead person to be a saint by a Christian church.
What is canonization? (NU. 2012, 18)
Ans: According to Christianity, the term ‘canonization’ means to proclaim a person to be a saint after his death by canon law and to be fully honoured as such.
What does the Phoenix symbolize?
Ans: The Phoenix symbolizes the immortality of the love of the poet and his beloved.
What prayer does Donne make to God? ✪✪✪
Ans: Donne prays to God (the lover) to save him (The mistress) from the grips of Satan (adversary of God) and to free him from all wickedness.
What does ‘Three Personed God’ refer to in “Batter My Heart”? (NU. 2012, 15) ✪✪✪
Ans: The phrase “three person’d God” is an allusion to the Holy Trinity.
In what sense does death resemble rest and sleep?
Ans: Just as sleep refreshes and invigorates the human mind, death provides more comfort and pleasure to the soul.
How is death conquered? Or, How will death die? Or, What is the poet’s idea about the soul’s immortality? ✪✪✪
Ans: Death can never corrupt an eternal soul. It resembles sleep and rest. Whenever this sleep will fade away, the couple will reunite again.
How does the poet refute the pride of death? (NU. 2012) ✪✪✪
Ans: Death is unable to snatch one’s soul.
Why does Donne advise Death not to be proud? (NU. 2017) ✪✪✪
Ans: Because death is actually a slave to the human race and has no power over our souls.
Why is a grave not a proper place for making love? (NU. 2013)
Ans: Because the dead body has no sensation or feeling, and ultimately it turns to dust.
What is a metaphysical conceit? (NU. 2014, 22) ✪✪✪
Ans: A metaphysical conceit is basically a simile or a comparison between two dissimilar things or two most heterogeneous ideas. The most famous example is the comparison of a man who travels and his beloved who stays at home to a pair of compasses in “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning.”
What is a conceit? (NU. 2016)
Ans: A conceit is a far-fetched comparison between two very dissimilar things.