John Donne's Holy Sonnet 10

A poem written by John Donne addressing Death.

Death is not powerful, but humans fear it.

Death is compared to sleep; transition to eternity.

The eternal afterlife, promised by the poem.

Direct and challenging; the speaker confronts death.

Death's power is limited and influenced by fate.

A poetic rhythm, 10 syllables per line.

Death is temporary, a transition to eternal life.

John Donne, a 17th-century poet and preacher, wrestled with choosing between Catholicism and Anglicanism, expressing his anxieties and faith in his poems.

A group of 17th-century poets, including Donne, characterized by their use of unconventional metaphors and sound devices when writing.

Donne's collection of poems focused on religious themes, exploring faith, death, and spirituality.

The historical setting of Donne's life.

A complex struggle against religious differences and their significant implications.

A poetic style characterized by unusual metaphors and imagery, which also focused on sound.

During his life, Donne was a Catholic turned Anglican preacher.

Donne argues that death is not as powerful as people think, and that it is ultimately subservient to other forces.

Death is portrayed as being influenced by external factors, such as illness, war, and desperate actions.

Donne diminishes Death's importance by referring to it as "poor," implying a lack of true power.

Donne emphasizes that death does not erase a person's soul but liberates it for eternity.

Oppenheimer, naming the first atomic test, drew on Donne's sonnet 14.

A sonnet by John Donne that focuses on the perceived insignificance and servility of Death.

The phrase "mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so" highlights a contrast between popular perception and Donne's view of death.

Donne argues that death isn't as powerful as we perceive it. It's merely a short sleep before eternal life.

The poem emphasizes the Christian belief in eternal life after death; a transition to a greater existence.

Donne declares that death itself will be destroyed in the eternal afterlife.

Donne gives Death human qualities, addressing it directly and challenging its might.

Death is compared to sleep, symbolizing a temporary rest before awakening to eternal life.

The poem is direct and defiant. Donne confronts death boldly, challenging its power.

The poem celebrates the Christian belief in eternal existence, offering hope and reassurance.