Death be not proud what kind of sonnet

Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of every Shakespeare play. Sign Up. Already have an account? Sign in. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better.

Literature Poetry Lit Terms Shakescleare. Download this LitChart! Question about this poem? Ask us. Donne's nineteen Holy Sonnets are seen as minor masterpieces by many scholars, but some are divided on the sonnets as a complete body of work. They were circulated among friends and colleagues when Donne was still alive and more than likely helped the poet in his personal battles, both religious and political, in an age of suspicion and subterfuge.

He knew himself to be a sinner, he just wanted God's approval. The sonnets are a sort of cathartic exercise helping Donne transition from his earlier days as a Catholic follower to later Anglican devotee. They cover subjects such as faith, mortality and divine judgement and have that personal touch so prevalent in Donne's poems. 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 direct address signifies immediately that the speaker is 'talking' to Death, here personified. Death is being treated as a human, capable of pride, interestingly the most serious of the seven deadly sins. Death's reputation has gone down in human history no doubt, many considering it a fearful thing, to be feared. But the speaker is having none of it. Reputations count for little as the speaker denounces Death and states that on the contrary, Death is not 'mighty and dreadful' at all.

The superior tone continues. Death may think he overthrows victims but that's not the end of affairs. People do not die Death is being treated rather shamefully, the speaker in a rather mocking kind of way suggesting that Death does not realise this..

These opening lines make it crystal clear that Death has no real power over humanity - the human body might perish but according to Christian theology, this is not the end. Sleep and rest are pleasures, who doesn't relish the idea of a long restful sleep after a hard day's work? The speaker suggests that this is exactly what Death is, rest and sleep, but with a little added extra. Sleep is natural, we wake up feeling better following some shuteye. Same with Death, only more so. And Death may take the best men, the good die young so to speak, but they get a double bonus That word delivery is related to birth, so not only has Death given pleasure it has helped the birth of the soul.

Death as an integral part of the afterlife. The final six lines intensify the charge against Death. The speaker states that Death is a slave, to fate, chance and kings and desperate men Random accidents, government machinery of law and justice Death only exists because of these. Privacy Policy. Cummings Guides Home.. Contact This Site. Title, Publication. Rhyme Scheme and Meter. Figures of Speech. Text of the Poem.

Donne's Works: Free Texts. 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, 1. Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, 2.