JOHN DONNE AS A LOVE POET ....VERY EASY TO LEARN

 

Q.1.    John Donne as a love poet.

Ans.    John Donne was born in London in 1572. He is one of the major poets of his age. He is famous as a metaphysical poet. He was a leading poet among metaphysical poets. John Donne is considered the greatest love poet in English language. He wrote poetry in his own style. His style is original and unconventional. There is blend of sensitivity and wit, joy and scorn, beauty and repulsion in his poetry. His poems are different than that of Elizabethan love poems. His poetry has depth of feeling and fascination.

 

            Love has been a very important subject in literature. Many poets have written about love in their own style. Donne has also written about love. He deals love in his own way. His style writing about love is unique and different. He wrote from his own experience and it makes his poetry more appealing. His poetry has independent spirit of love content. His love poems are remarkable mixture of divinity and sensuality. Donne explored the relationship between the two lovers.

 

            Donne analysis each love situation realistically. He realizes that love is a satisfying passion. Love must be mutual. It should not be one sided like petrarchan love. He tries to establish relationship between body and soul. According to Donne, love is highest spiritual passion but he doesn’t reject physical pleasure as well. He says that love can not be of soul alone. Love brings body and soul together.

 

            In the poem, ‘The Canonization’ the lovers unite body and soul together and form a neutral sex. In this poem, the poet says that the lovers are body but one soul. They would die and rise by the same love. As the following lines form the poem:

 

                        “So, to one neutral thing both sexes fit,

                         We die and rise the same”

 

            The poems, Flea’ and ‘The Rising Son’ also throws light on permanent nature of true love with physical unification. In the poem, ‘The Flea’ the poet advocates that physical union is important requirement of spiritual live. The poem, ‘The Rising Son’ says that love is permanent and remains unchanged. No season can bring any change in it. It has self sufficient nature. Donne says that there should be no interference while making love. The poem, ‘Good Morrow’ is also a fine examples of the unification of the true lovers. As the following lines from these poems :

 

            “My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears”  (Good Morrow)

 

            “Love, all alike, no season knows, nor hours, days, months

            Which are the rags of time”                                (The Rising  Son)

 

            “for God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love”