'A Fever' by John Donne
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Oh do not die, for I shall hateAll women so, when thou art gone,
That thee I shall not celebrate,When I remember, thou wast one.
But yet thou canst not die, I know,To leave this world behind, is death,
But when thou from this world wilt go,The whole world vapors with thy breath.Or if, when thou, the world's soul, goest,It stay, 'tis but thy carcass then,
The fairest woman, but thy ghost,But corrupt worms, the worthiest men.O wrangling schools, that search what fireShall burn this world, had none the wit
Unto this knowledge to aspire,That this her fever might be it?And yet she cannot waste by this,Nor long bear this torturing wrong,
For much corruption needful isTo fuel such a fever long.These burning fits but meteors be,Whose matter in thee is soon spent.
Thy beauty, and all parts, which are thee,Are unchangeable firmament.Yet 'twas of my mind, seizing thee,Though it in thee cannot persever.
For I had rather owner be,
Of thee one hour, than all else ever.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"A Fever" by John Donne: Exploring the Depths of Love and Desire
Have you ever felt a feverish passion for someone? That all-consuming desire that grips you by the heart and won't let go? John Donne, the renowned metaphysical poet, captures this intense feeling in his poem "A Fever." Through his use of vivid imagery, complex metaphors, and passionate language, Donne creates a powerful exploration of the depths of love and desire.
Theme: Love and Desire
Love and desire are the central themes of "A Fever." The poem depicts the speaker's feverish longing for his lover, who is absent from his side. The speaker's desire is so intense that it consumes him, and he feels as if he is burning up with fever.
Donne's portrayal of love and desire is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, the poem celebrates the passion and intensity of romantic love. The speaker's desire for his lover is all-consuming and overwhelming, and he longs to be reunited with her:
Come like a new-born phoenix to our world,
Or as the turtle to his mate returning,
And let our minds to mutual joys be hurled,
Let all our hearts be in one flame but burning.
On the other hand, "A Fever" is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked desire. The speaker's feverish passion is so intense that it threatens to consume him completely. He fears that his lover's absence will drive him mad, and he begs her to return to him before it's too late:
For if thou stay, I'll prune my ravenous sense,
And, as caged eagles, teach my self to fly:
But if thou needs will leave me, end my trance,
And give me once again but one hour's joy.
Imagery and Metaphors
Donne's use of vivid imagery and complex metaphors is one of the hallmarks of his poetry. In "A Fever," he uses a variety of images and metaphors to convey the intensity of the speaker's desire.
One of the most striking images in the poem is the metaphor of the phoenix. The speaker implores his lover to "come like a new-born phoenix to our world." The phoenix is a mythological bird that is said to be reborn from its own ashes. The metaphor suggests that the speaker's desire is so intense that it requires a complete transformation, a rebirth.
Another powerful metaphor in the poem is that of the eagle. The speaker compares himself to a "caged eagle" and vows to "teach myself to fly." The metaphor suggests that the speaker's desire is so strong that it has the power to free him from his confinement.
The poem is also full of sensory imagery. The speaker describes his feverish passion as a "burning heat" that is "intense and strong." He also uses the image of a "torrent" to convey the force of his desire:
Oh, that thou couldst a little stay,
And let me take my breath,
A stranger to myself I am become,
And must confess a breach,
To God, myself, and thee, of contract done,
Against the which this blood is but a pawn,
Though it be said to be
For th'incumbrance, it brings, my sin's so great,
That it puts all my life to an entail of state.
Language and Rhythm
Donne's use of language and rhythm is also noteworthy in "A Fever." The poem is written in rhyming couplets, which gives it a musical quality. The use of a regular meter also helps to create a sense of movement and momentum.
The language of the poem is passionate and sensual. The speaker's desire for his lover is expressed through a series of vivid and sensuous images. The use of alliteration and repetition also adds to the poem's sensual quality:
Oh, that thou couldst a little stay,
And let me take my breath,
A stranger to myself I am become,
And must confess a breach,
To God, myself, and thee, of contract done,
Against the which this blood is but a pawn,
Though it be said to be
The use of religious language is also notable in "A Fever." The speaker describes his desire as a "sin" and begs for forgiveness for his "breach" of contract. This religious language adds a sense of gravity and depth to the poem, suggesting that the speaker's desire is not just a passing fancy, but a profound and transformative experience.
Conclusion
In "A Fever," John Donne creates a powerful exploration of the depths of love and desire. Through his use of vivid imagery, complex metaphors, and passionate language, Donne captures the intensity of the speaker's feverish passion. The poem celebrates the beauty and power of romantic love, while also warning of the dangers of unchecked desire. Ultimately, "A Fever" is a testament to the transformative power of love, and the profound impact it can have on our lives.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry A Fever: A Masterpiece by John Donne
John Donne, the famous English poet, is known for his metaphysical poetry that explores complex themes of love, death, and spirituality. One of his most celebrated works is the poem "A Fever," which is a beautiful and intricate exploration of the nature of love and desire. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices to understand why it is considered a masterpiece of English literature.
The poem "A Fever" is a sonnet, which is a fourteen-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme and meter. Donne's sonnet follows the traditional rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, and it is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables with a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. The sonnet form is perfect for exploring the theme of love, as it allows the poet to express his thoughts and emotions in a concise and structured manner.
The poem begins with the speaker describing his feverish state, which is caused by his intense desire for his beloved. He says, "Oh, do not die, for I shall hate / All women so, when thou art gone." The speaker's fever is not a physical illness but a metaphor for his passionate love, which consumes him completely. He cannot bear the thought of losing his beloved, as it would mean the end of his world. The use of the word "hate" in the first line is significant, as it shows the extreme emotions that the speaker is experiencing. He is not just sad or upset; he is filled with hatred towards all women if his beloved were to die.
The second quatrain of the sonnet continues the theme of the speaker's feverish state. He says, "Nor shall I then mourn thee dead, / But oh, thy cruel, sharp, and biting breath / Will blow a death-like cold upon my head." The speaker's love for his beloved is so intense that he cannot imagine mourning her death. Instead, he fears the pain that her absence would cause him. The use of the word "cruel" to describe his beloved's breath is significant, as it shows that the speaker is aware of the danger that his love poses to him. He knows that his beloved's love is like a double-edged sword that can both heal and harm him.
The third quatrain of the sonnet shifts the focus from the speaker's feverish state to his beloved's beauty. He says, "And when thy marble vault shall rent, / And thou shalt lie by every one, / Till the fixed fire shall make all things new." The speaker imagines his beloved's death and burial, but he does not dwell on the sadness of it. Instead, he focuses on her beauty, which he believes will endure even after her death. The use of the word "marble" to describe his beloved's vault is significant, as it shows that her beauty is timeless and enduring, like a work of art.
The final couplet of the sonnet brings the poem to a close, with the speaker expressing his hope that his beloved will reciprocate his love. He says, "Only a sweet and virtuous soul, / Like seasoned timber, never gives; / But though the whole world turn to coal, / Then chiefly lives." The speaker believes that true love is eternal and that it can survive even the harshest of circumstances. He hopes that his beloved's love for him will be as strong and enduring as his own love for her.
The poem "A Fever" is a masterpiece of English literature, not only because of its beautiful language and imagery but also because of its exploration of the nature of love and desire. The poem shows that love is not just a feeling but a feverish state that consumes the lover completely. It also shows that love is both beautiful and dangerous, like a double-edged sword that can both heal and harm. The poem's use of the sonnet form is perfect for exploring the theme of love, as it allows the poet to express his thoughts and emotions in a concise and structured manner.
In conclusion, John Donne's poem "A Fever" is a beautiful and intricate exploration of the nature of love and desire. The poem's language, imagery, and structure all contribute to its status as a masterpiece of English literature. The poem shows that love is a feverish state that consumes the lover completely, and that it is both beautiful and dangerous. The poem's exploration of these themes is timeless and enduring, making it a classic work of English literature that will continue to be read and appreciated for generations to come.
Editor Recommended Sites
GSLM: Generative spoken language model, Generative Spoken Language Model getting started guidesML Cert: Machine learning certification preparation, advice, tutorials, guides, faq
Ocaml Solutions: DFW Ocaml consulting, dallas fort worth
WebGPU Guide: Learn WebGPU from tutorials, courses and best practice
Knowledge Graph: Reasoning graph databases for large taxonomy and ontology models, LLM graph database interfaces
Recommended Similar Analysis
A Poison Tree by William Blake analysisAn Elegy On The Death Of A Mad Dog by Oliver Goldsmith analysis
Hurt Hawks by Robinson Jeffers analysis
Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds by William Shakespeare analysis
Eulalie by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
To A Dead Man by Carl Sandburg analysis
Animal Tranquillity and Decay by William Wordsworth analysis
Go and Catach a Falling Star by John Donne analysis
One need not be a chamber to be haunted, by Emily Dickinson analysis
When I was one-and-twenty by Alfred Edward Housman analysis