'The Sun Rising' by John Donne
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Busy old fool, unruly sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows and through curtains, call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers' seasons run?
Saucy pedantic wretch, go chide
Late schoolboys and sour 'prentices,
Go tell court-huntsmen that the King will ride,
Call country ants to harvest offices;
Love, all alike, no season knows, nor clime,
Nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time.
Thy beams so reverend and strong
Why shouldst thou think?
I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink
But that I would not lose her sight so long:
If her eyes have not blinded thine,
Look, and, tomorrow late, tell me
Whether both th' Indias of spice and mine
Be where thou left'st them, or lie here with me.
Ask for those kings whom thou saw'st yesterday,
And thou shalt hear 'All here in one bed lay'.
She is all states, and all princes I;
Nothing else is.
Princes do but play us; compared to this,
All honour's mimic, all wealth alchemy.
Thou, sun, art half as happy as we,
In that the world's contracted thus;
Thine age asks ease, and since thy duties be
To warm the world, that's done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere;
This bed thy centre is, these walls thy sphere.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Sun Rising
John Donne's poem, The Sun Rising, is a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry. It is a complex yet beautiful work that explores the theme of love, while also commenting on the nature of time and the universe. The poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, with the speaker addressing the rising sun and commanding it to stay in bed with him and his lover. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll dive deeper into the themes and literary devices employed in this classic piece of poetry.
The Poem's Structure and Form
The Sun Rising is a lyric poem that consists of three stanzas, each containing ten lines. The poem has a regular rhyme scheme of AABBCCDDDCE, with the last line of each stanza serving as a refrain. The poem's meter is irregular, with lines varying in length from four to eleven syllables. This irregularity adds to the poem's musicality, allowing it to be read aloud in a way that captures the poem's essence and rhythm.
The poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, with the speaker addressing the sun in a commanding and playful tone. The use of the monologue form allows the speaker to express his feelings without interruption, while also creating a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader.
The Themes of Love and Time
The Sun Rising is a love poem that explores the nature of love and its effect on time and the universe. The poem's speaker is in bed with his lover, and he commands the sun to stay in bed with them, stating that their love is more important than the daily routines of the world. The speaker's love for his partner is so strong that he believes that time itself should revolve around their love.
The poem's theme of love is also reflected in the use of metaphors and imagery. The speaker compares his lover to a whole world, stating that he has all he needs in her. He also compares the sun to a busy court, with its officials rushing around to do their duties. This metaphor is used to show the speaker's disdain for the busy world outside, as he believes that their love is all that matters.
The theme of time is also present in the poem, with the speaker commanding the sun to stop its daily routine and stay in bed with him and his lover. This use of time as a theme is further shown in the poem's refrain, which states that "Love, all alike, no season knows, nor clime, nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time." This refrain serves to show that love is timeless and can exist outside of the constraints of time.
The Literary Devices Employed in the Poem
The Sun Rising is a poem that employs a variety of literary devices, including metaphors, personification, and allusion. The use of metaphor is seen in the poem's opening lines, where the speaker compares his lover to a whole world, stating that he has all he needs in her. The use of this metaphor serves to show the depth of the speaker's love for his partner.
Personification is also used in the poem, with the speaker addressing the sun as a person and commanding it to stay in bed with him and his lover. This use of personification serves to show the speaker's control over the world around him, as he believes that his love is more important than the daily routines of the world.
Allusion is also present in the poem, with the speaker referencing the "Indies of spice and mine" and the "princes do but play us." These allusions serve to show the speaker's disdain for the world outside of his bed, as he believes that his love is more valuable than the treasures and power of the world.
The Tone of the Poem
The tone of The Sun Rising is playful and commanding, with the speaker commanding the sun to stay in bed with him and his lover. The use of the monologue form allows the speaker to express his feelings in a way that is both playful and intimate. The tone of the poem is also reflective, as the speaker muses on the nature of love and time, and their effect on the universe.
The Significance of the Poem
The Sun Rising is a significant poem in the history of English literature, as it is a prime example of metaphysical poetry. The poem's use of metaphors, personification, and allusion serve to create a complex and beautiful work that explores the themes of love and time. The poem's structure and form also serve to create a musicality that captures the poem's essence and rhythm.
The poem's significance is further shown in its influence on later poets. The theme of love and time is a common one in literature, and The Sun Rising served as a template for future poets, such as William Shakespeare and Andrew Marvell.
Conclusion
The Sun Rising is a beautiful and complex work of poetry that explores the themes of love and time. The poem's use of metaphors, personification, and allusion create a depth of meaning that reflects the complexities of the universe. The poem's structure and form serve to create a musicality that captures the poem's essence and rhythm. The poem's playful and commanding tone, together with its reflective musings on the nature of love and time, make it a significant work in the history of English literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Sun Rising: A Poem of Love and Defiance
John Donne's "The Sun Rising" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. Written in the 17th century, this poem is a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry that explores the themes of love, time, and the power of the human will. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem, and explore the ways in which it continues to resonate with readers today.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the sun, which has just risen and is shining into his bedroom. The speaker is annoyed by the sun's intrusion, and demands that it go away and stop disturbing his sleep. He tells the sun that it has no power over him, and that he is the master of his own fate. The speaker's defiance is evident in his tone, as he challenges the sun's authority and asserts his own.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem, and establishes the speaker's attitude towards the sun. He sees the sun as an unwelcome intruder, and refuses to acknowledge its power. The use of the word "busy old fool" to describe the sun is particularly striking, as it suggests that the speaker sees the sun as a nuisance, rather than a source of light and warmth.
In the second stanza, the speaker continues his tirade against the sun, and mocks its supposed power over the world. He tells the sun that it is not as important as it thinks it is, and that it cannot control the movements of the earth. The speaker's use of hyperbole in this stanza is particularly effective, as it emphasizes the absurdity of the sun's supposed power.
The third stanza of the poem marks a shift in tone, as the speaker turns his attention to his lover. He tells her that their love is more important than anything else in the world, and that it transcends time and space. The speaker's use of the phrase "Love, all alike, no season knows nor clime" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that love is a universal force that is not bound by the constraints of time or geography.
In the fourth stanza, the speaker continues to extol the virtues of love, and suggests that it is more powerful than any other force in the world. He tells his lover that they are the center of the universe, and that nothing else matters as long as they are together. The speaker's use of the phrase "She's all states, and all princes, I" is particularly striking, as it suggests that the speaker and his lover are more important than any political or social hierarchy.
The final stanza of the poem brings the speaker's tirade against the sun full circle, as he tells the sun that it is not as important as his lover. He suggests that the sun should go and bother other people, and leave him and his lover alone. The speaker's defiance in this stanza is particularly powerful, as it suggests that he is willing to challenge even the most powerful forces in the world in order to protect his love.
Overall, "The Sun Rising" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of love, time, and the power of the human will. The speaker's defiance in the face of the sun's supposed power is particularly striking, and suggests that love is a force that can overcome even the most powerful of obstacles. The poem's use of hyperbole and metaphor is particularly effective, as it emphasizes the absurdity of the sun's supposed power, and highlights the importance of love in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, "The Sun Rising" is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its exploration of the themes of love, time, and the power of the human will make it a timeless masterpiece of metaphysical poetry. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who appreciates the power of language, "The Sun Rising" is a poem that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
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