'Elegy VII' by John Donne
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Nature's lay idiot, I taught thee to love,
And in that sophistry, Oh, thou dost prove
Too subtle: Foole, thou didst not understand
The mystic language of the eye nor hand:
Nor couldst thou judge the difference of the air
Of sighs, and say, This lies, this sounds despair:
Nor by th' eyes water call a malady
Desperately hot, or changing feverously.
I had not taught thee, then, the Alphabet
Of flowers, how they devisefully being set
And bound up might with speechless secrecy
Deliver errands mutely, and mutually.
Remember since all thy words used to be
To every suitor, Ay, if my friends agree;
Since, household charms, thy husband's name to teach,
Were all the love tricks that thy wit could reach;
And since, an hour's discourse could scarce have made
One answer in thee, and that ill arrayed
In broken proverbs and torn sentences.
Thou art not by so many duties his,
That from the world's Common having severed thee,
Inlaid thee, neither to be seen, nor see,
As mine: who have with amorous delicacies
Refined thee into a blisful Paradise.
Thy graces and good words my creatures be;
I planted knowledge and life's tree in thee,
Which Oh, shall strangers taste? Must I alas
Frame and enamel plate, and drink in glass?
Chaf wax for others' seals? break a colt's force
And leave him then, being made a ready horse?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Elegy VII by John Donne: A Masterful Exploration of Grief and Immortality
John Donne's Elegy VII is a deeply emotional and intellectually challenging meditation on grief, death, and the quest for immortality. Written in the tradition of the Renaissance elegy, which celebrated the memory of a dead person and expressed the poet's own emotions, the poem is a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry that combines wit, passion, and philosophical reflection in a unique and powerful way. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, structure, language, and imagery of Elegy VII and analyze how they contribute to the poem's meaning and impact.
The Theme of Grief and Immortality
The central theme of Elegy VII is grief and the search for immortality. The poem begins with a lamentation over the death of a young woman, whose beauty and virtue are praised in glowing terms. The poet expresses his sorrow and longing for her, and his desire to preserve her memory from oblivion:
Beauty, sweet love, is like the morning dew,
Whose short refresh upon the tender green
Cheers for a time, but till the sun doth show,
And straight is gone, as it had never been.
Here, the poet compares the beauty of the woman to the morning dew, which is transient and ephemeral. He acknowledges the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitability of death, but he also suggests that the memory of the beloved can be preserved through art and poetry. The elegy itself becomes a kind of immortality, a way of keeping alive the memory of the dead through words and images.
But the poem also goes beyond the personal lament of the poet and raises larger questions about the meaning and purpose of life, the nature of the soul, and the possibility of eternal life. The poet argues that the true value of life lies not in its external achievements or pleasures, but in its capacity for spiritual growth and transformation:
But souls that of his own good life partake,
He loves as his own self; dear as his eye
They are to Him: He'll never them forsake:
When they shall die, then God himself shall die:
They live, they live in blest eternity.
Here, the poet asserts that the soul is immortal and that God loves it as his own self. He suggests that our ultimate destiny is to live in blessed eternity, where we will be united with God and with our loved ones who have died. This vision of immortality is not based on external rewards or punishments, but on the inner transformation of the soul through love and faith.
The Structure and Language of Elegy VII
The structure of Elegy VII is complex and multi-layered, reflecting the poet's intellectual and emotional depth. The elegy consists of 48 lines, divided into eight stanzas of six lines each, with a rhyme scheme of ababcdcd. The elegiac form, with its alternating hexameter and pentameter lines, gives the poem a musical and elegiac tone, while the rhyme scheme creates a sense of unity and coherence. The poem is also marked by a series of rhetorical devices, such as alliteration, assonance, and antithesis, which add to its poetic force and expressiveness.
The language of Elegy VII is rich, dense, and highly allusive, drawing on a wide range of literary, philosophical, and religious sources. The poem is full of metaphors, similes, and other figures of speech that create a vivid and complex picture of the beloved and of the poet's feelings for her. For example, the poet compares the beloved to a flower that withers and dies:
Sweet rose, fair flower, untimely plucked, soon vaded,
Plucked in the bud, and vaded in the spring!
Here, the metaphor of the rose suggests the fragility and beauty of life, while the image of plucking and fading emphasizes the suddenness and sadness of the beloved's death. The poet also uses metaphors drawn from classical mythology, such as the image of Charon, the ferryman of the dead:
And now she's gone, whom I loved so long,
Whom I loved so long and kissed so oft,
And as my sweetest verse and prose,
Has laid herself to rest, and I to wail
That so much love for thee lies buried with thee,
And yet is not even the picture left behind.
Here, the reference to Charon emphasizes the idea of crossing over to the other side, where the beloved is now residing. The reference to the picture suggests the power of art to preserve the memory of the dead, but also its limitations in capturing the fullness and complexity of human experience.
The Imagery and Symbolism of Elegy VII
The imagery and symbolism of Elegy VII are rich and varied, drawing on a wide range of sources and traditions. The poem is full of images of nature, such as the morning dew, the rose, the flower, and the bird, which suggest the transience and fragility of life. The poet also uses images of light and darkness, such as the sun and the shadow, to create a sense of contrast and tension between life and death.
One of the most striking symbols in the poem is the image of the phoenix, the legendary bird that rises from its own ashes. The poet uses this symbol to suggest the possibility of rebirth and renewal, and to express his faith in the immortality of the soul:
But our soul, whose no more bounds nor space requires,
Enclosed in her dear womb of her pure fire,
Born of high love, to aspire
To a fairer life than this frail flesh inherits,
Must hud her wings, when she begins to rise,
And with new plumes, a new Phoenix cries.
Here, the image of the phoenix suggests the idea of transformation and transcendence, as the soul sheds its mortal body and rises to a higher plane of existence. The image of the new plumes emphasizes the idea of renewal and rebirth, as the soul is transformed into a new and more glorious form.
Conclusion: A Masterful Exploration of Grief and Immortality
In conclusion, John Donne's Elegy VII is a masterful exploration of grief and immortality, combining intellectual depth, emotional intensity, and poetic beauty in a unique and powerful way. The poem expresses the personal lament of the poet over the death of a young woman, while also raising larger questions about the meaning and purpose of life and the possibility of eternal life. Through its complex structure, rich language, and vivid imagery, the poem creates a powerful and lasting impression on the reader, inviting us to reflect on our own mortality and the deeper mysteries of human existence.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Elegy VII by John Donne: A Masterpiece of Metaphysical Poetry
John Donne, the 17th-century English poet, is widely regarded as one of the greatest metaphysical poets of all time. His works are known for their complex and intricate use of metaphors, paradoxes, and conceits, which challenge the reader's intellect and imagination. Among his many works, Elegy VII stands out as a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry, which explores the themes of love, death, and the transience of life. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its language, structure, and meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, who has died and left him alone in the world. He laments her passing and expresses his grief in a series of metaphors that compare her to various natural phenomena. He says that she was like the sun, which gives light and warmth to the world, but has now set and left him in darkness. He also compares her to a flower that has withered and died, leaving only its fragrance behind. These metaphors are typical of Donne's style, which uses elaborate comparisons to convey complex emotions and ideas.
The speaker then turns his attention to the nature of love itself, which he sees as a force that transcends death and time. He says that his love for his beloved is not diminished by her death, but rather, it has become more intense and pure. He compares his love to a flame that burns brighter in the darkness, and to a diamond that shines more brightly when it is polished. These metaphors suggest that love is a powerful and enduring force that can overcome even the greatest obstacles.
The poem then takes a philosophical turn, as the speaker reflects on the nature of life and death. He says that life is like a dream, which is fleeting and transitory, and that death is like waking up from that dream. He compares life to a river that flows inexorably towards the sea, and death to the ocean, which is the ultimate destination of all rivers. These metaphors suggest that life is a journey that leads inevitably to death, and that death is a natural and necessary part of that journey.
The speaker then turns his attention to the afterlife, which he sees as a continuation of the journey of life. He says that his beloved has not truly died, but has merely embarked on a new journey, which will take her to a better place. He compares her to a traveler who has left one country for another, and to a bird that has flown from one nest to another. These metaphors suggest that death is not an end, but a new beginning, and that the afterlife is a continuation of the journey of life.
The poem concludes with the speaker expressing his hope that he will one day be reunited with his beloved in the afterlife. He says that he will continue to love her, even in death, and that their love will endure forever. He compares their love to a flame that burns eternally, and to a star that shines forever in the sky. These metaphors suggest that love is a timeless and eternal force that transcends even death.
In terms of its structure, Elegy VII is a typical example of Donne's style, which uses complex and intricate patterns of rhyme and meter. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which consists of ten syllables per line, with the stress falling on every other syllable. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG, which creates a sense of symmetry and balance. The use of enjambment, which is the continuation of a sentence from one line to the next, creates a sense of fluidity and movement, which mirrors the themes of the poem.
In conclusion, Elegy VII is a masterpiece of metaphysical poetry, which explores the themes of love, death, and the transience of life. Through its use of complex metaphors and intricate patterns of rhyme and meter, the poem challenges the reader's intellect and imagination, and invites us to reflect on the nature of our own mortality. It is a testament to the enduring power of love, which can overcome even the greatest obstacles, and a reminder that death is not an end, but a new beginning. As such, it remains a timeless and enduring work of literature, which continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
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