'A Hymn To Christ At The Author's Last Going Into Germany' by John Donne
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
In what torn ship soever I embark,
That ship shall be my emblem of thy Ark;
What sea soever swallow me, that flood
Shall be to me an emblem of thy blood;
Though thou with clouds of anger do disguise
Thy face, yet through that mask I know those eyes,
Which, though they turn away sometimes,
They never will despise.I sacrifice this Island unto thee,
And all whom I loved there, and who loved me;
When I have put our seas 'twixt them and me,
Put thou thy sea betwixt my sins and thee.
As the tree's sap doth seek the root below
In winter, in my winter now I go,
Where none but thee, th' Eternal root
Of true Love, I may know.Nor thou nor thy religion dost control
The amorousness of an harmonious Soul,
But thou wouldst have that love thyself: as thou
Art jealous, Lord, so I am jealous now,
Thou lov'st not, till from loving more, Thou free
My soul: who ever gives, takes liberty:
O, if thou car'st not whom I love
Alas, thou lov'st not me.Seal then this bill of my Divorce to All,
On whom those fainter beams of love did fall;
Marry those loves, which in youth scattered be
On Fame, Wit, Hopes (false mistresses) to thee.
Churches are best for Prayer, that have least light:
To see God only, I go out of sight:
And to 'scape stormy days, I choose
An Everlasting night.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Hymn To Christ At The Author's Last Going Into Germany by John Donne
As someone who loves poetry, I have always been fascinated by the works of John Donne. His use of metaphysical conceits and religious themes make his poetry unique and intriguing. One of his most famous works is "A Hymn To Christ At The Author's Last Going Into Germany." This poem was written by Donne in 1619, just before he left England to become a chaplain for the English embassy in Germany.
Overview of the Poem
"A Hymn To Christ At The Author's Last Going Into Germany" is a religious poem that is written in the form of a hymn. The poem is divided into nine stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or sets of two syllables. The poem uses a lot of religious imagery and metaphors to express the poet's feelings about leaving England and heading to Germany.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem begins with the speaker addressing Christ and asking for his protection as he travels to Germany. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker expressing his faith in Christ and his belief that Christ will guide him on his journey:
In what torn ship soever I embark,
That ship shall be my emblem of thy Ark;
What sea soever swallow me, that flood
Shall be to me an emblem of thy blood.
The speaker compares himself to a ship that is setting sail, but he believes that Christ will protect him and guide him through any storms or difficulties that he may encounter on his journey.
The second stanza continues with the theme of the speaker's faith in Christ. The speaker says that he is not afraid of death because he knows that Christ has conquered death:
Though thou with clouds of anger do disguise
Thy face, yet through that mask I know those eyes,
Which, though they turn away sometimes,
They never will despise.
The speaker believes that even if God seems angry or distant at times, he knows that Christ is always there, watching over him and protecting him.
The third stanza introduces a new theme, that of the speaker's separation from his homeland. The speaker expresses his sadness at leaving England and his loved ones behind:
I sacrifice this island unto thee,
And all whom I loved there, and who loved me;
When I have put our seas 'twixt them and me,
Put thou thy seas betwixt my sins and thee.
The speaker is willing to give up everything he loves in England in order to serve Christ in Germany. He asks Christ to put a distance between him and his sins, just as there is now a physical distance between him and his homeland.
The fourth stanza returns to the theme of the speaker's faith in Christ. The speaker says that he is not afraid of the devil or any other evil forces because he knows that Christ is more powerful:
As the tree's sap doth seek the root below
In winter, in my winter now I go,
Where none but thee, th' eternal root of true,
Is heard or canst be heard by wretched mortals' ear.
The speaker believes that just as a tree's sap seeks the root in winter, he is seeking Christ as his "eternal root of true." He is confident that he will find Christ in Germany, even though he may be separated from his friends and family.
The fifth stanza is a continuation of the theme of separation. The speaker acknowledges that he will miss his friends and family, but he is willing to leave them behind in order to serve Christ:
To what can I give witness or assurance
When all my pillars are removed at once?
Thy word, my faith's assurance,
Sealed by my outward sense.
The speaker is willing to give up everything he loves in order to serve Christ, and he believes that his faith in Christ's word is enough to sustain him.
The sixth stanza returns to the theme of the speaker's faith in Christ. The speaker says that he is not afraid of death because he knows that Christ has already conquered death:
I know my soul hath power to know all things,
Yet is she blind and ignorant in all;
I know I'm one of Nature's little kings,
Yet to the least and vilest things am thrall.
The speaker acknowledges his own limitations and his own mortality, but he is confident that Christ will protect him and guide him through any difficulties he may encounter.
The seventh stanza is a continuation of the theme of the speaker's separation from his homeland. The speaker says that he is willing to leave England behind in order to serve Christ:
I know my route; all else thou know'st is mine;
I know my country's rights, and thine are thine;
Shall I restore her rights to her, and die?
Teach me to love thee, and I shall be free from pride.
The speaker is willing to sacrifice everything he loves in England in order to serve Christ in Germany. He asks Christ to teach him how to love him, so that he can be free from pride and other sins.
The eighth stanza returns to the theme of the speaker's faith in Christ. The speaker says that he is not afraid of death, because he knows that Christ has already conquered death:
Teach me to love thee, and, by thy decree,
Revoke that sentence which gave death to me;
And when this dust falls to the urn,
In that state I came, return.
The speaker asks Christ to teach him how to love him, and to revoke the sentence of death that was given to him. He hopes that when he dies, he will return to the state in which he came, and be reunited with Christ.
The final stanza is a summary of the themes of the poem. The speaker acknowledges his own limitations and his own mortality, but he is confident that Christ will protect him and guide him through any difficulties that he may encounter:
And do not so much as our joys fulfill,
But in thy 'boutique' go and ask thy will;
I would but thank thee, and, desiring still,
I would be used by thee, not according to my skill.
The speaker is willing to submit to Christ's will, even if it means sacrificing his own desires and abilities. He hopes that he will be used by Christ, not according to his own skill, but according to Christ's will.
Conclusion
"A Hymn To Christ At The Author's Last Going Into Germany" is a powerful poem that expresses John Donne's faith in Christ and his willingness to sacrifice everything he loves in order to serve him. The poem uses religious imagery and metaphors to create a sense of awe and reverence, and it is clear that Donne deeply believed in the power of Christ to protect and guide him. Overall, this poem is a testament to the power of faith and the willingness to submit to a higher power.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Donne's "A Hymn to Christ at the Author's Last Going into Germany" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of faith, mortality, and the human condition. Written in the early 17th century, the poem is a testament to Donne's deep religious convictions and his ability to express them in a way that is both profound and accessible.
At its core, "A Hymn to Christ" is a meditation on the nature of faith and the role that it plays in our lives. The poem begins with a declaration of faith, as Donne proclaims his belief in Christ and his willingness to follow him wherever he may lead. This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is marked by a sense of reverence and awe.
Throughout the poem, Donne uses a variety of literary devices to convey his message. One of the most striking is his use of imagery, which is both vivid and evocative. For example, in the second stanza, Donne compares his faith to a ship that is sailing across the sea:
"Since I am coming to that Holy room, Where, with thy Quire of Saints for evermore, I shall be made thy Music; as I come I tune the Instrument here at the door, And what I must do then, think here before."
This image of a ship sailing across the sea is a powerful one, as it suggests both the journey of life and the ultimate destination of the soul. By comparing his faith to a ship, Donne is able to convey the idea that faith is a journey that requires courage, determination, and a willingness to face the unknown.
Another important literary device that Donne uses in "A Hymn to Christ" is repetition. Throughout the poem, he repeats certain phrases and words, such as "I come" and "thy mercy-seat." This repetition serves to reinforce the central themes of the poem and to create a sense of rhythm and momentum.
One of the most striking aspects of "A Hymn to Christ" is its focus on mortality and the inevitability of death. Donne was writing at a time when death was a constant presence in people's lives, due to the prevalence of disease and the high mortality rate. In this context, the poem can be seen as a reflection on the fragility of human life and the need for faith in the face of death.
This theme is particularly evident in the final stanza of the poem, which is a powerful meditation on the nature of death and the hope of eternal life:
"When my last breath shall rend the veil Of flesh and spirit, and to endless joys I shall ascend, where I again shall hail, With all the Saints, th'immortal King of Glory."
Here, Donne is expressing his belief in the afterlife and his hope for eternal salvation. The image of the veil being rent is a powerful one, as it suggests the idea of a final separation between the physical and spiritual realms. This separation is both terrifying and awe-inspiring, and Donne is able to convey this sense of wonder and fear through his use of language and imagery.
In conclusion, "A Hymn to Christ at the Author's Last Going into Germany" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of faith, mortality, and the human condition. Through his use of vivid imagery, repetition, and powerful language, Donne is able to convey the central message of the poem: that faith is a journey that requires courage, determination, and a willingness to face the unknown. At the same time, he is able to express his belief in the afterlife and his hope for eternal salvation, creating a sense of wonder and awe that is both profound and inspiring.
Editor Recommended Sites
Optimization Community: Network and graph optimization using: OR-tools, gurobi, cplex, eclipse, minizincAI Art - Generative Digital Art & Static and Latent Diffusion Pictures: AI created digital art. View AI art & Learn about running local diffusion models
Cloud Governance - GCP Cloud Covernance Frameworks & Cloud Governance Software: Best practice and tooling around Cloud Governance
Infrastructure As Code: Learn cloud IAC for GCP and AWS
Learn by Example: Learn programming, llm fine tuning, computer science, machine learning by example
Recommended Similar Analysis
An Immorality by Ezra Pound analysisSaturday At The Canal by Gary Soto analysis
If you were coming in the fall, by Emily Dickinson analysis
How many times these low feet staggered by Emily Dickinson analysis
Metamorphoses: Book The Sixth by Ovid analysis
For Once, Then, Something by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Leda by H.D. analysis
Youth And Age by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
Hide-And-Seek by Vasko Popa analysis
The Falling Of The Leaves by William Butler Yeats analysis