John Donne, born 1572, died 1631, wrote poems for an elite society of friends, and circulated them only in manuscript form. ... Donne's poems primarily dealt with love. ... The first stanza of Donne's poem conveys the speaker's envy toward the flea. ... According to Hans Robert Jauss's theory of horizons of expectation, Donne's poem contains a different meaning today than it did in it's own time period. ...

• Word Count: 1016
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School