The setting of the Holy Sonnet 14, "Batter My Heart," is assumed to be set during late 16th to early 17th century England. ... John Donne was offered the position of Anglican priest and shortly thereafter he wrote the holy sonnet "Batter My Heart" among other poems. ... Here the speaker seeks to be saved by way of a violent force because he has not the strength to escape on his own; his spirit is willing but his flesh will not allow it to be broken away from his sinful nature. ... Conclusion In this Holy Sonnet, John Donne portrays an anguishing heart perfectly. ...

• Word Count: 1793
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Summary Angrily, the speaker accuses the modern age of having lost its connection to nature and to everything meaningful: "Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: / Little we see in Nature that is ours; / We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!" ... Because pagans created a colourful mythology out of their awe of Nature. On the whole, this sonnet offers an angry summation of the familiar Wordsworthian theme of communion with nature, and states precisely how far the early nineteenth century was from living out the Wordsworthian ideal (Sparknotes.com, 2003). ... Little we see...

• Word Count: 1150
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School