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Death Be not Proud

            
             John Donne's Death Be Not Proud dramatizes the conflict between appearance and reality through the use of rhyme scheme, imagery, and language throughout the poem. He reveals the true nature of Death as opposed to the public perception of it. The speaker tells Death that it should not feel proud although some people have called it "mighty and dreadful" (2). Death is merely a short sleep and a gateway into eternal life where death will no longer exist. "Death, thou shalt die" (14).
             This sonnet is written in a combination Petrarchan/Shakespearean rhyme scheme. This convoluted and unusual rhyme scheme of abbaabbacddcae dramatizes the tension of the fear of death in the octave, sensationalizes the anger felt by the speaker in the quatrain, and hastily resolves it in the couplet. This unusual rhyme scheme also suggests that Death and the fear of it transcends countries. John Donne was raised a Catholic but became an Anglican priest. He uses a combination of rhyme schemes to show the religious connection between Catholicism and Anglicanism. Petrarch was Italian and was a devout Catholic. Shakespeare was English where the official religion was Anglican. The body of the poem is written in Petrarchan rhyme scheme while the final couplet is in Shakespearean form. This symbolizes his conversion to Anglicanism in the latter stages of his life. In the first quatrain the speaker explains how Death is not powerful. He uses awkward syntax in line three that reinforces the tension in the sonnet by forcing the reader to convolute his mind in order to understand the poem. This convoluting of syntax also expresses the meaning of this quatrain; that things are not always what they seem.
             In the second quatrain, the speaker attempts to alleviate the fear of dying. The speaker, obviously a very religious man, reasons that death must be a form of rest much more peaceful than sleep. However, he admits that he is not sure that sleep is even that peaceful and that he only pictures it to be that way.


Essays Related to Death Be not Proud

1. Ozymandias and Death Be Not Proud

On the other hand, John Donne's, "Death be not Proud, though some have called thee", addresses the facts that "Death" is not the end of the life but in many ways a new beginning. ... "Penta" because each line of the sonnet could be read in five syllables like: "Death be/ not proud/ though some/ have called/ ed thee" – "Mighty/ and dread/ full, for, thou art/ not so," and so on. ... He believes that death only involves the physical aspects of life and not the spiritual. The poet is saying "Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou ...

  • Word Count: 951
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Death Be Not Proud

Death Be Not Proud As a religious work, this sermon brings an inner peace and sanctity to the audience. ... Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me These opening stanzas are bold, a very fitting entrance for pride. ... In John Donne's poem, "Death Be Not Proud", also known as Holy Sonnet X, many novel ideas are presented regarding death. ... Death cannot be proud our haughty because mortal men can do exactly what death does, and better...

  • Word Count: 1142
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Death, Be Not Proud

Title of Work: Death, be not proud Author: John Donne John Donne's Death, be not proud is a particularly interesting poem that expresses the act of dying as something natural and pleasant abandoning the reputation it has held for being frightening or powerful. The speaker notes that those whom Death thinks it kills do not truly die and that it will definitely not kill him. ... Drugs and potions can make people sleep as well, or better than Death, so it should not be so proud. ... The author wants those who read Death, be not proud to question Death and how people look at i...

  • Word Count: 755
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Death Be Not Proud and Wit

There are also a great deal of Donne's poems with 'Death Be Not Proud' and 'This is My Playes Last Scene' conveying the theme the most. ... Likewise, John Donne's poem 'Death Be Not Proud' conveys the theme of avoiding the concept of death. The speaker of this poem personifies death, informing it that it isn't intimidating and it cant stop him from doing anything, death be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful". ... The speaker talks in contradictions, saying that people don't really die when they meet Death "For, those, w...

  • Word Count: 949
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Death Be Not Proud

His most celebrated work on death "Death Be Not Proud" is divided into three parts. ... The three parts of "Death Be Not Proud" both resemble and differ in Vivian's process of dying. ... Contrary to what it seems, death is not victorious over Vivian's death. ... He is not afraid of death, does not have respect for it, and knows that it's not triumphant over humanity. ... Cited Sources • John Donne, Death Be Not Proud, Divine Meditation 10. ...

  • Word Count: 1107
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Death

Death, be not Proud This short poem I think deals with the endless subject of death and dying. Donne uses this poem to voice his view that death is not something to be feared as it oftentimes is. ... Donne effectively uses tone in "Death, be not proud" to strengthen the poem's theme. ... In lines 1-2, he says, "Death, be not proud, though some have called thee, Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so". In other words, although many may believe death to be dreadful, he feels this is not so. ...

  • Word Count: 382
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Death

In the two passages "Death be not Proud" and "The Death of Ivan Illych," both Leo Tolstoy and John Donne use various literally techniques in order to show their dissimilar attitudes towards death. ... In "Death be not Proud," by John Donne, Death is even being pitied. ... When he says "Death be not proud" and that shows he is not afraid to stand up to death and shout at it. ... He is trying to convince people that death should not be feared and enlighten them that this is not the end in quote" Death, be not proud, though some have called thee." ... "Die not poor death, nor yet canst thou ki...

  • Word Count: 1035
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Mozart in All His Fine Glory

What a name, but this was not his given Christian name. ... It is a sorrowful thought to know of his early death. ... A proud achievement for any soul I would dare to say. ... In life, death is a companion. ... Mozart and Constanze were the proud parents of six (6) children. ...

  • Word Count: 1703
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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