DONNE AO3:
John Donne:
Had legal training – good way to get into the court.
1596 – Sailed to Cadiz to fight the Spanish w/Earl of Essex.
Money became an issue after marriage to Ann Moore – had to write poetry for patrons, eg;
Countess of Bedford (Twicknam Garden).
1623 – fell ill, nearly fatal. Was ill since early 1600’s.
Died 1631.
AO2: Writing style:
Early – often written for his friends; satires/jokes.
Abrupt openings.
His poetic metre was structured with changing/jagged rhythms that closely resembled casual
speech.
Disliked authority – eg; Ann’s father, pompous courtiers
MAJOR CHARACTERISTIC: paradoxes, wit, wordplay.
Conceits – an extended metaphor that combines two vastly different ideas into a single idea,
often using imagery:
Petrarchan conceit: clichéd comparisons between closely related objects, eg;
rose/love.
Metaphysical conceit: compare two completely unlike objects:
The Canonization – Lovers/saints.
A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", he compares two lovers who are
separated to the two legs of a compass.
Often uses religious terms in love poetry.
Did not respect conventions of Elizabethan love poetry (hence why he is a metaphysical
poet, a phrase coined in 1781 by Johnson):
Idealized mistress (eg; The Comparison)
The chaste Mistress (eg; Mistress Going To Bed)
Metaphysical poetry:
Conceits.
Compressed/difficult structure. Each line adds to the poet’s arguments – v little
ornamental writing.
Often emphasises that sex is natural – completely goes against social conventions.
Thorough understanding of mythology. Catholics are v superstitious and this can also be
seen through his poetry.
Tone: Bullying, persuasive/argumentative, arrogant, cynical.
Object of his love poetry is anonymous – but later poems suggest that they are written to
Ann Moore.
Ann Moore:
Donne worked for her father (social superior).
1601, secret marriage as she had fallen pregnant, she was also underage. Donne was
imprisoned for this. CAREER WAS RUINED. He was released after proving the marriage was
valid.
John Donne:
Had legal training – good way to get into the court.
1596 – Sailed to Cadiz to fight the Spanish w/Earl of Essex.
Money became an issue after marriage to Ann Moore – had to write poetry for patrons, eg;
Countess of Bedford (Twicknam Garden).
1623 – fell ill, nearly fatal. Was ill since early 1600’s.
Died 1631.
AO2: Writing style:
Early – often written for his friends; satires/jokes.
Abrupt openings.
His poetic metre was structured with changing/jagged rhythms that closely resembled casual
speech.
Disliked authority – eg; Ann’s father, pompous courtiers
MAJOR CHARACTERISTIC: paradoxes, wit, wordplay.
Conceits – an extended metaphor that combines two vastly different ideas into a single idea,
often using imagery:
Petrarchan conceit: clichéd comparisons between closely related objects, eg;
rose/love.
Metaphysical conceit: compare two completely unlike objects:
The Canonization – Lovers/saints.
A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", he compares two lovers who are
separated to the two legs of a compass.
Often uses religious terms in love poetry.
Did not respect conventions of Elizabethan love poetry (hence why he is a metaphysical
poet, a phrase coined in 1781 by Johnson):
Idealized mistress (eg; The Comparison)
The chaste Mistress (eg; Mistress Going To Bed)
Metaphysical poetry:
Conceits.
Compressed/difficult structure. Each line adds to the poet’s arguments – v little
ornamental writing.
Often emphasises that sex is natural – completely goes against social conventions.
Thorough understanding of mythology. Catholics are v superstitious and this can also be
seen through his poetry.
Tone: Bullying, persuasive/argumentative, arrogant, cynical.
Object of his love poetry is anonymous – but later poems suggest that they are written to
Ann Moore.
Ann Moore:
Donne worked for her father (social superior).
1601, secret marriage as she had fallen pregnant, she was also underage. Donne was
imprisoned for this. CAREER WAS RUINED. He was released after proving the marriage was
valid.
