John Donne: Holy Sonnets

Okay, so I had a hard time with the Holy Sonnets. I talked to Mr. Laz and he helped me out a lot. So I hope this helps all of you too.

Since this is a sonnet. It is best to take the poems 4 lines at a time. Also note line 9 because that is the turn.

VII.

**So the whole poem is about Revelations. Revelations is the last book of the bible which prophesies the end of the world.**

Lines 1-4:

• In these lines Donne is saying that he believes in Revelations. Notice the verbs he is using. "Blow your trumpets, angels, and arise, arise" It seems like Donne is commanding that doomsday should come. This odd because only god can decide when this day should arrive.

Lines 5-8:

• Line 5 the flood is referring to the flood of Noah. This line is saying like the flood that covered the earth, the earth will be engulfed in flames i.e. hell.
• In Lines 6 and 7 are the signs, according to Revelations, that warn us that the world is going to end.
• Line 8 says when the world is going to end you are going to face god and his judgment but you won't experience death. (So it can happen anytime, be prepared)
  

Lines 9-12:

• Line 9 **the turn** This line is very important. In this line Donne is begging God to spare fortunate souls at let them rest. Up until this point Donne has been asking for judgment day to come. He is commanding for it to come soon.
  
• Then in Line 10 and 12 you see that Donne states that he has an abundance of sins and he is late to ask for forgiveness on this earth.

Lines 13- 14:

• Donne then ask God to teach him how to repent on earth because it will be too late on judgment day.
  

**This Poems is also speaking out against hubris, as well.**



XIV.


Line 1-4:

• In Line 1 Donne is saying that god is too kind.
• Then in Line 2-4 he is asking God to knock him down and build him back up again

Lines 5-8:

• Donne compares himself to a conquer town. He is conquered by sin/evil/devil. God gave man reason. Reason is what separates us from the animals. It can get us into trouble but also out of trouble. That is the viceroy that Donne can use to defend himself. However, he still looses because he is weak.

Line 9-12

• Donne says that he loves god but he is engaged to his enemy. This is the start of Donne's conceit. Marriage is supposed to be something sacred. Donne is saying that he has turned some thing sacred like marriage into evil. So to stop this marriage they must divorce, which is something that the church is against at that time. Since Donne turn something sacred (marriage) into something evil. The only way to turn it sacred again is to do something bad to it.
• Then in Line 12 Donne ask god to imprison him.
  

Lines 13-14

• Donne continues and tells us that he must be imprisoned by God. He cannot be free unless imprisoned. He also asked God to ravish him, which is a more pleasant term for rape. But enthrall and ravish also have a double meaning. It also mean powerful feeling of joy.

Overall

• This poems says that God causes an sense of wonder and happiness, but he is also powerful strong and even violent. He needs to be this way to keep man kind in check. By him punishing us we can see the error in our ways.

Tiff T