Death Be Not Proud - 1269 Words

J Singh English Coursework John Donne and Tony Harrison both discuss death in their poems. They were written in different eras and both poems have different views on this subject. John Donne had a rather privileged upbringing as he was born into a prosperous family and studied law at Oxbridge. Donne, however, was also unfortunate as he lost is father very early in his life and this could have affected his views on death. Tony Harrison on the other hand was born into a proud working class family in Leeds. Harrison’s poem is completely opposite to Donne’s as it tells the reader about his personal life and the unfortunate passing of his Mother. â€Å"Death be not Proud† was written three hundred and fifty years ago and written in sonnet†¦show more content†¦Possibly the saddest feature of the poem is the fact that, although both Harrison and his father himself know that the father isn’t coping very well, neither of them can bring themselves to talk about it. This exposes the inability of men (especially old, proud Yorkshire men like Harrison’s father) to speak openly about their feelings. Harrison’s father would see it as a sign of weakness to openly show his great sorrow and his â€Å"still raw love† to his son. The word raw is used to describe his love as an undressed wound and the pain is still constant. The poem is therefore painfully well observed and frustratingly honest. We feel very sorry for Harrison’s father and indeed for Harrison himself, who allowed his father to carry on the pretence without ever feeling able to help. His father is now dead, his phone number i s â€Å"disconnected† and it is too late for Harrison to â€Å"call†. The final verse presents the reader with an antithetic juxtaposition. Harrison begins with stating that, â€Å"I believe life ends with death, and that is all†, (this contrasts to Donne, as he doesn’t believe in the afterlife). However, his actions do not support his statement, as although his parents are both dead, he still keeps their memory alive in his â€Å"new black leather phone book†, still â€Å"calling† their â€Å"disconnected number†. Harrison’s behaviour is hugely ironic, given the almost critical way in which he exposed his father’s frailties in the opening three verses, now, just like hisShow MoreRelatedDeath Be Not Proud1025 Words   |  5 PagesGreg Mohnkern ID: L23191458 WRITING STYLE USED: Essay of poetry (MLA style) Thesis Statement: â€Å"Death be not proud† by John Donne personifies death, as its title aptly prescribes. Giving death human traits allows the writer to blast him with colorful images full of sarcasm and a tone of defiance. The ultimate message of the author provokes the human soul to resist the fear of death. Outline: Introduction: Thesis statement Transition: Discuss the writer’s life in relationshipRead MoreDeath, Be Not Proud1661 Words   |  7 PagesDeath â€Å"Death, be not proud (Holy Sonnet 10)† by John Donne dramatizes the conflict between the perception and the reality of death, through the use of imagery. The speaker completely talks down the common perception of death, stating that even though many have called it â€Å"mighty and dreadful,† it really is not. The speaker compares death to sleep, which is generally an enjoyable thing. The personification of death is something that is popular in culture. Death is often depicted as a skeletal characterRead More Death Be Not Proud Essay821 Words   |  4 Pagesto die? In the memoir Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther, his son Named Johnny is faced with this situation. At an early age, Johnny was found with a brain tumor, and struggles to survive. Johnny later died from the brain tumor. Johnny was loved by many people; much of whom tried his/her best to help Johnny through this ordeal. Although Johnny was faced with death, Johnny faced death with courage throughout the book. Even though Johnny was faced with death, he faced death with courage. Johnny showedRead MoreDeath, Be Not Proud by John Donne755 Words   |  4 Pages In John Donne’s sonnet â€Å"Death, Be Not Proud† death is closely examined and Donne writes about his views on death and his belief that people should not live in fear of death, but embrace it. â€Å"Death, Be Not Proud† is a Shakespearean sonnet that consists of three quatrains and one concluding couplet, of which I individually analyzed each quatrain and the couplet to elucidate Donne’s arguments with death. Donne converses with death, and argues that death is not the universal destroyer of life. He elaboratesRead MoreDeath Be Not Proud By John Donne1329 Words   |  6 PagesThe progression of societal beliefs regarding our approach towards death is dependent upon the changing nature of both cultural and historical contexts. In Donne’s Holy Sonnet ‘Death be not proud’ he uses second person narration to address â€Å"Death† as â€Å"thou†, â€Å"thee† and â€Å"thy†, death is not considered conceptually bu t anthropomorphised as the poems fundamental pride. In ‘Death be not proud’, we see how the rumination of death is shaped by Elizabethan values. Through the subverted Petrarchan structureRead MoreDeath, Be Not Proud, By John Donne1303 Words   |  6 PagesDeath and mortality are common themes widely used throughout poetry and other numerous works of literature. As well as this, death is a common occurrence in life, and though most people refuse to accept or acknowledge it, everyone must deal with it at some point in their lifetime. Whether it be the death of a family member, friend, or the final stages of your own life you will experience death in some way. In the poems, â€Å"Death, be not proud† and â€Å"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,† the speakersRead MoreDeath Be Not Proud By John Donne1908 Words   |  8 PagesJohn Donne’s poem, â€Å"Death Be Not Proud† (1633), is only one of the impressive poems in his collection: The Holy S onnets. In â€Å"Death Be Not Proud†, Donne expresses his Anglican beliefs as he addresses death’s fraudulent image and unjustified pride. Donne’s audience is death, but his poem is also intended for its  readers, who  Ã¢â‚¬Å"some have called [death] / Mighty and dreadful† (1-2). He begins the poem with a calm, conversational tone, but becomes more aggressive and expositive as his poem progresses.Read MoreJohn Donne Death Be Not Proud Analysis799 Words   |  4 PagesIs Death the Finale? Death has always been an intriguing topic in literature. Writers have been confounded by the idea of death and the unknown afterlife for centuries. Some people believe death is the end of all things because nothing can withstand it. In John Donne’s poem, â€Å"Death, be not proud,† the poet explains his personal understanding of death and its permanence. This poem is a narrative sonnet. Although this sonnet follows the rhyme scheme of an Italian sonnet (abba cddc effe gg), it alsoRead MoreAnalysis Of Death Be Not Proud By John Donne745 Words   |  3 PagesThe Holy Sonnet, â€Å"Death Be Not Proud† written by John Donne. He was the founder of metaphysical poems in the Elizabeth period and a religious figure. A Metaphysical Poetic style maybe philosophical and spiritual subjects that were approached with reason and often concluded in paradox. Metaphysical poets examined serious questions about existence of God the Holy Sonnet 10 was one of nineteen other Holy So nnets he wrote. Donne was famous for his poems of life, death, and religion. This poem was writtenRead MoreAnalysis Of Death Be Not Proud By John Donne1488 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout his poems, John Donne uses literary devices, such as imagery and diction, to discuss an overarching theme of death along with its religious implications, done most noticeably in the Holy Sonnet â€Å"Death Be Not Proud† and the lyrical poem â€Å"Hymn to God, My God, In My Sickness.† He also elaborates on the complexity of emotion, particularly in the metaphysical love poem, â€Å"The Flea.† Donne’s witty and clever style paired with his affinity for social and religious commentary allows his works to