Holy Sonnet 10 Tone
The words “Death, be not proud” open John Donne’s Holy Sonnet 10, setting the tone, as the narrator addresses death himself. Donne, inspired by his experiences with religion, wrote a collection of poems known as “The Divine poems,” in which he establishes a connection between the narrator, and God. Holy Sonnet 10 is unique in that, the narrator addresses not God, but Death. As explored by both Joanne Woolway and Roberta J. Albrecht, Donne employs masterful use of apostrophe to address death, stylized structure giving rise to ambiguity, and the paradox of the death of christ, to convey a powerful, yet questioning, poem on death.
Donne was born in London in 1572, belonging to a modestly wealthy Roman Catholic family, with a rich religious background. During the 16th century, England was dominated by the Anglican church, making Donne a religious outcast …show more content…
During his younger years, Donne studied at Oxford, earning a degree in law. Later, he went on to sail with English expeditions against the Spanish, which inspired some of his youthful writing, such as the poems The Storm and The Calm (Colclough 1-16). Afterwards, Donne became entangled in an engagement to Ann Moore, which, upon the disapproval of the father, fostered imprisonment for Donne, for a short time. During the next few years of Donne’s life, he switched from Roman Catholicism to Anglicism, writing works such as Pseudo-Martyr in an attempt to sway Roman Catholics (Napierkowski & Ruby, 102-108). It is suspected that, during this time in Donne’s life, several poems comprising Donne’s Divine Poems were written, including Holy Sonnet 10. During this time in Donne’s life, religion began to shape his work, and in 1611 he accompanied Sir Robert Drury on a diplomatic mission to France, during which time Donne composed some of his most
Donne was born in London in 1572, belonging to a modestly wealthy Roman Catholic family, with a rich religious background. During the 16th century, England was dominated by the Anglican church, making Donne a religious outcast …show more content…
During his younger years, Donne studied at Oxford, earning a degree in law. Later, he went on to sail with English expeditions against the Spanish, which inspired some of his youthful writing, such as the poems The Storm and The Calm (Colclough 1-16). Afterwards, Donne became entangled in an engagement to Ann Moore, which, upon the disapproval of the father, fostered imprisonment for Donne, for a short time. During the next few years of Donne’s life, he switched from Roman Catholicism to Anglicism, writing works such as Pseudo-Martyr in an attempt to sway Roman Catholics (Napierkowski & Ruby, 102-108). It is suspected that, during this time in Donne’s life, several poems comprising Donne’s Divine Poems were written, including Holy Sonnet 10. During this time in Donne’s life, religion began to shape his work, and in 1611 he accompanied Sir Robert Drury on a diplomatic mission to France, during which time Donne composed some of his most