Poem Analysis PDF
Poem Analysis PDF
JOHN DONNE
DEDI EFENDI
NIM: 205026000537
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A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for
The Strata 1 (S1) Degree
DEDI EFENDI
NIM: 205026000537
ABSTRACT
Dedi Efendi, Figure of speech analysis on three poem of John Donne (Hymn to
God my God, in my Sickness, A Hymn to God the Father and Death, be not
Proud), Strata 1 Degree, Thesis: English Letters Department, Letters and
Humanities Faculty, State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2009.
The aim of this research is to find out the kinds of figure of speech and
their meaning of figure of speech in three metaphysical poems. The writer
analyzes poems entitled Hymn to God my God, in my Sickness, A Hymn to God
the Father and Death, be not Proud by John Donne.
In this research, the writer uses qualitative research with descriptive
analysis as the method of research. He analyzes the poems by reading them
intensively and giving attention to each line. After that, the writer tries to explicate
the poems by examining the figure of speech and the biography of the poet.
From the three poems, the writer has found eight types of figure of speech,
they are personification, metaphor, paradox, synecdoche, hyperbole, symbol,
metonymy and apostrophe. The three poems have different theme, the first poem,
Hymn to God my God in my Sickness is a poem about preparation to face the
death. The second poem, A Hymn to God the Father is a poem discussing about
poets regret in his life. And the last poem Death, be not Proud is the most
religious value. These poems discuss about considerably more positive about
death and dying.
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APPROVEMENT
A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty
In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for
The Strata 1 (S1) Degree
DEDI EFENDI
NIM: 205026000537
Approved By:
LEGALIZATION
Jakarta, March 4,
2010
Examination Committee
Signature Date
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this submission is my original work and that, to the
written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been
accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other
institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in
the text.
Dedi Efendi
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all the writer would like to thank to Allah SWT, the Lord of the
world, the King of the kings who has authority of all creation in the whole worlds;
blessing and salutation be upon the most honorable prophet and messenger
Second, the writer would like to express his gratitude to his beloved mom
and dad; Sutiah and Muhammad for all the contribution that he needs until the end
of his study in this university. The writer would like to thank to his sister and
brothers Sarifah Aini (Aini), Kusnadi (Addie), and Rudy Hario (Rio), for always
motivating and giving moral encouragement to finish his study. And the
unforgettable thanks go to all of his family for giving the inspiration. May Allah
Next, the writer would like to thank to his supervisor Mr. Moh. Supardi,
SS., M. Hum., for his great patient and contributions in finishing this thesis. May
The writer also would like to express his deepest gratitude to the following
persons:
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1. Dr. H. Abd. Chair, MA, the Dean of Letters and Humanities Faculty State
Department.
4. All the lecturers of English Letters Department, for teaching and educating
5. All of the staff of UIN Jakarta Center Library, American Corner UIN
Jakartas Library, FAH UIN Library, FIB UI Library, for helping him to
6. All of his friends at the campus especially his classmates of BSI extention
Mella, etc. for always giving the inspiration and motivating the writer to
The writer
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TABLE OF CONTENT
ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... i
APPROVEMENT.............................................................................................. ii
DECLARATION ............................................................................................... iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.................................................................................... v
TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................... vi
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION....................................................................... 1
C. Research Questions............................................................................... 3
2. Research Method............................................................................. 4
C. Explication ........................................................................................... 7
F. Theme................................................................................................... 14
A. Data Description................................................................................... 15
B. Explication of Poems............................................................................ 18
D. Analysis of Theme................................................................................ 41
A. Conclusion ........................................................................................... 46
B. Suggestion............................................................................................ 48
BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................................................. 49
APPENDIX ....................................................................................................... 51
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
usually uses poetry to expressing various emotions which are expressed by the use
repetition, meter and rhyme are what are commonly used to distinguish poetry
from prose. Poems often make heavy use of imagery and word association to
supporting elements to enrich the meaning and bring the readers imagination to
his or her minds. The point about poetry and the other form of literature is that
the choice of words and elements inside used by the author.1 To create good of
poetry, a poet usually uses supported elements in poem that is usually called by
intrinsic elements such as figure of speech, rhyme, rhythm, imagery and tone to
enrich the meaning and made the reader feels easy to understand what the poet
means. By using figure of speech, rhyme, rhythm, imagery and tone, a poet feels
that they can express what they have felt into poetry.
Figure of speech has many roles in fiction. It makes the fiction interest in
evoking emotion, making vivid sensory experience, and eliciting image. On man
1
Richard Gill, Mastering English Literature, (New York: Macmillan Press Ltd, 1995), p.
4
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he would find very difficult or even impossible to do in literal term. It enables the
Corry. The figures of speech of the poem describe that someone who looks very
healthy and rich in his life, but he chooses commits the suicide at the end of his
life. Besides, figure of speech as one of literary element, it creates the sense or
power to describe things in unique ways. The readers or literary lovers can
explore the words in fiction or non fiction which are expressed by the author.
In this research the writer would like to analyze three of John Donnes
poems (Hymn to God my God, in my Sickness, A Hymn to God the Father and
Death, be not Proud). John Donne is known as the founder of the Metaphysical
poet, English essayist and philosopher. Almost all of his poems are talking about
death and love. John Donne was born in 1572 in London, England.
experiences in his life were written by him into poetry. He always gets the ideas
from the condition around him such as from his sickness, people around him and
also from his family. Donnes interest in death, become the reason why the writer
To understand more about the theme in Donnes poem, the writer chooses
three of John Donnes poems as he mentioned above. The writer wants to analyze
In this paper, the writer focuses on studying three of John Donnes poems
(Hymn to God my God, in my Sickness, A Hymn to God the Father and Death, be
not Proud) by analyzing figures of speech used, dealing with the form or the
C. Research Question
Based on the background and the focus of study, the writer would like to
1. What are the main idea of these three poems(Hymn to God my God, in my
2. What types of figure of speech are used in the these poems (Hymn to God
3. How do the figures of speech in those poems convey or build the theme?
The writer hopes that this research can help the reader to have good
particularly in John Donnes three poems. The result of this research hopefully
will be useful as input for the Student of English Letter Department. Finally, the
purpose of this paper is to understand more John Donnes poems through figure of
speech definition.
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E. Research Methodology
The objectives of this study are to find out the main idea of these
poems, to find out the figure of speech used in John Donnes three poems,
to find out the meaning of figure of speech in three poems (Hymn to God
theme.
2. Research Method
The writer tries to describe and explain the content of the poems by using
analyze the data. The writer reads the poems line by line, and then he
analyzes the meaning of figure of speech and the theme of the selected
poems.
The units of analysis are three of John Donnes poems, they are
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Definition of poem
because it uses words as its medium of expression art and it is something in which
man tries to give lasting form to an experience which seems to him important.
ancient.2 The most primitive peoples have it, and the most civilized have to
cultivate it. Poetry has the meaning; the term for the many literary forms through
which man has given rhythmic expression to his most imaginative and intense
perceptions of himself and his universe.3 Poetry written after selected process by
poet and choosing the supported elements such as figure of speech, rhyme,
meaning to give their experiences. All of them can not be separated because they
have relationships that make one coherent structure. By figure of speech, rhyme,
experiences through medium of poetry. The subject of poem is for form being so
restricted, very often does, deal with beautiful and profound themes: music,
spring, love, courage, religious, faith, but many also deal with squalor, suffering,
2
Perrine Laurence and Thomas R. ARP, Sound and Sense; An Introduction to Poetry, 8th
ed, (Southern Methodist University, 1992) p. 347
3
Danbury Connecticut, Encyclopedia Americana International Edition, (Scholastic
Library Publishing, INC, USA, 1829), vol 22, p.277
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injustice, intellectual or spiritual poverty. The language with which a poet handles
There are three major kind of poem; Narrative, Dramatic, and Lyric.
1. Narrative
kinds of narrative poems the most important are ballads, epic, and metrical
romance is a long romantic tale in verse, in which the chief figures are king,
2. Dramatic
3. Lyric
imagination, melody, and feeling, and designed to create in the reader a single,
4
Ibid p. 277
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B. Elements of Poems
1. Form
2. Language
3. Theme
4. Tone
1. Figure of speech
2. Diction
3. Imagery
discussion in this element is figure of speech. It has been explained before, that
figure of speech is the main of data analysis that is used in this research.
C. Explication
knowledge of each part for the relation of these parts to each other, and for their
To get the content of the poem, explication is the important one. Some
talking about. In explication of a poem, the writer explains the poem entirely in
5
Ibid p. 60
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saying something other than the ordinary way.6 Figure of speech is one of the
element. Poets feel, that by the usage of figure of speech in their poetry they can
say more vividly and forcefully than they can say it directly. The definition of
heighten effect, often by comparing or identifying one thing with another that has
to say what does she/he mean, because (1) figure of speech afford to the reader
imaginative pleasure because the reader can imagine what the poet means; (2)
poetry more sensuous; (3) figure of speech is a way of adding emotional intensity
information.
6
Ibid p. 61
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a. Personification
by using words in distinctive ways. 8 From the definition above, the writer
make great effect and bring the reader imagination to her/his minds.
7
Ibid p. 265
8
http://www.learner.org/interactives/literature/read/theme1.html ((Accessed on
September 2nd 2009)
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example, My computer hates me Its mean that he/she can not doing
his/her job because his/her computer is broken. Shortly, we can say that
b. Hyperbole
used by poet in the effect to depict an object, idea and other that may seem
Hyperbole is used with the redundantly pressure to get the intensive effect.
but, they of course find fresh and original ways of revitalizing tired
hyperbolic formulas.
expression when they falling in love, for example, I will bring you a moon
9
P. Joseph Canavan, Paragraph and theme 2nd ed, (New York: D.C. Heath and
Company, 1975) p. 151
10
Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. ARP. (1992), op.cit p.64
11
http//:www.answers.com/topic/understatement (Accessed on September 2nd 2009)
21
or to bring the moon, the moon is outer space thing that can not be
reached.
c. Simile
using the word "like" or "as" to draw attention to similarities about two things
that are seemingly dissimilar.12 Like a metaphor, simile also compares two
are expressly compared with an another by used sign-posting such as like, as,
of the poem The World is Too Much With Us by William Wordsworth that
using simile inside in the first stanza, line seven in that poem And are up-
gathered now like sleeping flower It mean that sleeping flower is similar to
the nature. We can not see how beauty of flower if we never watering the
flower, so it can make the flower wit and finally will die. Similarity to the
nature, if we never give the attention and treat them, the nature can be sick that
d. Symbol
which stand for something else more abstract. Symbol is a trope that
aspect. The symbol shares with the image a concrete referent in the
T.S Eliot. The mermaids in line 124 point beyond the literal meaning the
e. Metaphor
an analogy that imaginatively identifies one object with another and either
ascribes to the first with connotation inherent in the other15. For example,
f. Synecdoche
whole (as hands for sailor) the whole for a part (as the law for police officer),
the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the
specific (as steel for word). For example, in the poetry entitled The Naked and
The Nude by Robert Graves. It is in line 9 the Hippocratic eye will see it refers
to a doctor.
g. Metonymy
14
Ibid
15
Ibid
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uses metonymy when he says that the yellow cuckoo-buds paint the meadows
with delight for he means with bright color that produces delight.
h. Paradox
and yet may be true. It is widely used in poetry and in epigrammatic writing
is in line 25-26 we who knew our fathers, in everything, in nothing suggest our
i. Apostrophe
John Donne apostrophizing the death in his sonnet death be not proud, though
j. Litotes
idea is not true. For example, they were not a little comported, A citizen no
16
Sylvan Barnet et, al., An Introduction to Literature, (United State of America, 1961) p.
72
17
Khaterina Barnwell, Introduction to semantic and Translation, (England: summer
Institute of Linguistic, 1980) p. 144
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F. Theme
statement about life that unifies and contrast the total work. In this definition,
then; the theme is not the issue or problem, or subject with which the work deals.
comprehensive vision of life can be said as the vehicle on author uses to establish
a relationship with the larger world in which he/she lives and works. When we
observed that the preceding discussions on form, Figure of speech or imagery, all
included, the greater or lesser degrees, some comment on the ideas in the poem
and the statement the poem makes in other words, on its theme19.
18
James Pickering H. and Jeffrey D. Hooper, Concise Companion to Literature, (New
York: Macmillan., 1981) p. 61
19
Alton C. Morris, The American Experience: Poetry, (New York; Mac Milan, 1829). p.
3
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CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS
A. Data Description
To support the analysis in this research the writer uses the following data
description containing the kinds of figures of speech that are found in three poems
Hymn to God my God, in my sickness, A hymn to God the Father and Death, be
not Proud by John Donne. The writer will have three tables as the data
TABLE I
1 Personification (13) What shall my west hurt The speakers condition in his
me? As west and east dying
(15) So death doth touch the There is eternal life after died
resurrection
2 Symbol (1) Since I am coming to that The best place from God
holy room,
(Heaven)
(8) Flat on this bed, that by The place that human being live
them may be shown
World
(10) Per fretum febris, by these One of the way to direction of
straits to die, death
see my west;
4 Metaphor (14) In all flat maps (and I am The processes and direction to
one) are one, facing the death seem totally
different, but in fact is same.
TABLE II
1 Metonymy (13) I have a sin of fear, that The speakers feeling to face his
when I have won death, but he has the original sin.
2 Hyperbole (10) A year, or two: but The speaker feels that he has a
wallowed in, a score? lot of sins like wallowed in his
body.
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TABLE III
2 Paradox (14) And Death shall be no Stop fearing the death and accept
more ; Death, thou shalt die. it as a rest of our bones.
3 Metaphor (5) From rest and sleep, which Death must be even more
but thy pictures be, pleasurable, death is simply a
deeper form of sleep.
(5) From rest and sleep, which The pictures being sleep, which
but thy pictures be, tells the readers that sleep during
life is simply a short experience
of death.
(13-14) One short sleep past, A break between one life and the
we wake eternally, / And death next.
shall be no more
4 Synecdoche (8) Rest of their bones, and Their bones getting to their rest
soul's delivery (in the grave).
(11) And poppy, or charms can The use of opium and magic to
make us sleep as well, produce sleep or ambiguously to
produce a gentle death.
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B. Explication of Poems
description of the poem, the writer presented some opinions about the poems
poems from book of John Donne Selected Poems and they are explained
respectively.
20
Barnet, Silvan, A Short Guide to Writing About Literature, (Boston: Little, Brown and
Comapany, 1968), p. 161
29
The poem was written just eight days before his death. This poem tells about the
speakers preparation for his death in his illness. In his illness Donne is not asking
for healing but to be prepared for death. Like many of Donnes religious poems,
many of his metaphysical secular poems. Each of the six five-line stanzas follows
pentameter.
three central parts. Part one are the first and second stanza stand on their own. In
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this part the speaker tells to the readers about to die. In line 1 Since I am coming to
that holy room. The speaker says since he will soon die and come to that holy
room (heaven), he needs to prepare himself before he finally enters thy Quire of
Saints, that is to say heaven. Where in line 2 until line 4, he will be made into the
music of God as sung by a choir of saints, he tunes the instrument and in line 5
And what I must do then, think now before. The speaker says that now he
should prepared for himself and thinks what he will do when the final moment
comes.
cosmographers and himself as a map or it is meant that his body is a world, and
his physicians are mapping it to lying flat on the bed to be shown that this is my
south-west discovery Per fretum febris, by these straits to die. In line 10 Per
The next two stanzas (stanza four and stanza five) make up another part of
the poem. In line 11 to 12, I joy, that in these straits, I see my west; For, though
their currents yield return to none. The speaker rejoices, for in those straits he
sees his west, his death, whose currents yield return to none, yet which will not
harm him. In line 13 to 14, the speaker (Donne) makes himself a conceit of a map
of the world. He tells the readers that he sees his west. As the sun rises from the
east and falls on the west, the west signifies death. Even though everyone must be
die, on these straights that only go towards the west, that death shall do not
damage to him. He uses rhetorical questioning to carry across the point that he is
not scared of death. Donne also suggests that east and west are the same anyway,
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alluding to the cycle of life to death then resurrection. Line 15 is the only line
which differs from the iambic pentameter with one less syllable than 10. This cuts
The last part of the poem is identified by the remaining 3 stanzas. In line
Jerusalem?. The speaker asks whether his home is the Pacific Sea, or the eastern
riches, or Jerusalem. The speaker (Donne) makes many biblical references such as
Jerusalem, Japhet, Christ, Adam and Adams tree, creating a lexical string of
Gibraltar, and says that only straits can offer access to paradise, whether it lies
The speaker says that in line 21 to 22, We think that Paradise and Calvary,
Christs Cross, and Adams tree, stood in one place. Paradise and Calvary, /
Christs Cross, and Adams tree stood in the same place. He asks God to look and
to note that both Adams (Christ being the second Adam) are unified in him, as the
first Adams sweat surrounds his face, he says may the second Adams blood
embrace his soul. He asks God to receive him wrapped in the purple of Christ,
and, by these his thorns, to give him Christs other crown. As he preached the
word of God to others souls, he says let this be his sermon to his own soul
supplicating to penance for his sins. The poem itself divided into three stanzas,
each stanza divided into six lines. The entire rime scheme of the poem rests on
The first stanza in the first line, Wilt Thou forgive that sin where I begun
means that the speaker begins his prayer asking for forgiveness for his sin to his
God, the sin since he ever begun in his life. In line 2, Which is my sin, though it
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were done before?. He says that he has the original sin of being born of man and
woman, the sin since he was born. Although he knows he does not remember
choosing to be born, he knows that the fact that he is incarnated indicates that he
is not soul perfected, he has karma to burn, and he must reap what he has sown.
progress as a devotee from the days when he was using his wit and charm to
seduce a virgin.
But in addition to the original sin, he is aware that he has been locked in
the physical body with animal lusts that he has difficulty controlling. In line 3 to
line 6, Wilt Thou forgives that sin, through which I run, And do run still, though
still I do deplore? When thou hast done. When his God has forgive the sins that he
has made before thou hast not done, For, I have more. The speaker also hopes
that his God will forgive his sin which is still he does in his life continuously. He
is ashamed of that sin and hates it, but he needs divine aid in overcoming it.
Second stanza in line 1, Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won.
The speaker repeat again his prayer to his God to forgive his second sin that he
has encouraged others in the same sin, that is the engagement with lust. He is
also afraid that his sins become the door for the other people. In line 10, he has
been able to control that lust, A year or two, but he wallowed in it for about
twenty years. After the Great Soul has unburdened him from that sin, the speaker
Third Stanza in the first line: I have a sin of fear, that when I've spun.
The speaker then names his final sin, and that is the a sin of fear. He fears that
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when he dies he shall simply disappear. He believes in his immortal, eternal soul,
but he confesses to doubts, he knows he has not yet achieved union with the
divine.
He then aver that he strongly believes in Christ, and with God the Fathers
help, he will become aware of Christs shining presence. In line 4 of last stanza,
he knows that his Christ-consciousness shines now and heretofore. With that
strong faith and complete reliance of God the Father, the speaker then can
finally say, I fear no more. He does not afraid anymore to face die.
Poems. In the poem the speaker tells about the reasons why human beings should
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not be afraid of death. Clearly the theme of Death, be not Proud is death, but the
poem is considerably more positive about death and dying. The scheme of the
The first and the second line of the poem the speaker said that Death likes
to think of himself as powerful, terrifying and indeed some people have called
him that, but it is not so in truth. In the next lines or line 3 to 4, Donne explains
why Death thinks that he is "overthrowing" men when he takes them, which are
conquering, vanquishing, defeating, ruining, and causing to fall. Instead, and this
is the "Holy" conceit of the sonnet, a very Christian concept. He does not cause
them to fall, but helps them to raise death is the means by which man finds
patronizing and sarcastic with "poor Death", who is so deluded as to think himself
a bane on man's existence. And again, "nor yet canst thou kill me", hearkens back
to the same idea that Death does not kill, but is instead the enabler of new,
immortal life.
In line 5 to line 8, the speaker said that here we have the Renaissance idea
of sleep as death's image that is, death's likeness, semblance a sleeping man looks
much like a dead man, and vice versa. Thus, if man gets much pleasure out of rest
and sleep, which are but copies of death, how much more pleasure then must be
gotten from death, the original? This is why, Donne posits, the best men of the
era go unhesitatingly to their deaths they have wisely realized this to be the case.
They go with Death, their bones get to their rest (in the grave), and their souls get
"delivered", containing the meanings at the same time of being freed from the
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human body, freed from the fear of death, delivered into heaven, and delivered in
In line 9 to line 10, the speaker said that here, he furthers the idea that
Death is not mighty, but indeed is a slave, with "Fate, chance, kings, and
desperate men" as his masters. The personified Death does not always have the
power to choose who is to die Fate and chance may suddenly take someone, kings
on a whim may doom people to their deaths, and desperate men, who see no way
out, may take their own lives, thus cheating Death of his control and mastery.
Next, Donne likes Death to a scavenger who cleans up where poison, war,
and sickness have raged. How proud is his position now. The next lines (line 11 to
line 12) going back to the sleep/Death image, Donne notes that drugs alike have
the power of producing sleep, and in fact, create a truer sleep than Death (since
Death, as Donne already pointed out, but a fleeting moment's sleep before
false hubris, and the insult is delivered home with why swell'st thou then? i.e.,
'since this is the case, what reason have you, Death, to be Proud? the image used
The last lines are line 13 to line 14 thus, one short sleep past, that is after
resurrected, to eternal life, never to sleep or die again. Then, death will cease to
exist altogether, will die. Here now the personified Death has been shown to be
not mighty and dreadful but a mere mortal, or rather less than we mortals, since
he will die an eternal death at the resurrection, whereas we mortals will enjoy
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eternal life. The final pronouncement, Death, thou shalt die completes the idea
that Death is the one who should be afraid, not the one to be feared.
This section discusses what kinds of figure of speech used in the three of
John Donnes analysis poems. The writer does not only analyze kinds of figure of
speech in each line but also the meaning and the application of each figure of
speech in three of John Donnes poems. By analyzing every figure of speech used
by the poet, the writer can conclude the real meaning of the poems.
a. Personification
In this poem the writer finds two personifications, first in line 13,
What shall my west hurt me? As west and east. In this line the phrase that
word west there is the word hurt, it makes the word west as a human
21
Perrine Laurence and Thomas R. ARP, Op.cit, p. 64
22
Ibid p. 197
23
Ibid p. 196
38
death doth touch the resurrection. In this line the sentence that categorized
the word touch there is word death. This makes emphasizing that eternal
life will comes to everyone after died. In this poem the speaker uses word
touch as a personification.
b. Symbol
roughly defined as something that means more what it is and the symbol is
There are some symbols that can be founds in this poem. The writer next
will analyze those expressions in this poem. The first symbol in this poem
is in line 1 of the first stanza, Since I am coming to that holy room. In this
line, the phrase that the writer calls as a symbol is holy room. Based on
stanza 1, before the word room there is also a word holy which has the
24
Ibid p. 163
39
meaning the something about God and room itself according to free
dictionary has meaning a part of a building with its own walls25, so the
writer concludes that the phrase holy room in this line has the meaning
as a symbol.
and I their map, who lie. The word that categorized as a symbol is map. It
west discovery, alluding to efforts to sail round the tip of South America.
Cape Horn was a dreadfully stormy place, so the effort had been made to
the Strait of Magellan. In this poem map has meaning the physicians of the
speaker.
The third symbol in this poem is in line 8, Flat on this bed, that by
them may be shown. In this line the word that categorized as a symbol is
bed. Bed is usually used for taken a sleep or taken a rest by human being.
In this poem the writer uses himself as a guide for another people life.
After the writer analyzes the whole poem, the writer concludes that bed is
25
Ibid p. 359
40
these straits to die, the word that categorized as a symbol is straits. The
speaker also plays with the word straights. In geography this can denote
a narrow and often turbulent channel of water (strait) between two land
masses, leading from one sea to another. In general usage it can also mean
The fifth symbol in this poem is in line 11, I joy, that in these
straits, I see my west;. In this line there is one symbol also, it is the word
meaning the kind of world side where the sun set26. After the writer
however, the moment of dying is also the moment of entering into a new
life27.
The sixth symbol in this poem is in the third stanza or in line 13,
What shall my west hurt me? As west and east. In this line the word that
to Oxford dictionary has meaning the kind of world side where the sun
26
Martin H. Manser, Oxford Learners dictionary, (Mexico city; Oxford University
Press, new edition, 1991), p. 469
27
Thomas Carlyle, Sartor Resartus, (New York: The Odyssey Press, 1937), p. 218
41
rise28. In Christian symbolism the east is the place of resurrection for new
life29.
The seventh symbol in this poem is in line 16, Is the Pacific sea my
home? Or are. In this line, the writer chooses word pacific as a symbol.
literally pacific has meaning life with peace or all about war is wrong.
And the eighth symbol in this poem is in line 17, The eastern
stands31. Thus the tree, from which Adam ate the forbidden fruit and first
sinned, is seen as having occupied the same spot as the cross on which
The ninth symbol in this poem is in line 20, Whether where Japhet
dwelt, or Cham, or Shem. In this line there are three words that categorized
Americana the three of those words are refer to the three sons of Noah
who were symbolically the ancestors of some of the main racial groups of
28
Martin H. Manser, Oxford Learners dictionary, (Mexico city; Oxford University
Press, new edition, 1991), p. 133
29
Op.cit p. 219
30
Ibid p. 223
31
Ibid p. 245
42
the earth; Japhet of the Indo-European races, Shem of the Arabs and Jews
in line 22 Christs Cross, and Adams tree, stood in one place; in this
line, the writer finds one symbol, the famous symbol in Christian people it
is Christs Cross. It is a prove that Jesus against his enemies for his faith.
Christ's clothes and crown of thorns. He believe that this life by God but
The last symbol in this poem is in line 25 of the 5th stanza, May the
last Adams blood my soul embrace. From this line the symbol lies on the
concludes that the last Adam or second Adam is the symbol to call
son of God. He shares the nature of Adam (as a human being) and He also
shares the nature of Christ (as someone who has been forgiven and given
c. Metonymy
32
Danbury Connecticut, Encyclopedia Americana International Edition, (Scholastic
Library Publishing, INC, USA, 1829), P. 165
43
of the grow for hard labor33. In this poem the writer finds one of
The metonymy in this poem is in line 26, So, in his purple wrappd
color. But, after the writer analyzes the whole of this poem, the writer
his death, because at Christ crucifixion, a purple robe put on him, a symbol
garment of Christ purple with blood and with triumph and to obtain his
crown.
d. Metaphor
In this poem the writer finds only one metaphor, it is in line 14, In
all flat maps (and I am one) are one. In this line, the metaphor is flat map.
Based on the writer analysis about meaning of stanza 3 talking about the
speakers point of view about death, the way of our life in this world is
same like in flat map. So, the writer concludes that flat map is the
33
Encyclopedia Americana, Op. cit, p. 197
34
P. Joseph Canavan, Paragraph and theme 2nd ed, (New York: D.C. Heath and
Company, 1975), P. 150
35
Sylvan Barnet , An Introduction to Literature, (United State of America, 1961). p. 104
44
processes and directions to facing the death seem totally different, but the
fact is same.
a. Metonymy
to the thing actually meant. The substitution makes the analogy more, and
every line of this poem. The metonymy in this poem can be finds in line
13, I have a sin of fear, that when I have won. In this line we can find one
before that metonymy is the use of something closely related for the thing
actually meant.
After the writer analyzes and finds the meaning the whole line of
the poem, the word fear has meaning a feeling condition. Donne uses word
fear to describe his afraid about his sins. Fear is a word that related with
36
Perrine Laurence and Thomas R. ARP, Sound and Sense; An Introduction to Poetry, 8th
ed, (Southern Methodist University, 1992), p.65
45
b. Hyperbole
of literal persuasion37.
In this poem there are two hyperboles. The first hyperbole is in line
16 Shall shine as he shines now and here heretofore. The word that
line has exaggeration implication, because after the writer analyzes the real
meaning of this line is condition of the speakers hope to God the Father
should swear by Himself to allow His son Jesus to shine like the sun. The
or two: but wallowed in, a score? the word that writer calls as a
the word wallowed has meaning roll about in mud38. Based on explication
point of view the speaker feels that he has a lot of sins like in wallowed in
his body. The poet chooses to describe this condition with wallowed in a
score.
37
Perrine Laurence and Thomas R. ARP, Op. cit. P. 415
38
Oxford dictionary, (1991) Ibid. p. 464
46
a. Personification
line 4; here the speaker said that Death is not powerful or mighty
because he does not kill, but simply a peaceful escape from life. Death
gives negative human traits, pride mainly and Death is like a sleep, a
sleep.
The final reference to sleep is in the couplet: One short sleep past.
Death really is no more than a short sleep. It has been reduced step by step
initial line of the sonnet "Death, be not proud, though some have called
thee". This first personification shows the attitude of the poet towards
that death is not above being addressed by a mortal. Using "thee" John
Donne puts death on the same level as himself, and demonstrates his lack
39
Perrine Laurence and Thomas R. ARP, Ibid, p. 64
40
Ibid p. 197
47
b. Paradox
and yet may be true. It is widely used in poetry and in epigrammatic prose
statement42.
In this poem the writer finds only one paradox, it is in line 14 And
Death shall be no more ; Death, thou shalt die. Paradox in this line is
Death, thou shalt die the final statement of the poem, displays Donne's
stands against death, and his wish for societies to stop fearing death and
accept it as a "Rest of their bones, and their soul delivery" as they depart
from one life into another. The writer concludes this line uses paradox.
c. Metaphor
After the writer analyses the contain of the whole stanza of this
poem, the writer finds two metaphors, the first metaphor is in line 5, From
rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be. The metaphor explains that a
41
Encyclopedia Americana, Ibid, p. 197
42
Ibid, p. 100
43
P. Joseph Canavan, Op. cit. P. 150
44
Sylvan Barnet, Op. cit. P. 104
48
pictures being sleep, which tells the readers that sleep during life is simply
the theme because it entirely removes the mystery from death, and makes
the sleep induced by the opium from a poppy or from charms. The
metaphor suggests that while death uses terrible methods to achieve its
purpose, while other simple and inoffensive causes can induce sleep more
eternally, / And death shall be no more" (13-14). The metaphor in this line
religious aspect of the theme by showing that death is not everlasting, but
death is evident when Donne tells death that "soonest our best men with
thee do go, Rest their bones and soul's delivery". This metaphor implies
d. Synecdoche
whole (as hands for sailor) the whole for a part (as the law for police
officer), the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin) the general
for the specific (as the thief for pickpocket), or the material for the thing
In this poem the writer finds two synecdoches, the first synecdoche
is in line 8 Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery. The word that writer
rest itself meant stop doing some activities46. Based on the writer analysis
from explication point of view, this poetry talking about death, so the
writer analyzes that Rest of their bones is their bones getting to their rest
(in the grave). The human body does not do anything anymore but it must
make us sleep as well,. The synecdoches in this line are poppy and
charms. It refers to the use of opium and magic to produce sleep, or,
45
The Free Dictionary by Farlex, Op,cit, p. 197
46
Ibid
50
that is the opiate, not literally the flower itself. But then death is like a
slave as well, and this is the startling conceit. It has no choice where it is to
Kings as the whole judicial or the military system and Fate must suggest a
wider concept, that our length of life is decreed elsewhere, and death is
Christian concept, the Bible does suggest a sense of destiny in the matter
that unifies and controls the total work. It is the main point an author wishes to
make about his subject. To identify a poem theme involves two steps; finding the
poem subject and formulating the poet main statement about that subject. It is
easy to determine the subject of most poems; often it is named or suggested by the
title, and of course it is the focus of the whole poems. Analyzing figure of speech
definition above produces the theme of each poem and all of the poems have
nature theme. To get the theme of the poem, explication and figures of speech
transition from one place to another or an entry into a sacred space. The
geographical images bring this out strongly. Here, Donne said that
gives a map or direction finder to find it. Life is a journey for a moment,
and the process of dying seen as the final passage through to the ultimate
destination.
to die. But, before the death comes or the final moment comes, Donne
tried to invites the readers to give the information that we should make
some preparation to face it, because death will comes to everyone, in every
The use of the word hurt in line What shall my west hurt me?
As west and east for example, the poet in this poem absolutely describes
Cosmographer, and I their map, who lie the poet describes about his
52
feeling toward his sickness also. He belief that before the final moment
Both and all other figures of speech of the poem above help the
poet build the theme and deliver it to the readers to make them understand
about the poem intention. Finally, based on figure of speech analysis of the
poem the writer concludes that the theme of Hymn to God my God, in my
Donnes asking to his Gods forgiveness for different types of sins, but
feeling as if he will never finish confessing them all. This gives him a fear
that when he dies, he will not have received God's forgiveness and will
mystery; in real life all of people are afraid of death. Like the poet in this
poem, he is very scares to face the death because he has a lot of sins in his
life, the original sin and the sins that he has done by himself.
poet exploits them well and they even proven able to produce a sense that
cannot be seen or explained just from the title. In the second stanza he
The use of the word wallowed for instance, the poet in this poem
perfectly describes his feeling toward his life who has a lot of sins. He has
by the word fear in the first line of the third stanza I have a sin of fear,
that when I have spun. He fears that when he dies he shall simply
disappear. It will not be easily performed by any visual act. Yet, the figure
of speech has delivered it well. This and all other figures of speech of the
poem said so much in so little word. They are there to help the poet build
the theme of the poem and deliver it to the readers to make them
understand it well along with all the senses they carried. So, from figure of
speech analysis of the poem the writer concludes that the theme of A Hymn
die.
Sonnets or Divine Poems. Clearly the theme is about death, but the poem
is considerably more positive about death and dying. In the poem the
speaker tells about the reasons why human beings should not be afraid of
death. We should belief that the death is not the "Mighty and dreadful"
entity that people fear. Death that it is not powerful as it believes, but
54
finds out some sentences that are supported the theme of this poem. For
example, Donne uses some metaphor in this poem. In line 5 From rest
and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Donne believes that death is such a
pleasurable activity and death is simply a deeper form of sleep. The other
metaphor is in line One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death
shall be no more; death, thou shalt die. Donne compares the relationship
The writer presents those examples to reveal the theme of the poem
based on figure of speech analysis above. Finally, the he concludes that the
theme of Death, be not Proud is death is not the mighty and dreadful.
55
CHAPTER IV
A. Conclusion
After analyzing the three poems of John Donne in the previous chapter, the
writer concludes that Hymn to God my God, in my sickness, A hymn to God the
Father and Death, be not Proud poems by John Donne use the same theme. The
writer analyzes the figure of speech in those poems using a major of theme about
death with different concepts and point of view. The poet who is known as the
founder of the Metaphysical Poet is has his own opinion about death.
In his Hymn to God my God, in my sickness poem the poet has opinion
about death from his sickness point of view. In this poem the poet writes about his
preparation to face the death, the day where is the final moment comes. The
metaphor. From those four figures of speeches the writer concludes that the theme
become to everyone that is always being afraid by of him/her, but at last, everyone
has to face it sincerely. It is because it is the law of nature that everyone must die,
In the A Hymn to God the Father poem, John Donne wrote about death
with different way. Death is something which is full of mystery; in real life all of
people are afraid of death. Like the poet in this poem, he is very scared to face the
death because he has a lot of sins in his life, the original sin and the sins that he
has done by himself. So, before he faces the death he needs his sins apologized by
his God. He hopes to his God to apologize his fear sin, the sin that he has done
and the sins that he still do in his life. The figures of speeches that used in this
poem are metonymy and hyperbole. From those three figures of speeches the
writer concludes that A Hymn to God the Father is a poem with theme Asking
poem. In the poem the speaker tells about the reasons why human beings should
not fear death. We should belief that the death is not the "Mighty and dreadful"
entity that people fear. Death that it is not powerful as it believes, but simply a
peaceful escape from life, and an entity dependant on others to accomplish his
metaphor and synecdoche. Clearly the theme of Death, be not Proud is death is
not the mighty and dreadful, but the poem is considerably more positive about
The three poems that are analyzed by the writer have different
characteristics and point of views in seeing death. But the point is, death still
becomes something mystery in everyones level of live. The writer concludes that
57
three poems have been analyzed based on the figures of speeches and their
B. Suggestion
From the result of this research, there are three poems with the theme of
death and from the three poems the writer found seven kinds of figure of speech.
Each poem has a different way to explore and point of view about death. The
following are the writer suggestions for the readers who are interested in
analyzing about death poems and figure of speech from the same poet;
3. To explore the authors life and focus the study on poets bibliography. It
is because the writer ensures that there is significant relation between the
poets poems.
58
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/poeticglossary.h
tml
http://www.learner.org/interactives/literature/read/theme1.html
http//:www.answers.com/topic/understatement
60
APPENDIX
group also includes George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, Andrew Marvell, and John
Cleveland. The Metaphysical Poets are known for their ability to startle the reader
and coax new perspective through paradoxical images, subtle argument, inventive
syntax, and imagery from art, philosophy, and religion using an extended
metaphor known as a conceit. Donne reached beyond the rational and hierarchical
structures of the seventeenth century with his exacting and ingenious conceits,
Donne entered the world during a period of theological and political unrest
Bartholomew's day in France; while in England, the Catholics were the persecuted
minority. Born into a Roman Catholic family, Donne's personal relationship with
religion was tumultuous and passionate, and at the center of much of his poetry.
He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities in his early teen years. He
did not take a degree at either school, because to do so would have meant
succumbed to religious pressure and joined the Anglican Church after his younger
brother, convicted for his Catholic loyalties, died in prison. Donne wrote most of
his love lyrics, erotic verse, and some sacred poems in the 1590's, creating two
47
D. J. Enright, John Donne Selected Poems, Phoenix Poetry, London: 2003), p. i
62
usually uses poetry to expressing various emotions which are expressed by the use
repetition, meter and rhyme are what are commonly used to distinguish poetry
from prose. Poems often make heavy use of imagery and word association to
supporting elements to enrich the meaning and bring the readers imagination to
his or her minds. The point about poetry and the other form of literature is that
the choice of words and elements inside used by the author.48 To create good of
poetry, a poet usually uses supported elements in poem that is usually called by
intrinsic elements such as figure of speech, rhyme, rhythm, imagery and tone to
enrich the meaning and made the reader feels easy to understand what the poet
means. By using figure of speech, rhyme, rhythm, imagery and tone, a poet feels
that they can express what they have felt into poetry.
Figure of speech has many roles in fiction. It makes the fiction interest in
evoking emotion, making vivid sensory experience, and eliciting image. On man
48
Richard Gill, Mastering English Literature, (New York: Macmillan Press Ltd, 1995), p.
4
65
he would find very difficult or even impossible to do in literal term. It enables the
Corry. The figures of speech of the poem describe that someone who looks very
healthy and rich in his life, but he chooses commits the suicide at the end of his
life. Besides, figure of speech as one of literary element, it creates the sense or
power to describe things in unique ways. The readers or literary lovers can
explore the words in fiction or non fiction which are expressed by the author.
experiences in his life were written by him into poetry. He always gets the ideas
from the condition around him such as from his sickness, people around him and
also from his family. Donnes interest in death, become the reason why the writer
B. Research Methodology
The objectives of this study are to find out the main idea of these poems,
to find out the figure of speech used in John Donnes three poems, to find out the
Sickness, A Hymn to God the Father and Death, be not Proud), and to find out the
writer tries to describe and explain the content of the poems by using figure of
speech definition.
66
the data. The writer reads the poems line by line, and then he analyzes the
The units of analysis are three of John Donnes poems, they are Hymn to
God my God, in my Sickness, A Hymn to God the Father and Death, be not Proud
C. Theoretical Framework
1. Definition of poem
arts; because it uses words as its medium of expression art and it is something in
which man tries to give lasting form to an experience which seems to him
and almost ancient.49 The most primitive peoples have it, and the most civilized
have to cultivate it. Poetry has the meaning; the term for the many literary forms
through which man has given rhythmic expression to his most imaginative and
intense perceptions of himself and his universe.50 Poetry written after selected
process by poet and choosing the supported elements such as figure of speech,
the meaning to give their experiences. All of them can not be separated because
they have relationships that make one coherent structure. By figure of speech,
49
Perrine Laurence and Thomas R. ARP, Sound and Sense; An Introduction to Poetry, 8th
ed, (Southern Methodist University, 1992) p. 347
50
Danbury Connecticut, Encyclopedia Americana International Edition, (Scholastic
Library Publishing, INC, USA, 1829), vol 22, p.277
67
and experiences through medium of poetry. The subject of poem is for form being
so restricted, very often does, deal with beautiful and profound themes: music,
spring, love, courage, religious, faith, but many also deal with squalor, suffering,
injustice, intellectual or spiritual poverty. The language with which a poet handles
2. Elements of Poems
5. Form
6. Language
7. Theme
8. Tone
3. Explication
knowledge of each part for the relation of these parts to each other, and for their
saying something other than the ordinary way.52 Figure of speech is one of the
element. Poets feel, that by the usage of figure of speech in their poetry they can
say more vividly and forcefully than they can say it directly. The definition of
a. Personification
figure of speech is a rhetorical device that achieves a special effect by using words
in distinctive ways.53
b. Hyperbole
the service truth.54 Hyperbole is a figure of speech that used by poet in the effect
to depict an object, idea and other that may seem strained and ridiculous.
c. Simile
Simile is a figure of speech in which two things are compared using the
word "like" or "as" to draw attention to similarities about two things that are
53
http://www.learner.org/interactives/literature/read/theme1.html ((Accessed on
September 2nd 2009)
54
Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. ARP. (1992), op.cit p.64
55
http//:www.answers.com/topic/understatement (Accessed on September 2nd 2009)
69
things, but it uses a connective word. According to Perrine simile may be defined
compared with an another by used sign-posting such as like, as, than similar to,
resembles, or seem.57
d. Symbol
stand for something else more abstract. Symbol is a trope that combines a literal
and sensuous quality with an abstract or suggestive aspect. The symbol shares
with the image a concrete referent in the objective world- a referent that it evokes
on the primary level. For example, in the poetry entitled The Love Song of J.
Alfred Prufrock by T.S Eliot. The mermaids in line 124 point beyond the literal
e. Metaphor
analogy that imaginatively identifies one object with another and either ascribes to
the first with connotation inherent in the other. For example, in the poetry entitled
f. Synecdoche
56
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/poetic_glossary.html
(Accessed on September 2nd 2009)
57
Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. ARP, (1992), Op. cit p. 64
58
Ibid
70
whole (as hands for sailor) the whole for a part (as the law for police officer), the
specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the specific (as
steel for word). For example, in the poetry entitled The Naked and The Nude by
Robert Graves. It is in line 9 the Hippocratic eye will see it refers to a doctor.
g. Metonymy
line 4 do paint the meadows with delight Shakespeare uses metonymy when he
says that the yellow cuckoo-buds paint the meadows with delight for he means
h. Paradox
may be true. It is widely used in poetry and in epigrammatic writing prose. For
a. Apostrophe
John Donne apostrophizing the death in his sonnet death be not proud, though
59
Sylvan Barnet et, al., An Introduction to Literature, (United State of America, 1961) p.
72
71
i. Litotes
not true. For example, they were not a little comported, A citizen no mean of city
6. Theme
statement about life that unifies and contrast the total work. In this definition,
then; the theme is not the issue or problem, or subject with which the work deals.
comprehensive vision of life can be said as the vehicle on author uses to establish
a relationship with the larger world in which he/she lives and works. When we
observed that the preceding discussions on form, Figure of speech or imagery, all
included, the greater or lesser degrees, some comment on the ideas in the poem
and the statement the poem makes in other words, on its theme62.
D. Research Findings
1. Data Description
TABLE I
Hymn to god my god, in my sickness
No. Figures of speeches Line Meaning
60
Khaterina Barnwell, Introduction to semantic and Translation, (England: summer
Institute of Linguistic, 1980) p. 144
61
James Pickering H. and Jeffrey D. Hooper, Concise Companion to Literature, (New
York: Macmillan., 1981) p. 61
62
Alton C. Morris, The American Experience: Poetry, (New York; Mac Milan, 1829). p.
3
72
1 Personification (13) What shall my west hurt The speakers condition in his
me? As west and east dying
(15) So death doth touch the There is eternal life after died
resurrection
2 Symbol (1) Since I am coming to that The best place from God
holy room,
(Heaven)
(8) Flat on this bed, that by The place that human being live
them may be shown
World
(10) Per fretum febris, by these One of the way to direction of
straits to die, death
4 Metaphor (14) In all flat maps (and I am The processes and direction to
one) are one, facing the death seem totally
different, but in fact is same.
73
TABLE II
A Hymn to God the Father
No. Figures of Speeches Line Meaning
1 Metonymy (13) I have a sin of fear, that The speakers feeling to face his
when I have won death, but he has the original sin.
2 Hyperbole (10) A year, or two: but The speaker feels that he has a
wallowed in, a score? lot of sins like wallowed in his
body.
TABLE III
Death, be not Proud
No. Figures of Speeches Line Meaning
1 Personification (1) Death, be not proud, though Death is given negative human
some have called thee traits: pride mainly, but also
pretence and inferiority and
Death is likened to sleep, a
commonplace image.
2 Paradox (14) And Death shall be no more Stop fearing the death and accept
; Death, thou shalt die. it as a rest of our bones.
74
3 Metaphor (5) From rest and sleep, which Death must be even more
but thy pictures be, pleasurable, death is simply a
deeper form of sleep.
(5) From rest and sleep, which The pictures being sleep, which
but thy pictures be, tells the readers that sleep during
life is simply a short experience
of death.
(13-14) One short sleep past, we A break between one life and the
wake eternally, / And death shall next.
be no more
4 Synecdoche (8) Rest of their bones, and Their bones getting to their rest
soul's delivery (in the grave).
(11) And poppy, or charms can The use of opium and magic to
make us sleep as well, produce sleep or ambiguously to
produce a gentle death.
2. Explication of Poems
The poem was written just eight days before his death. This poem tells about the
speakers preparation for his death in his illness. In his illness Donne is not asking
for healing but to be prepared for death. Like many of Donnes religious poems,
many of his metaphysical secular poems. Each of the six five-line stanzas follows
pentameter.
three central parts. Part one are the first and second stanza stand on their own. In
this part the speaker tells to the readers about to die. In line 1 Since I am coming to
that holy room. The speaker says since he will soon die and come to that holy
room (heaven), he needs to prepare himself before he finally enters thy Quire of
Saints, that is to say heaven. Where in line 2 until line 4, he will be made into the
music of God as sung by a choir of saints, he tunes the instrument and in line 5
And what I must do then, think now before. The speaker says that now he
76
should prepared for himself and thinks what he will do when the final moment
comes.
cosmographers and himself as a map or it is meant that his body is a world, and
his physicians are mapping it to lying flat on the bed to be shown that this is my
south-west discovery Per fretum febris, by these straits to die. In line 10 Per
The next two stanzas (stanza four and stanza five) make up another part of
the poem. In line 11 to 12, I joy, that in these straits, I see my west; For, though
their currents yield return to none. The speaker rejoices, for in those straits he
sees his west, his death, whose currents yield return to none, yet which will not
harm him. In line 13 to 14, the speaker (Donne) makes himself a conceit of a map
of the world. He tells the readers that he sees his west. As the sun rises from the
east and falls on the west, the west signifies death. Even though everyone must be
die, on these straights that only go towards the west, that death shall do not
damage to him. He uses rhetorical questioning to carry across the point that he is
not scared of death. Donne also suggests that east and west are the same anyway,
alluding to the cycle of life to death then resurrection. Line 15 is the only line
which differs from the iambic pentameter with one less syllable than 10. This cuts
The last part of the poem is identified by the remaining 3 stanzas. In line
Jerusalem?. The speaker asks whether his home is the Pacific Sea, or the eastern
riches, or Jerusalem. The speaker (Donne) makes many biblical references such as
Jerusalem, Japhet, Christ, Adam and Adams tree, creating a lexical string of
Gibraltar, and says that only straits can offer access to paradise, whether it lies
The speaker says that in line 21 to 22, We think that Paradise and Calvary,
Christs Cross, and Adams tree, stood in one place. Paradise and Calvary, /
Christs Cross, and Adams tree stood in the same place. He asks God to look and
to note that both Adams (Christ being the second Adam) are unified in him, as the
first Adams sweat surrounds his face, he says may the second Adams blood
embrace his soul. He asks God to receive him wrapped in the purple of Christ,
and, by these his thorns, to give him Christs other crown. As he preached the
word of God to others souls, he says let this be his sermon to his own soul
A Hymn to God the Father is a poem which is tells about the speakers
supplicating to penance for his sins. The poem itself divided into three stanzas,
each stanza divided into six lines. The entire rime scheme of the poem rests on
The first stanza in the first line, Wilt Thou forgive that sin where I begun
means that the speaker begins his prayer asking for forgiveness for his sin to his
God, the sin since he ever begun in his life. In line 2, Which is my sin, though it
were done before?. He says that he has the original sin of being born of man and
woman, the sin since he was born. Although he knows he does not remember
choosing to be born, he knows that the fact that he is incarnated indicates that he
is not soul perfected, he has karma to burn, and he must reap what he has sown.
progress as a devotee from the days when he was using his wit and charm to
seduce a virgin.
But in addition to the original sin, he is aware that he has been locked in
the physical body with animal lusts that he has difficulty controlling. In line 3 to
line 6, Wilt Thou forgives that sin, through which I run, And do run still, though
still I do deplore? When thou hast done. When his God has forgive the sins that he
has made before thou hast not done, For, I have more. The speaker also hopes
that his God will forgive his sin which is still he does in his life continuously. He
is ashamed of that sin and hates it, but he needs divine aid in overcoming it.
79
Second stanza in line 1, Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won.
The speaker repeat again his prayer to his God to forgive his second sin that he
has encouraged others in the same sin, that is the engagement with lust. He is
also afraid that his sins become the door for the other people. In line 10, he has
been able to control that lust, A year or two, but he wallowed in it for about
twenty years. After the Great Soul has unburdened him from that sin, the speaker
Third Stanza in the first line: I have a sin of fear, that when I've spun.
The speaker then names his final sin, and that is the a sin of fear. He fears that
when he dies he shall simply disappear. He believes in his immortal, eternal soul,
but he confesses to doubts, he knows he has not yet achieved union with the
divine.
He then aver that he strongly believes in Christ, and with God the Fathers
help, he will become aware of Christs shining presence. In line 4 of last stanza,
he knows that his Christ-consciousness shines now and heretofore. With that
strong faith and complete reliance of God the Father, the speaker then can
finally say, I fear no more. He does not afraid anymore to face die.
the poem the speaker tells about the reasons why human beings should not be
afraid of death. Clearly the theme of Death, be not Proud is death, but the poem
is considerably more positive about death and dying. The scheme of the poem is
abba abba.
The first and the second line of the poem the speaker said that Death likes
to think of himself as powerful, terrifying and indeed some people have called
him that, but it is not so in truth. In the next lines or line 3 to 4, Donne explains
why Death thinks that he is "overthrowing" men when he takes them, which are
conquering, vanquishing, defeating, ruining, and causing to fall. Instead, and this
is the "Holy" conceit of the sonnet, a very Christian concept. He does not cause
them to fall, but helps them to raise death is the means by which man finds
patronizing and sarcastic with "poor Death", who is so deluded as to think himself
a bane on man's existence. And again, "nor yet canst thou kill me", hearkens back
to the same idea that Death does not kill, but is instead the enabler of new,
immortal life.
In line 5 to line 8, the speaker said that here we have the Renaissance idea
of sleep as death's image that is, death's likeness, semblance a sleeping man looks
much like a dead man, and vice versa. Thus, if man gets much pleasure out of rest
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and sleep, which are but copies of death, how much more pleasure then must be
gotten from death, the original? This is why, Donne posits, the best men of the
era go unhesitatingly to their deaths they have wisely realized this to be the case.
They go with Death, their bones get to their rest (in the grave), and their souls get
"delivered", containing the meanings at the same time of being freed from the
human body, freed from the fear of death, delivered into heaven, and delivered in
In line 9 to line 10, the speaker said that here, he furthers the idea that
Death is not mighty, but indeed is a slave, with "Fate, chance, kings, and
desperate men" as his masters. The personified Death does not always have the
power to choose who is to die Fate and chance may suddenly take someone, kings
on a whim may doom people to their deaths, and desperate men, who see no way
out, may take their own lives, thus cheating Death of his control and mastery.
Next, Donne likes Death to a scavenger who cleans up where poison, war,
and sickness have raged. How proud is his position now. The next lines (line 11 to
line 12) going back to the sleep/Death image, Donne notes that drugs alike have
the power of producing sleep, and in fact, create a truer sleep than Death (since
Death, as Donne already pointed out, but a fleeting moment's sleep before
false hubris, and the insult is delivered home with why swell'st thou then? i.e.,
'since this is the case, what reason have you, Death, to be Proud? the image used
The last lines are line 13 to line 14 thus, one short sleep past, that is after
resurrected, to eternal life, never to sleep or die again. Then, death will cease to
exist altogether, will die. Here now the personified Death has been shown to be
not mighty and dreadful but a mere mortal, or rather less than we mortals, since
he will die an eternal death at the resurrection, whereas we mortals will enjoy
eternal life. The final pronouncement, Death, thou shalt die completes the idea
that Death is the one who should be afraid, not the one to be feared.
about Death as Friend; we should know that Death is a transition from one place
to another or an entry into a sacred space. The geographical images bring this out
strongly. Here, Donne said that sickness is likely to lead to death focuses attention
on the afterlife and gives a map or direction finder to find it. Life is a journey for a
moment, and the process of dying seen as the final passage through to the ultimate
destination. In this poem, Donne present figure of the sickness as the mediator to
die. But, before the death comes or the final moment comes, Donne tried to invites
the readers to give the information that we should make some preparation to face
it, because death will comes to everyone, in every times and everywhere.
The use of the word hurt in line What shall my west hurt me? As west
and east for example, the poet in this poem absolutely describes about his
feeling toward his sickness. Hurt in this poem is a personification of death time.
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Another example is the word map in line Cosmographer, and I their map, who
lie the poet describes about his feeling toward his sickness also. He belief that
before the final moment (die) is comes we need to make some preparation for it.
Both and all other figures of speech of the poem above help the poet build
the theme and deliver it to the readers to make them understand about the poem
intention. Finally, based on figure of speech analysis of the poem the writer
asking to his Gods forgiveness for different types of sins, but feeling as if he will
never finish confessing them all. This gives him a fear that when he dies, he will
not have received God's forgiveness and will perish on the shore. In this poem
Death is something which is full of mystery; in real life all of people are afraid of
death. Like the poet in this poem, he is very scares to face the death because he
has a lot of sins in his life, the original sin and the sins that he has done by
himself.
The theme conveyed within the poem is supported by many kinds of figure
of speech in it. The using of figures of speech in this poem, as analyzed above
gives a significant contribution in theme building. The poet exploits them well
and they even proven able to produce a sense that cannot be seen or explained just
from the title. In the second stanza he says; A year, or two: but wallowed in, a
score?.
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The use of the word wallowed for instance, the poet in this poem
perfectly describes his feeling toward his life who has a lot of sins. He has
wallowed in it for twenty years and it makes him so scare. Another supported
word of figure of speech which conveyed the theme is proven by the word fear
in the first line of the third stanza I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun. He
fears that when he dies he shall simply disappear. It will not be easily performed
by any visual act. Yet, the figure of speech has delivered it well. This and all other
figures of speech of the poem said so much in so little word. They are there to
help the poet build the theme of the poem and deliver it to the readers to make
them understand it well along with all the senses they carried. So, from figure of
speech analysis of the poem the writer concludes that the theme of A Hymn to God
John Donnes Death, be not Proud poem is one of Donne's Holy Sonnets
or Divine Poems. Clearly the theme is about death, but the poem is considerably
more positive about death and dying. In the poem the speaker tells about the
reasons why human beings should not be afraid of death. We should belief that the
death is not the "Mighty and dreadful" entity that people fear. Death that it is not
powerful as it believes, but simply a peaceful escape from life, and an entity
Based on figure of speech analysis in previous section, the writer finds out
some sentences that are supported the theme of this poem. For example, Donne
uses some metaphor in this poem. In line 5 From rest and sleep, which but thy
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pictures be, Donne believes that death is such a pleasurable activity and death is
simply a deeper form of sleep. The other metaphor is in line One short sleep
past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
Donne compares the relationship of death to the afterlife to that of sleep to waking
up. Death is not everlasting, but a break between one life and the next. The writer
presents those examples to reveal the theme of the poem based on figure of speech
analysis above. Finally, the he concludes that the theme of Death, be not Proud is
1. Conclusion
After analyzing the three poems of John Donne in the previous chapter, the
writer concludes that Hymn to God my God, in my sickness, A hymn to God the
Father and Death, be not Proud poems by John Donne use the same theme. The
writer analyzes the figure of speech in those poems using a major of theme about
death with different concepts and point of view. The poet who is known as the
founder of the Metaphysical Poet is has his own opinion about death.
In his Hymn to God my God, in my sickness poem the poet has opinion
about death from his sickness point of view. In this poem the poet writes about his
preparation to face the death, the day where is the final moment comes. The
metaphor. From those four figures of speeches the writer concludes that the theme
In the A Hymn to God the Father poem, John Donne wrote about death
with different way. Death is something which is full of mystery; in real life all of
people are afraid of death. Like the poet in this poem, he is very scared to face the
death because he has a lot of sins in his life, the original sin and the sins that he
has done by himself. So, before he faces the death he needs his sins apologized by
his God. He hopes to his God to apologize his fear sin, the sin that he has done
and the sins that he still do in his life. The figures of speeches that used in this
poem are metonymy and hyperbole. From those three figures of speeches the
writer concludes that A Hymn to God the Father is a poem with theme Asking
poem. In the poem the speaker tells about the reasons why human beings should
not fear death. We should belief that the death is not the "Mighty and dreadful"
entity that people fear. Death that it is not powerful as it believes, but simply a
peaceful escape from life, and an entity dependant on others to accomplish his
metaphor and synecdoche. Clearly the theme of Death, be not Proud is death is
not the mighty and dreadful, but the poem is considerably more positive about
The three poems that are analyzed by the writer have different
characteristics and point of views in seeing death. But the point is, death still
becomes something mystery in everyones level of live. The writer concludes that
three poems have been analyzed based on the figures of speeches and their
2. Suggestion
From the result of this research, there are three poems with the theme of
death and from the three poems the writer found seven kinds of figure of speech.
Each poem has a different way to explore and point of view about death. The
following are the writer suggestions for the readers who are interested in
analyzing about death poems and figure of speech from the same poet;
6. To explore the authors life and focus the study on poets bibliography. It
is because the writer ensures that there is significant relation between the
poets poems.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL DETAILS
PARENTS
a. Father : Muhammad
Occupation : Farmer
Last Education : Elementary School
b. Mother : Sutiah
Occupation : Farmer
Last Education : Elementary School
Home address : Jl. Lintas Sumatra, Desa Peninjau, Tanah Tumbuh Mura
Bungo, Jambi
Phone : 0813 8085 2899
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FORMAL EDUCATION