skills

Rhyme Scheme and Meter

The rhyme scheme of "Death, Be Not Proud" is as follows: ABBA, ABBA, CDDC, EE. The meter varies, although most lines are in iambic pentameter.

Theme

“Death Be Not Proud” is among the most famous and most beloved poems in English literature. Its popularity lies in its message of hope couched in eloquent, quotable language. Donne’s theme tells the reader that death has no right to be proud, since human beings do not die but live eternally after “one short sleep.” Although some people depict death as mighty and powerful, it is really a lowly slave that depends on luck, accidents, decrees, murder, disease, and war to put men to sleep. But a simple poppy (whose seeds provide a juice to make a narcotic) and various charms (incantations, amulets, spells, etc.) can also induce sleep—and do it better than death can. After a human being’s soul leaves the body and enters eternity, it lives on; only death dies. 

Figures of Speech

To convey his message, Donne relies primarily on personification, a type of metaphor, that extends through the entire poem. (Such an extended metaphor is often called a conceit.) Thus, death becomes a person whom Donne addresses, using the second-person singular (implied or stated as thou, thee, and thy). Donne also uses alliteration, as the following lines illustrate:

Line 4: Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst though kill me
Line 6: Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow
Line 13: One short sleep past, we wake eternally (Note: One begins with a w sound; thus, it alliterates with we and wake.)

Donne ends the poem with paradox and irony: Death, thou shalt die.
.

                                 Analysis on John Donne’s “Death Be Not Proud”

Death Be Not Proud
by John Donne
(1572-1631)
DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell’st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

Derick Ariyam
November 21, 2005

A Critical Analysis of “Death Be Not Proud” by John Donne

The sonnet “Death Be Not Proud”, written by John Donne around the year 1618, is one of many sonnets that are part of a collection called The Holy Sonnets. This collection is comprised of nineteen sonnets with themes that pertain to Christian philosophy.

“Death Be Not Proud” is a powerful declaration against death, in which death is personified as a tyrant without real power “…some have called thee / Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe” (1-2). The poem continues to dismantle death from something mysterious and feared, to something weak and irrelevant. The speaker’s main polemic is grounded in the beliefs of Christian philosophy, in particular, its promise of eternal life. But prior to this, the poem dismantles death from secular angles as well.

From a structural standpoint, the poem tightly adheres to the sonnet form, which is defined as a lyric poem that adheres to a conventional rhyme scheme and is usually made up of fourteen lines (Murfin, Ray 450). The rhyme scheme for this poem is “abbaabbacddcee”.

The poem attacks death from two different angles: a secular angle and a religious angle. The first twelve lines are mostly secular in the sense that a non-Christian can at least follow the argument. The last two lines require a belief in Christianity, and with this belief, comes the more powerful, irrefutable claim, dramatically stated in the words “And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die”(14), which pertains to the Christian concept of Eternal Life.

The first angle, the secular, the speaker starts with a feeling of disdain and loathing in the words used against death, creating an immediate pejorative connotation with this character. This is followed by flippancy and mocking: “Die not, poore Death, nor yet canst thou kill me” (4). Here the words “poore Death” are used to diminish Death’s formidability.

This line follows with another that has the same enervating effect, “From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, / Much pleasure; then from thee much more most flow” (5-6). Here the speaker, using logic, is stating that since death appears outwardly to be merely a sleep, and sleep being a pleasurable thing, death must be even more pleasurable.

Flippancy and mocking is then turned into disarmament as the speaker addresses Death as a slave, at the whim of external influences, “Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men” (9). This line intimates that death has no real power, but is merely summoned like an instrument without complete autonomy of its own will.

The last part of the poem, particularly in the last two lines, forms the more powerful and convincing argument against the fortitude of death; however, it requires a belief in Christianity.

According to Christian philosophy, those that believe in Christ will never die but live eternally, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John. 3.15 King James Version). This is not to imply that believers escape the natural course of all living things, which is to eventually cease from living, to die; death to Christians is not a ceasing of life, but rather, an entering into life, a better life, an eternal life. In essence, the earthly perishable body is left behind and the soul continues to live forever thereby escaping death:

"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15.54).

In the aforementioned passage from the King James Version of the Bible, Saint Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, again reiterates the Christian faith’s view of death as something “irrelevant”, a similar view that is taken in John Donne’s sonnet “Death Be Not Proud”.

The last line of the poem is the final thrust against death. It is a claim that death is meaningless, and a paradox. This is written as a recursive statement “…death, thou shalt die”(14). Since there is no death, the only thing left is Eternal Life.

But this poem is not merely a remonstration; it is also a passionate piece of writing that is imbued with emotion and sounds. Starting from the first line, “Death be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so” (1-2), the words that are chosen and their placement, adds a peremptory tone to this first declaration; these are lines that can not be whispered, but rather, belched out sonorously.

The entire poem follows in this manner, as a declaration loudly commanded. This continues up until the last lines of the sonnet, where the tone shifts to that of “finality”, “And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die” (14). Also, many of the words in this poem bear heavy connotations, “Thou are slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men” (9), the words “slave” and “desperate” are words with strong emotional connotations.

“Death Be Not Proud” by John Donne, is a sonnet from the revered Holy Sonnets that passionately argues against the formidability of death. The poem cites the Christian hope of Eternal Life as the ultimate escape from death, but does provide secular arguments as well that work in lightening the concept of death. But beyond this, the sonnet is a literary work of immense beauty and structure; it is a brilliant work from any point-of-view.

.: :.

In the first line, Donne says that death should not be proud. In the remainder of the poem he gives reasons for this. First, Donne says, death doesn't really kill. Death is just a form of sleep. Donne then points out that people can control death and cause it themselves, so death is actually a slave. In the last two triumphant lines, Donne indicates that death is only temporary, because we will wake up again.

| Posted on 2010-02-16 | by a guest

. As the poet says, everyone has to die one day. So we should not be afraid of death thinking.We should prepare all the best things we want before we die.
Good luck!

| Posted on 2009-12-29 | by a guest

.: :.

As far as I can tell, Death be not proud actually depicts that, we should not afraid of death. Because in the first quatrain states that, some people called death might be very terrible and unplesent experience, whereas, john Donne assure them that, death is not like that and prove himself by explicating some of his sonnets. `Death be not proud, though some have called thee` In this line he says, death is not as terrifying as we think it actually are. Further he adds, it is perhaps more joyfull and pleasurable than we ever imagine. Rest and Sleep are one of the copy of death, as while sleeping and rest we feel ourselves half Consciousness which is a clear sign of death. Those who meet their destiny sooner means they are going to feel a pain of joy initially afterwards their death provides his sould full of comfort and Unthinkable Experience. The Poet further says that, the man is a powerful applicant to invite his own death by taking drugs and poisions but death is itself helpless and slave of our fate. Though, it is undoubtedly true that we all have to taste the joy of death but when we die our soul experience the changless eternal life.

.: :.

Analysis :
The poet wishes to convey his message of eternal life and feels that people should not be afraid of dying, as there will still be, in his view, eternal life in heaven. He knows that everyone must die eventually, even, "our best men with thee do go". This is his basis for his acceptance of death and thereby defeating it. Donne's motivation for this poem stems from his religious background as he was a descendant of Saint Thomas Moore and was raised as a Roman Catholic, yet he still fuses his calculated thoughts with his feelings.Donne opens the poem with a defiant tone, indicating his stand against death. In his metaphysical conceits, the poet developes a lengthy, complex image to express his involved but controlled view of a person, object or feeling, in this case death being compared to a person. The movement is appropriate as the defiant tone in the beginning lends itself to the fast pace of the first four lines. A steady pace is then developed while Donne explains his point of view. An elegy is a classical form of poetry mixed with modern influences and this emphasises Donne's own form of writing and what he tries to convey in the poem, mixing feelings with calculated thoughts. Being a metaphysical poet, Donne usually used irregular rhythms, however, in this poem he uses bound verse and has a metrical pattern. He too is cynical and states; "Die not, poor death" and humiliates death. By making slight variations in the rhythm, the poet gives the lines a melody. He uses extremely emotive diction, such as "Mighty" and "dreadful" to incite feelings in the reader and to indicate that death is not these things. Enjambment is used to give many of the lines a free flowing affect and therefore create a faster pace when it is needed. The poet uses Iambic pentameter to create a rhythmical feeling within the poem. The use of diction is extravagant and is very important in the poem as it must describe the poet's feelings and, with difficulty, describe death. Donne uses realistic language so as to appeal to the masses. The poet succeeds in conveying his emotions using expressive diction, questioning the reader's emotions and thoughts on death and thereby creating insight in the readers mind. Donne personifies Fate and Chance to indicate they too are above dying.
Written by : Alaa Cali4nia Boy

| Posted on 2009-07-28 | by a guest

.: :.

Analysis :
Death, commonly viewed as an all-powerful force against life, is otherwise described in John Donne's Holy Sonnet 10. As found in any English Sonnet, there is a rhyme scheme and a standard meter. Although the standard meter is iambic pentameter, as in most English Sonnets, the rhyme scheme differs a little from the usual, consisting of ABBA ABBA CDDC AE. Sonnets convey various thoughts and feelings to the reader through the different moods set by the author. In this case the speaker having to confront Death and defeat it, sets the mood. Throughout existence, there have been many theories regarding exactly what role Death plays in the lives of those who experience it. Some think Death is the ultimate controller of all living things, while others believe it is nothing more than the act of dying once your time has come. Donne, on the other hand, has his own philosophy. The entire Sonnet, Donne speaks directly to Death.
Without fate nothing could be determined, therefore, our fate is truthfully what controls our lives and deaths. In lines one and two Donne says "Death, be not proud, though some have called thee, Mighty and dreadful thou art not so. Although we tell Death it does not control what our destiny is, we still recognize that eventually all of us will get there one way or another as stated in lines seven and eight, "And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery. Dreams can only offer so much, as compared to eternal happiness will never ceases to give tranquility. " All of us will end up meeting Death; nevertheless it will not come for us during our lifetime, it will only watch from a distance, until called again. When Death becomes a slave it is because it will benefit from who will die, but doesn't have the power to kill. It decides when our time has been completed on this earth, and then comes Death to take us away. Death is shown a sense of insecurity in line three when the speaker says, "For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow, die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. He gives Death life, and therefore makes it mortal, exposing it to pain, torment and eventually defeat. In line nine, the speaker goes against that to say that Death is a slave to fate, chance and us. Next, in line 10 he says "And dost with poison, war" and sickness dwell;" Therefore, not only is Death a slave, but it is also dependent on people in order to survive. " By referring to Death as a person, he makes it easier for the reader to bring Death down to a level of a weakness and venerability, allowing us to examine it to see what Death really is. " Donne is telling Death that all those who it think it killed it really didn't, and that it cant kill him, again proving that Death is not what takes lives but what delivers them.
Written by : Alaa Cali4nia Boy

| Posted on 2009-07-28 | by a guest

.: :.

Analysis:
John Donne addresses Death as one would speak to a foe, harassing employee, or even an annoying bully who is too weak and without power to deliver his/her threats. Donne tells Death that he should not be so arrogantly proud even though some have made him think he is mighty and one to be feared. He points out to Death that he is far from being any of those things.
He goes on to tell Death that even though he thinks he succeeded in overthrowing people.
They are the ones who deliver their souls and who rest their bones even when death may not be ready for them. So it is Death that is a slave to fate, accidents, suicides, war, and sickness. Death must dwell with them and must also cease when these men die. Donne mocking Death says that even "poppy and charms" can provide a better sleep because Death is just a weakling.
Donne points out that sleep which is the first death is short and one wakes to live for eternity. Thus Death is defeated and will no longer be. So Donne tells death that he shouldn't puff up with pride for it is Death that will face the real death. The first death for the believer is only a physical death; only the body is destroyed. This physical death serves as a portal to eternity.
Donne drew from his priesthood studies the knowledge of the afterlife. Through his writings he was able to make death seem less threatening to himself and to the people of his time. After all, who has not questioned his/her existence after death? People are curious and tend to fear the unknown.
Donne ends his admonishment very boldly: "Death thou shall die." The reader can sense that death is truly defeated forever more. There is some satisfaction in reading these words even if just for the moment. Anxious ones can return every now and then to the Scriptures and to "Death be not Proud" to find peace and encouragement.
Written by : Alaa Cali4nia Boy

| Posted on 2009-07-28 | by a guest

.: :.

Death be not Proud consists of a number of reasons why human beings should not fear death. However, rather than state the reasons as if talking to us, Donne turns to Death itself. He personifies and apostrophises it: he argues it into submission, till at the end he can state the paradox ‘Death, thou shalt die!’ triumphantly.
The poem is best understood as three quatrains and a concluding couplet.
The first quatrain states the theme, with its central paradox that those whom death touches do not really die. That is because of the Christian hope of resurrection and immortality. Paul writes, using the image of a grain of wheat: ‘it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body’.
The second quatrain takes the idea that sleep and death are allied, one being an image of the other (‘thy pictures’). Sleep is pleasant, therefore death must be, so why fear it? In fact, the best people, that is those who are most pure in their lives, die most quickly, because they know their soul will be ‘delivered’ into a new life.
The third quatrain mocks death. Death is not in control of itself, but has to come wherever there is disease or war. So why is death so proud? Then he argues that opiates mimic death and much more pleasantly.
This leads on to the triumphant couplet, that we shall wake into eternal life and

.: :.

Most of Donne's poems are about religious subject matter. In this poem Donne mocks Death.
He says death has nothing to be proud of since people are not terrified of him. Death is nothing dreadful but is actually a pleasurable experience since the people who die go to eternal sleep. God appoint's a certain time for everyone in this earth to die. So it is not really Death who chooses whom to kill but Death is rather a slave to fate.
The fact that God takes away our loved ones the soonest makes it look as if Death is a reward for all the good deeds. Also Death does not actually "kill" men since the people who die go to eternal bliss where they become immortal. In the end it is Death himself who dies since all the men Death has taken away from this world become mortal.
The poet pities death because death is a slave to the men he kills. Some people die in their own will by taking drugs and hypnotism. Even men are more powerful than Death so Death has absolutely nothing to be proud of.
The message of the poet is in the last few lines where he pities death. He says we have no reason to be afraid of death since the only thing which dies in the end is Death because after death all of us experience eternal life
-Farii

| Posted on 2009-05-15 | by a guest

.: :.

All I know is that I really like this poem. The first time I was made to read and analyse it, I hated it so much; but now I go back over it, it really makes sense. It has this awesome defiant air to it with the Narrator basically standing up to Death and telling it that its nothing more than an idea that has been built up over time to seem scary and evil. The way Death is personified really helps to get this across. The last line is the best: "... Death thou shalt die." Its as if you feel like you've just stood up and given death the finger, like you just stole its thunder and it knows that it can never get it back, that it's lost, and you've won. I love it!

| Posted on 2009-05-11 | by a guest

.: :.

Hey!
So I had to do a response to this poem for English class and I absolutely hate poetry so it was quite difficult. This helped me so much. Most of what I am going to say has already been said but maybe it will help someone else out there!
Basically the poem is about the afterlife and death. It mentions the idea that death can't pick and choose it's victims and once we die we live forever because there is no death in the after life.
The second line in this poem, "mighty and dreadful... not so" conveys the theme that death isn't as scary as people make it seem and to not be afraid of it.
The tone of this poem is mockery and the mood is calming.
There are two main stylistic devices used in this poem: personification and paradox. The title is personification because it gives death a human like characteristic; pride. It helps conveys the previously mentioned theme because by giving death characteristics, it makes it seem less scary. The last line in this poem is a paradox. This has been mentioned above. It again effectively portrays the theme because if death kills itself, its weak and therefore nothing to fear.
That's all for me! I truly hope this helps someone because everyone else's posts helped me so much!!
Love from Canada

| Posted on 2009-03-29 | by a guest

.: :.

One thing I notice everyone is misunderstanding: "one short sleep past, we wake eternally, and death shall be no more, death, thou shalt die."
This is not the platonic idea of a soul or spirit being awake in eternal life immediately after dying (it should not be connected to 'soul's deliverie') but the Christian idea of resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15). Donne expects that there will be a short sleep, or period of being dead, from which we will awake or be resurrected at the end of time ('the last trump' as Paul puts it). At that time, he believes, 'death will be no more'. It is not an individual movement at the time of death he looks forward to, but rather a collective awakening in resurrection to eternal life.
It is very important to distinguish hope of resurrection from the Platonic theory of a 'divine spark' that lives on. The paradox Donne is pushing is that because he will be resurrected, death does not really terminate him, and so is more like sleep (per Jesus' comment before raising of the dead girl: "she is not dead, but only sleeping"). Then on the day of judgement death itself will receive the permanent termination it 'thinks' it administers to people.

| Posted on 2009-01-04 | by a guest

.: The REAL meaning. :.

Yes, Donne is basically mocking death.
But there is a deeper meaning behind it. Because, in the century that Donne had lived - almost everything was in command with Religion.
Because, Religion played such a big part of his life his belief in "Eternal Afterlife" is shown throughout the poem.
Yes, he shows that Death is nothing to fear - and talks of Death's will through things like War and Illness. He speaks of the similarity between death and sleeping and the peaceful nature of sleeping.
He creates an understanding that ALL men die and that Death shouldn't be proud or pompous - because some people evidentally die on their own accord - eg. drugs
I love the conceit. The concluding couplet - it's such a clever argument.
the irony of "Death" actually "Dieing"
Because, death shouldn't be percieved as a "scary thing" - it's like being born again.
The journey TO eternal afterlife.
=)
i'm in year ten, 15 years old. I studied the poem today in English
I really liked it.

| Posted on 2008-06-03 | by a guest

.: Donne :.

This sonnet is as dramatic as many works by Donne. It is an apostrophe in which Donne teases and trivialises death and denounces it power, referring it as a slave and nothing more than a nap ..one short sleepe past. He is making death out to be weak as well as a loser because when a man dies, death dies and loses what little power it had to begin with.

| Posted on 2008-05-15 | by a guest

.: Slave to mans fate :.

death is really nothing to fear
death is the only thing that really dies
all death does is relieving us of all the pain

| Posted on 2008-05-07 | by a guest

.: Slave to mans fate :.

death is really nothing to fear
death is the only thing that really dies
all death does is relieving us of all the pain

| Posted on 2008-05-07 | by a guest

.: important :.

Death dont' be proud even though you pride in it.
you are not mighty or scary as some people may say.
for all those people you took away, you are still unable to take me. So don't die, poor death, before you take me away. the first 4 lines he's mocking death.
Death, you're just a picture of peace (rest and sleep).
Dying is a pleasurable state and death is full of pleasure. You eventually take away our love ones away(best men), but you're just giving their body rest and freeing their soul.
the second 4 lines he's teasing death.
Death, you're a slave to fate and to man's action.
Poison , war, sickness, and sleeping pills will kill us but then so what?
One quick moment pass and comes eternal life.
Death will be no more, in turn it's really Death's funeral when a man dies. Last 6 lines he's pitying death.

| Posted on 2008-05-05 | by a guest