Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School
Senior English
Mr. Williams
Renaissance Poetry
Sonnet 10
by John Donne
Death, be not proud, though some have callèd thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which yet thy pictures be,
Much pleasure, then from thee much more, must low
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men
And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then ?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
5
10
1. What is your initial reaction to the poem?
2. Who is the speaker?
3. To whom is the speaker talking?
4. What is the background of the poem?
5. What happens during the poem?
6. What is the speaker’s purpose and/or tone?
7. How does language contribute to its meaning?
8. How is the poem organized?
9. Do patterns of rhyme an rhythm contribute to the meaning and effect of the poem?
10. What themes or motifs does the poem contain?
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School
Senior English
Mr. Williams
John Donne
Sonnet 74
BATTER my heart, three person'd God; for, you
As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow mee,'and bend
Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt towne, to'another due,
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Labour to'admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weake or untrue.
Yet dearely'I love you,'and would be loved faine,
But am betroth'd unto your enemie:
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Divorce mee,'untie, or breake that knot againe;
Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I
Except you'enthrall mee, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.
1. What is your initial response to the poem?
2. Who is speaking?
3. To whom is the speaker talking?
4. What is the background of the poem?
5. What is the speaker’s purpose and/or tone?
6. What themes or motifs does the poem contain?
7. How does the language of the poem contribute to the theme?
8. How is the poem organized?
9. Do patterns of rhyme and rhythm contribute to the meaning and effect of the poem?
10. What themes or motifs does the poem contain?