By: Nick, Alex, Mason
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John’s family including his dad and sisters died
throughout his life.
He wrote this poem after his wife died- giving
birth to their twelfth child.
 The Holy Sonnets were written
during this time in his life.
(Rooney) (John Donne)
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Death, be not proud, though some have called 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 but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
(Rooney)
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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.
(Rooney)
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The Holy Sonnet was a Petrarchan Sonnet
In a Petrarchan Sonnet, the first 8 lines ask a
question. The last 6 lines give an answer.
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Typical Rhyme Scheme: ABBAABB ACDECDE
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The tone is somber.
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The theme is about death.
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(Shmoop Editorial Team)
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His later writings were about his fear of death.
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John was the founder of metaphysical poems.
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Metaphysical Poems: Poetic style in which
philosophical and spiritual subjects were
approached with reason and often concluded in
paradox.
Holy Sonnet 10 was one of nineteen other Holy
Sonnets he wrote.
Holy Sonnet 10 is a variation from a typical
Petrarchan Sonnet. The end rhymes finish
CDDCAA instead of the typical CDECDE.
(Shmoop Editorial Team)
"John Donne." Poets.org. Academy of American
Poets, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2014.
Rooney, Kathleen. "Holy Sonnets: Death, Be Not
Proud." Poetry Foundation. Poetry
Foundation, 2014. Web. 27 Sept. 2014.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Page 1." Shmoop.com.
Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web.
30 Sept. 2014.