Holy Sonnet 10 "Death, be not Proud. . . " John Donne | Close Reading & Analysis

A close reading of John Donne's Holy Sonnet 10: "Death, be not proud, though some have called thee. . ."
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[@henboker3]

I love your referencing the New Testament as support texts.

[@jolihelm3950]

Preparing to recite this favorite poem of my mothers at her memorial in a few weeks. Thank you for the analysis! Especially the scripture verses, I think I’ll add that to my eulogy.

[@Eli_23789]

may she rest in peace i hope it goes well

[@Linda-tl3fr]

thanks for the interpretation!

[@philipdarby9914]

Love your channel!

[@Victoryjim006]

Awesome

[@micahmiller2190]

you goated

[@karierickson7581]

Such an incredible poem! On Donne and death, I wonder if you have any thoughts about his brother’s death? I read Katherine Rundell’s recent (fantastic) book on Donne, and she suggests there is no obvious evidence of Donne’s extraordinary grief at his brother’s loss. But it sounds pretty horrific and Donne himself was young when it happened so surely it would have been affecting? I believe his brother was 19 when he died-same age as Tom Keats when he died, and I’d be interested to know if you are aware of any scholarship on these poets and their sibling relationships? Both were deaths to horrible illness which must have been so affecting to experience.

[@closereadingpoetry]

Hey Kari, sorry for the late reply--this escaped me! I haven't read Rundell's book, but it sounds great. You might be right about the effect of losing his brother Henry. I'm not sure of any recent scholarship on that subject, but I remember that A.C. Bald's biography of Donne contains a lengthy chapter about his family and their social standing as a Roman Catholics. Martrydom probably occupied his imagination from an early age, in addition to his brother's death, as you mention, but I don't know much about the intimacy of their relationship. Have you found anything in the meantime?