DEATH BE NOT PROUD – John Donne

SUMMARY
This is a sonnet that develops and argument or idea that the poet wants us to believe in. In the Poem Donne is
talking to death as if it is a person. He is telling death that it should not think that it is so strong and frightening,
because it can be overcome.

ANALYSIS
Donne is known for the clever arguments in his poems (he was a lawyer for a while). This sonnet also contains an
argument set out to persuade Death of Death’s weakness. The TONE is triumphant in the end, exulting over Death’s
defeat.

It starts with a direct instruction to Death PERSONIFIED not to feel ‘proud’ of powerful – thus we are plunged into
the attack on Death immediately. The speaker patronizes Death, calling him ‘poor’, for Death is so weak that he
should be pitied. Death is just a stronger version of rest and sleep, and these are pleasurable, so death must be
pleasurable too. Indeed, death offers ‘rest’ and ‘delivery to the soul.

The speaker uses the IMAGE of Death being a servant, a ‘slave’ to various things the CAUSE death: Death has to
serve them, so why should death feel that He has any independence or power himself.

The Poem’s main PARADOX is the triumphant statement: ‘Death, thou shalt die!’ This conclusion rests on the
Christian belief of eternal life: Death will be defeated!

QUESTIONS:
1. What does the speaker mean by the word ‘proud’ in the first line? [2]

2. What is the speaker’s attitude to death, especially in line 4? Choose ONE of the following words.
A. Angry
B. Kind
C. Sympathetic
D. Patronizing
Quote to support your answer [2]

3. Why do Fate and Chance in line 9 have capital letters? [2]

4. Refer to line 6: ‘then from thee much more must flow.’ More what? [1]

5. Explain why the speaker compares Death to a slave (line 9) [2]

6. In what way could Death be slave to a king? [1]

7. Explain the paradox of the last line. [2]

8. Do you find the speakers argument convincing? Explain your answer. [2]

9. The last two lines do not have exact rhymes of the rest of the sonnet. Why do you think the poet chose to
have the last line have half-rhyme? [2]

10. Describe the tone of the last line. [1]

TOTAL [15]