How this poem works for of sentimental poetry of predecessor like sigh tempest flood tears?

In John Donne's "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning," the poem addresses the theme of separation and how true love
transcends physical distance. Donne contrasts this mature, spiritual love with more sentimental and less profound
expressions of emotion, often found in the poetry of his predecessors.
Here are the key points where Donne's poem engages with sentimental elements like "sigh-tempests" and "floods of
tears":
1. **Rejection of Over-Sentimentality**: Donne's poem begins by rejecting the notion that love must be marked by
dramatic displays of emotion. He writes, "So let us melt, and make no noise, / No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move."
This is a direct critique of the exaggerated emotions often depicted in earlier love poetry.
2. **Elevation of Spiritual Love**: Instead of relying on outward signs of sorrow, Donne elevates the idea of a spiritual
connection that remains strong despite physical separation. He suggests that their love is so refined and pure that it
doesn't need to be proven through tears or sighs.
3. **Metaphysical Imagery**: Donne uses metaphysical conceits to explain the nature of their love. For example, he
compares their souls to gold, which can be stretched thin without breaking, and to a pair of compasses, which remain
connected even as one leg moves away from the center. These images illustrate the depth and resilience of their bond,
contrasting sharply with the more superficial displays of emotion like weeping and sighing.
By forbidding mourning, Donne asserts that their love is too profound to be diminished by mere physical absence or
conventional expressions of sorrow. This perspective distinguishes his work from the more sentimental poetry of his
predecessors, emphasizing the strength and endurance of true, spiritual love.
## How Donne is breathing a new meaning to religious terms?
In "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning," John Donne uses the concept of breathing to infuse new meaning into religious
terms, portraying the union of the lovers' souls in a spiritual and almost sacred manner. Here are some key examples:
1. **Spiritual Love as Sacred Union:**
Donne elevates the love between the speaker and his beloved to a spiritual level, comparing their souls' unity to
religious concepts. In lines 21-24, he writes:
```
Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to airy thinness beat.
```
Here, the image of "expansion" rather than "breach" suggests a continuous spiritual connection, akin to a religious or
mystical experience.
2. **Sublime Connection Beyond Physical Presence:**
Donne further explores the sacred nature of their love by likening their separation to a form of spiritual breathing. In
lines 25-28, he states:
```
If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;
Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the other do.
```
This metaphor of the compass, where one foot remains fixed while the other moves, underscores the idea of an
unbroken, sacred bond that transcends physical distance. This connection is akin to a religious covenant or sacrament.
3. **Transcendence of Physicality:**
In the opening lines, Donne compares their parting to the quiet passing of virtuous men:
```As virtuous men pass mildly away,
And whisper to their souls to go,
Whilst some of their sad friends do say
The breath goes now, and some say, no:
```This imagery of breath and the soul's departure highlights the quiet, spiritual nature of their love, suggesting it
transcends the physical realm and touches upon the divine or eternal.
Through these metaphors and comparisons, Donne breathes new life into religious terms, using them to articulate the
profound and sacred nature of the lovers' bond, which endures beyond physical separation.
## Alliteration:
John Donne's poem "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" employs alliteration to enhance its lyrical quality and
emphasize certain emotions and themes. Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of
closely placed words. Here are a few examples from the poem:
1. **Line 5:** "So let us melt, and make no noise"
- The repetition of the 'm' sound in "melt" and "make" creates a gentle, soothing rhythm that reflects the calm and
composed farewell the speaker advocates.
2. **Line 14:** "To move, but doth, if the’ other do."
- The repetition of the 'd' sound in "doth" and "do" reinforces the interconnectedness and harmony between the lovers,
akin to the movement of a well-balanced compass.
3. **Line 25:** "Dull sublunary lovers’ love"
- The repetition of the 'l' sound in "lovers" and "love" emphasizes the mundane nature of ordinary, earthly love,
contrasting it with the more spiritual connection the speaker shares with his beloved.
These instances of alliteration contribute to the poem's musical quality and help to underscore the key themes of unity,
calm, and the transcendence of physical separation.
##Themes:
John Donne's "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" explores several themes through its rich imagery and metaphysical
conceits. Here are the main themes with textual references:
### 1. **Transcendence of Physical Love**
The poem emphasizes that true love goes beyond the physical presence of the lovers and is not diminished by physical
separation.
**Textual Reference:**
- **Lines 21-24:**
"Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to airy thinness beat."
These lines compare the lovers' souls to gold, which can be stretched without breaking, symbolizing that their love will
endure and even expand despite the physical distance.
### 2. **Spiritual Love**
Donne contrasts the spiritual, intellectual love he shares with his wife to the "dull sublunary" love of ordinary lovers,
which is dependent on physical presence.
**Textual Reference:**
- **Lines 13-16:**
"Dull sublunary lovers' love
(Whose soul is sense) cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove
Those things which elemented it."
The "sublunary lovers" are those whose love is based on physical presence and sensory experiences, unlike the
speaker's more profound, spiritual connection.
### 3. **Constancy and Fidelity**
The poem highlights the steadfastness and faithfulness of true lovers, who remain constant even when separated.
**Textual Reference:**
- **Lines 25-28:**
"But we by a love so much refined,
That ourselves know not what it is,
Inter-assured of the mind,
Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss."
The refined nature of their love ensures that they are confident in each other's constancy, regardless of physical
separation.
### 4. **Unity and Completeness**
Donne portrays the lovers as parts of a single entity, suggesting that they are incomplete without each other but are still
connected and whole even when apart.
**Textual Reference:**
- **Lines 31-36:**
"If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;
Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the other do.
And though it in the center sit,
Yet when the other far doth roam,
It leans and hearkens after it."
The compass metaphor illustrates how, even when separated, the lovers remain connected and unified, with one always
inclined towards the other.
These themes collectively convey Donne's belief in a love that transcends the physical and earthly, rooted in a deep
spiritual and emotional connection.
## Donne's poemValidiction forbidding Mourning as a metaphysical poem?
"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne is a quintessential example of metaphysical poetry, characterized
by its use of complex metaphors (conceits), intellectual tone, and exploration of profound themes such as love and
separation. Here are some key aspects that make this poem a metaphysical one, with textual references:
### 1. **Use of Conceits**
Metaphysical poetry often employs elaborate and surprising metaphors to draw connections between seemingly
unrelated concepts. In this poem, Donne uses two famous conceits:
**Textual Reference:**
- **Gold Metaphor (Lines 21-24):**
"Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to airy thinness beat."
Donne compares the lovers' souls to gold that can be beaten to an almost transparent thinness without breaking. This
metaphor suggests that their love can endure and even become more expansive when they are apart.
**Compass Metaphor (Lines 25-36):**
"If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;
Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if the other do."
Donne likens their souls to the two legs of a compass, where one foot remains stationary while the other moves. Despite
the physical separation, the two points remain connected, illustrating the steadfastness and unity of their love.
### 2. **Intellectual Tone**
Metaphysical poetry often includes intellectual arguments and an analytical approach to its subjects. Donne’s poem uses
logical reasoning to reassure his lover about the strength of their bond.
**Textual Reference:**
- **Lines 17-20:**
"But we by a love so much refined,
That ourselves know not what it is,
Inter-assured of the mind,
Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss."
Here, Donne asserts that their love is so refined and spiritual that it transcends physical needs and sensory experiences.
This intellectual argument underscores the poem’s metaphysical quality.
### 3. **Exploration of Profound Themes**
Metaphysical poetry often delves into deep and complex themes, such as the nature of love, death, and the soul. "A
Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" explores the theme of enduring love that is not reliant on physical proximity.
**Textual Reference:**
- **Lines 5-8:**
"So let us melt, and make no noise,
No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move;
’Twere profanation of our joys
To tell the laity our love."
Donne advises against dramatic displays of sorrow at parting, suggesting that their love is too sacred to be shared with
the uninitiated ("the laity"). This elevates their relationship to a spiritual plane, a common theme in metaphysical
poetry.
### 4. **Philosophical and Reflective Nature**
Metaphysical poetry often reflects on existential and philosophical questions. Donne’s poem contemplates the nature of
parting and the true essence of love.
**Textual Reference:**
- **Lines 1-4:**
"As virtuous men pass mildly away,
And whisper to their souls to go,
Whilst some of their sad friends do say,
'The breath goes now,' and some say, 'No.'"
The poem opens with a reflection on the peaceful death of virtuous men, comparing it to the calm and composed
parting of the lovers. This analogy sets the stage for a philosophical exploration of how true love can transcend physical
separation.
These elements—the use of conceits, intellectual tone, exploration of profound themes, and philosophical nature—
demonstrate how "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" epitomizes metaphysical poetry, making it a prime example of
Donne’s mastery in this genre.