Poem Analysis of Meditation 17 by John Donne

1446 Words3 Pages

It is quite feasible to state that poetry at its finest is a dazzling and expressive art of words. A poem not only can expose the diplomatic beliefs of societies, but can also articulate passions and sentiments of the author to whom the poem belongs. One of the many fine poems that have been prevalent among the study of literature that is irrefutably powerful is Meditation 17 by John Donne. This poetic essay exposes John Donne’s opinions and beliefs on humanity, and covers much cogitation from religion all the way to death. Of course, the poem has been written so profoundly that one may not grasp it completely at first glimpse, however John Donne does use explicit strategies to better convey his message to readers of all sorts. John Donne utilizes situation, structure, language, and musical devices to enhance the poem and to aid in delivering his message efficiently.
The situation of Meditation 17 has a few parts to it, including where the poem stands as a story, narration, emotion/mood expressed, poetic voice, and tone. In regards to the poem being a story, it seems that it is merely a poem elaborating on the beliefs of the author without telling a chronological story. It is typically a persuasive essay that is not a narrative but a subjective scrutiny on humanity and death. “Perchance he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill as that he knows not it tolls for him;”[1]. This quote is an instance from the poem that reveals the inclusive emotion and mood of the poem as somewhat down, melancholy and desolate, with the author referring to a bell tolling for a sick man who is so ill that he cannot even recognize that it tolls for him (as bells used to toll for the dead some time ago). The Meditation’s poetic voice is extremely vibran...

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...t has given me hope. I had never heard of this poem until now, and truthfully I believe I have been missing out, for of all the fine poems that are very renowned in the world, Meditation 17 just happened to be the one that found me, and consequently changed my life forever.

Works Cited

[1-4] Donne, John. “From Meditation 17”. Excerpt from McDougal Litell’s “The Language of Literature”, Page 455. McDougal Litell Inc., 2000.
[5] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/free+association
[6] Donne, John. “From Meditation 17”. Excerpt from McDougal Litell’s “The Language of Literature”, Page 455. McDougal Litell Inc., 2000.
[7] http://lazydabbler.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/john-donnemeditation-xvii-from-devotions-upon-emergent-occasions/
[8-16] Donne, John. “From Meditation 17”. Excerpt from McDougal Litell’s “The Language of Literature”, Page 455. McDougal Litell Inc., 2000.

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