Introduction Timeline Author(s) -Donne, John --John Donne's early life --John Donne - from Catholic to Protestant --John Donne's marriage and its aftermath --John Donne - The Reverend Dean -Herbert, George --George Herbert - The would-be courtier --George Herbert - The country priest -Crashaw, Richard --Richard Crashaw - The university scholar --Richard Crashaw - The Catholic exile -Vaughan, Henry --Henry Vaughan's Early Life --Henry Vaughan - Nature poet and mystic -Marvell, Andrew --Metaphysical Poet Andrew Marvell - Early Life --Andrew Marvell's changed sympathies Who were the Metaphysicals? The context of Metaphysical Poetry -Social / political context --The Elizabethan court --Religion and the monarchy --The Civil War -Religious / philosophical context --The religious scene --Tudors to Stuarts -Literary context: ideas and innovations --The literature of the era --What is Metaphysical poetry? --Elizabethan verse --Argument and rhetoric --The Conceit --Wit --Difficulty John Donne: Poem analysis -Aire and Angels -A Hymn to God the Father -A Hymn to God, my God, in my Sicknesse --Synopsis of Hymn to God, my God --Commentary on Hymn to God, my God --Themes in Hymn to God, my God --Imagery and symbolism in Hymn to God, my God --Language and tone in Hymn to God, my God --Structure and versification in Hymn to God, my God -A Nocturnall upon St. Lucies day --Synopsis of Nocturnall --Commentary on Nocturnall --Themes in Nocturnall --Imagery and symbolism in Nocturnall --Language and tone in Nocturnall --Structure and versification in Nocturnall -At the Round Earth's Imagin'd Corners -A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning --Synopsis of Valediction: Forbidding Mourning --Commentary on Valediction: Forbidding Mourning --Themes in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning --Imagery and symbolism in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning --Language and tone in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning --Structure and versification in Valediction: Forbidding Mourning -A Valediction: of Weeping --Synopsis of Valediction: of Weeping --Commentary on Valediction: of Weeping --Themes in Valediction: of Weeping --Imagery and symbolism in Valediction: of Weeping --Language and tone in Valediction: of Weeping --Structure and versification in Valediction: of Weeping -Batter my heart --Synopsis of Batter my heart --Commentary on Batter my heart --Themes in Batter my heart --Imagery and symbolism in Batter my heart --Language and tone in Batter my heart --Structure and versification in Batter my heart -Death be not Proud --Synopsis of Death be not Proud --Commentary on Death be not Proud --Themes in Death be not Proud --Imagery and symbolism in Death be not Proud --Language and tone in Death be not Proud --Structure and versification in Death be not Proud -Elegie XIX: Going to Bed --Synopsis of Going to Bed --Commentary on Going to Bed --Themes in Going to Bed --Imagery and symbolism in Going to Bed ---More on imputed --Language and tone in Going to Bed --Structure and versification in Going to Bed -Elegie XVI: On his Mistris -Good Friday, 1613. Riding Westward --Synopsis of Good Friday, 1613 --Commentary on Good Friday, 1613 --Themes in Good Friday, 1613 --Imagery and symbolism in Good Friday, 1613 --Language and tone in Good Friday, 1613 --Structure and versification in Good Friday, 1613 -Lovers' Infiniteness -Oh my blacke Soule! -Satyre III: 'On Religion' -Show me Deare Christ -Since She Whom I Lov'd -Song: Goe, and catche a falling starre -The Anniversarie -The Dreame -The Extasie --Synopsis of The Extasie --Commentary on The Extasie ---More on Incarnation --Themes in The Extasie --Imagery and symbolism in The Extasie --Language and tone in The Extasie --Structure and versification in The Extasie -The Flea -The Good-morrow --Synopsis of The Good-morrow --Commentary on The Good-morrow --Themes in The Good-morrow --Imagery and symbolism in The Good-morrow --Language and tone in The Good-morrow --Structure and versification in The Good-morrow -The Sunne Rising --Synopsis of The Sunne Rising --Commentary on The Sunne Rising --Themes in The Sunne Rising --Imagery and symbolism in The Sunne Rising --Language and tone in The Sunne Rising --Structure and versification in The Sunne Rising -This is my playes last scene --More on Ignatian Meditation: -Twicknam Garden --Synopsis of Twicknam Garden --Commentary on Twicknam Garden --Themes in Twicknam Garden --Imagery and symbolism in Twicknam Garden --Language and tone in Twicknam Garden --Structure and versification in Twicknam Garden -What if this present George Herbert: Poem analysis -Aaron -Affliction I --Synopsis of Affliction I --Commentary on Affliction I --Themes in Affliction I --Imagery and symbolism in Affliction I --Language and tone in Affliction I --Structure and versification in Affliction I -Death --Synopsis of Death --Themes in Death --Imagery and symbolism in Death --Language and tone in Death --Structure and versification in Death -Discipline -Easter Wings -Jordan I -Jordan II -Life -Love II -Man -Prayer I -Redemption --Synopsis of Redemption --Commentary on Redemption --Themes in Redemption --Imagery and symbolism in Redemption --Language and tone in Redemption --Structure and versification in Redemption -The Church-floore -The Collar --Synopsis of The Collar --Commentary on The Collar --Themes in The Collar --Imagery and symbolism in The Collar --Language and tone in The Collar --Structure and versification in The Collar -Vertue Richard Crashaw: Poem analysis -Hymn in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament -Hymn to St Teresa --Synopsis of Hymn to St Teresa --Commentary on Hymn to St Teresa --Themes in Hymn to St Teresa --Imagery and symbolism in Hymn to St Teresa --Language and tone in Hymn to St Teresa --Structure and versification in Hymn to St Teresa -St Mary Magdalene, or the Weeper --Synopsis of St Mary Magdalene --Commentary on St Mary Magdalene --Themes in St Mary Magdalene --Imagery and symbolism in St Mary Magdalene --Language and tone in St Mary Magdalene --Structure and versification in St Mary Magdalene -To the Countesse of Denbigh Henry Vaughan: Poem analysis -Ascension - Hymn --Synopsis of Ascension - Hymn --Commentary on Ascension - Hymn --Themes in Ascension - Hymn --Imagery and symbolism in Ascension - Hymn --Language and tone in Ascension - Hymn --Structure and versification in Ascension - Hymn -Man -Regeneration --Synopsis of Regeneration --Commentary on Regeneration --Themes in Regeneration --Imagery and symbolism in Regeneration --Language and tone in Regeneration --Structure and versification in Regeneration -The Night -The Retreate -The Water-fall Andrew Marvell: Poem analysis -A Dialogue between Soul and Body -On a Drop of Dew -The Coronet -The Definition of Love --Synopsis of The Definition of Love --Commentary on The Definition of Love --Themes in The Definition of Love --Imagery and symbolism in The Definition of Love --Language and tone in The Definition of Love --Structure and versification in The Definition of Love -The Garden --Synopsis of The Garden ---More on Platonism --Commentary on The Garden --Themes in The Garden --Imagery and symbolism in The Garden --Language and tone in The Garden --Structure and versification in The Garden -The Mower Against Gardens --Synopsis of The Mower against Gardens --Commentary on The Mower against Gardens --Themesin The Mower against Gardens --Imagery and symbolism in The Mower against Gardens --Language and tone in The Mower against Gardens --Structure and versification in The Mower against Gardens -The Mower to the Glo-Worms -The Mower's Song -The Nymph Complaining for the Death of her Faun -The Picture of Little T.C. in a Prospect of Flowers -To his Coy Mistress --Synopsis of To his Coy Mistress --Commentary on To his Coy Mistress --Themes in To his Coy Mistress --Imagery and symbolism in To his Coy Mistress --Language and tone in To his Coy Mistress --Structure and versification in To his Coy Mistress -Upon Appleton House, to my Lord Fairfax Thomas Carew: Poem analysis -An Elegie upon the Death of the Deane of Paul's Dr John Donne --Synopsis of Elegie --Commentary on Elegie --Themes in Elegie --Imagery and symbolism in Elegie --Language and tone in Elegie --Structure and versification in Elegie -To a Lady that Desired I would Love her Henry King: Poem analysis -The Exequy --Synopsis of The Exequy --Commentary on The Exequy ---More on the Resurrection of the Dead --Themes in The Exequy --Imagery and symbolism in The Exequy --Language and tone in The Exequy --Structure and versification in The Exequy Richard Lovelace: Poem analysis -To Althea, from Prison -The Grasse-hopper: Ode Abraham Cowley: Poem analysis -Ode: Of Wit Katherine Philips: Poem analysis -To my Lucasia in defence of declared friendship -To my Excellent Lucasia, on our Friendship John Cleveland: Poem analysis -Upon Phillis Walking in a Morning before Sun-rising Themes and significant ideas -Death as friend or foe -Personal Sinfulness and Unworthiness -The Loss of Innocence -The Transience of Life -Being Human -Personal freedom -Writing as poet or priest Critical analysis -Historical fortunes -Close reading -Contextual reading Approaching exams and essays -What makes a good English exam answer? -What makes a good Metaphysical Poets exam answer? -How to plan an essay -Engaging with the text Resources and further reading -Booklist -Website resources -Other resources
John Donne: Poem analysis » A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning » Synopsis of Valediction: Forbidding Mourning A valediction is a leave-taking. It is generally thought this poem refers to a voyage Donne made in 1612 in a bid to further his career. It is one of a number of valedictions he wrote, and is probably the best known of them, though A Valediction: of Weeping is as fine a poem. At the other extreme, we have Elegie XVI: On his Mistris , which is more of a joke than anything.
A sub-genre in which leave is taken or goodbyes are said.
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