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:

Explanation

The poem establishes a desired approach to saying goodbye, contrasting it with the usual expressions of grief.

Line 1: “As virtuous men pass mildly away”: This line sets the tone for the poem, describing a peaceful and gentle death. The speaker uses the example of virtuous men, suggesting a calm and dignified passing.

Line 2: “And whisper to their souls to go”: This line emphasizes the quiet and personal nature of the departure. The soul is seen as something distinct from the physical body, and the departure is portrayed as a soft, internal communication.

Line 3: “Whilst some of their sad friends do say”: This line introduces the contrast between the speaker’s desired goodbye and the typical expressions of grief. The “sad friends” represent the usual outward displays of sorrow.

Line 4: “The breath goes now, and some say, No”: This line depicts the different ways people might acknowledge the death. Some may readily accept it, while others may deny it or struggle with the loss.

The speaker suggests that their farewell should be like the gentle passing of a virtuous man, quiet and without outward displays of grief. They contrast this with the typical expressions of sorrow, which they feel wouldn’t capture the true depth and nature of their love.

Poetic devices

Metaphor: Comparing peaceful death to their quiet goodbye suggests solemnity and discretion.

Personification: Assigning emotions to death (“whisper”) adds depth and creates a sense of shared understanding.

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.

Explanation

Continuing from the first stanza’s desire for a quiet goodbye, the second stanza further reinforces this idea and expands on the reasons behind it.

Line 1: “So let us melt, and make no noise”: The speaker builds on the metaphor of a peaceful passing, suggesting they simply “melt” away without public displays of emotions like crying or sighing.

Line 2: “No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move”: This line emphasizes the avoidance of dramatic expressions of grief. “Tear-floods” and “sigh-tempests” depict exaggerated emotions, which the speaker finds inappropriate for their situation.

Line 3: “‘Twere profanation of our joys”: This line reveals the deeper reason for the quiet farewell. Sharing their love loudly is seen as a “profanation,” suggesting it’s something sacred and special that shouldn’t be exposed to the public.

Line 4: “To tell the laity our love”: The “laity” represents ordinary people who wouldn’t truly understand the depth and uniqueness of their love. The speaker believes a public display wouldn’t capture its essence and might even cheapen it.

The speaker desires a silent and private goodbye because their love is something profound and exclusive. They believe public expressions of grief wouldn’t capture its true nature and might even feel disrespectful to its sacredness. This reinforces the poem’s theme of a unique approach to farewell based on the exceptional nature of their love.

Poetic Device

Metaphor: “Melt” and “move” convey a quiet and gentle farewell, contrasting with dramatic displays of grief.

Hyperbole: “Profane our joys” emphasizes the sacredness of their love, justifying their choice.

Alliteration: The repetition of the “m” sound in “melt” and “make” creates a soft, melodious effect. Repetition of “l” in “laity” and “love” reinforces the distinction between their unique love and ordinary understanding.

Moving of th’ earth brings harms and fears,

Men reckon what it did, and meant

But trepidation of the spheres,

Though greater far, is innocent.

Explanation

Continuing the theme of unique love and private farewell, stanza 3 uses a surprising comparison to further explain the speaker’s perspective.

Line 1: “Moving of th’ earth brings harms and fears”: This line introduces a seemingly unrelated topic – earthquakes.

Line 2: “Men reckon what it did, and meant”: Here, the speaker emphasizes the attention and analysis earthquakes receive. People try to understand the cause and consequences of these events.

Line 3: “But trepidation of the spheres”: This introduces a new term, “trepidation,” indicating a fear or trembling. These “spheres” could be celestial bodies or complex systems.

Line 4: “Though greater far, is innocent”: This line clarifies the previous statement. Despite being “greater far” (more significant), this “trepidation” is considered “innocent” (harmless).

The speaker compares their love to the “trepidation of the spheres.” This suggests that their love is something significant and powerful, like the movement of celestial bodies. However, unlike earthquakes, which cause fear and harm, their love is “innocent” and pure.

Poetic Device

Metaphor: “Moving of th’ earth brings harms and fears…But trepidation of the spheres…Though greater far, is innocent” – compares their love to the movement of celestial bodies, suggesting its vastness and innocence compared to earthly concerns.

Hyperbole: “Trepidation of the spheres…Though greater far” – exaggerates the scale of their love to emphasize its significance.

Dull sublunary lovers’ love

(Whose soul is sense) cannot admit

Absence, because it doth remove

Those things which elemented it.

Explanation

Continuing the theme of contrasting their unique love with “ordinary” forms, stanza 4 dives deeper into the nature of their connection.

Line 1: “Dull sublunary lovers’ love”: This introduces a new category of love – “dull sublunary lovers.” The term “sublunary” refers to the earthly or physical realm, suggesting these lovers rely on physical aspects.

Line 2: “(Whose soul is sense)”: This line clarifies the limitation of these lovers. Their “soul” is equated with “sense,” indicating a strong reliance on physical senses and experiences.

Line 3: “Cannot admit Absence”: This line states the consequence of their physical dependency. When separated, they cannot handle the “absence” because it removes the physical elements that define their love.

Line 4: “Those things which elemented it”: This explains why absence hurts them. It removes the “things” that were the basic building blocks (“elements”) of their love.

The speaker contrasts their love with those who depend heavily on physical touch, presence, and sensory experiences. For such “dull sublunary lovers,” separation is painful because it removes the core elements of their connection.

Poetic Device

Metaphor: ‘Sublunary’ refers to the region of the universe below the moon, symbolizing things that are earthly or mundane. This is a metaphor for physical, sensual love, which is contrasted with the speaker’s spiritual love.

But we by a love so much refined,

That our selves know not what it is,

Inter-assured of the mind,

Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss.

Explanation

Stanza 5 of “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” delves deeper into the unique nature of the speaker’s love and how it transcends physical limitations.

Line 1: “But we by a love so much refined”: This line establishes a clear contrast between the speaker’s “refined” love and the more ordinary love described in the previous stanza. This love is so sophisticated and nuanced that even they struggle to define it fully.

Line 2: “That our selves know not what it is”: This line emphasizes the complex and indescribable nature of their connection. It suggests a level of understanding that goes beyond words and conventional definitions.

Line 3: “Inter-assured of the mind”: Despite not fully comprehending their love, they have an absolute “assurance” in its strength and depth. This assurance comes from a mental and spiritual connection that transcends physical limitations.

Line 4: “Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss”: This line highlights the consequence of their mental and spiritual connection. While they acknowledge the absence of physical contact (eyes, lips, and hands), it doesn’t significantly impact their love.

The speaker asserts that their love is so refined and deeply connected on a mental and spiritual level that the absence of physical presence becomes less significant. They trust and understand each other on a deeper level, allowing them to navigate separation without compromising their love.

Poetic devices

Metaphor: “But we by a love so much refined…That our selves know not what it is” – compares their love to something refined and complex, even beyond their own understanding.

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.

Explanation

Stanza 6 of “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” introduces a beautiful metaphor to illustrate how the lovers’ connection changes during separation.

Line 1: “Our two souls therefore, which are one”: This line reiterates the central idea of the poem – the two souls are fundamentally united as one.

Line 2: “Though I must go”: This acknowledges the impending separation, emphasizing the physical distance that will come between them.

Line 3: “Endure not yet / A breach, but an expansion”: This line introduces the key metaphor. Instead of experiencing a painful “breach” or separation, their souls undergo an “expansion.”

Line 4: “Like gold to airy thinness beat”: This line explains the nature of the expansion. Similar to how gold can be beaten into sheets so thin it becomes almost transparent, their connection stretches and expands despite the physical distance.

The speaker suggests that separation doesn’t break their connection but actually strengthens it. Their love, like gold, becomes even more refined and expansive despite thinning out physically. This expansion signifies a deepening connection on a spiritual or emotional level.

Poetic devices

Simile: This is a simile comparing the expansion of their love to the malleability of gold. The speaker is saying that their love, like gold, can be stretched and expanded without breaking.

Enjambment: Running lines together emphasizes the continuity and connection between their souls.

Imagery: The visual image of gold being beaten adds depth and concreteness to the metaphor.

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.

Explanation

Stanza 7 of “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” continues the expansion metaphor and introduces a new image – twin compasses – to further illustrate the nature of their connection during separation.

Line 1: “If they be two, they are two so”: This line acknowledges the potential duality of their souls while suggesting a unique way of being “two.”

Line 2: “As stiff twin compasses are two”: This introduces the central metaphor. Like the two feet of a compass, though distinct, they are fundamentally connected.

Line 3: “Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show”: This line assigns roles to the souls. The speaker’s soul is the “fixed foot,” remaining seemingly stationary.

Line 4: “To move, but doth, if the other do”: This line reveals the hidden movement of the “fixed foot.” Despite appearing still, it moves subtly in response to the movement of the other foot.

The stanza suggests that although they exist as separate entities, their souls are connected like the two feet of a compass. Even when the speaker (moving foot) travels far, their lover’s soul (fixed foot) remains “fixed” in location but subtly adjusts and “moves” in response. This signifies a strong emotional and spiritual connection despite physical separation.

Poetic devices

Metaphor: The “twin compasses” metaphor continues, further illustrating the interdependence of their souls.

Personification: The compasses are given human actions (“lean,” “hearken”) to portray emotional connection.

And though it in the center sit,

Yet when the other far doth roam,

It leans and hearkens after it,

And grows erect, as that comes home.

Explanation

Building upon the metaphor of twin compasses in stanza 7, this stanza further explores the dynamic connection between the two souls during separation.

Line 1: “And though it in the center sit”: This line reiterates the “fixed foot” position, signifying stability and centrality.

Line 2: “Yet when the other far doth roam”: This emphasizes the physical distance and movement of the “moving foot.”

Line 3: “It leans and hearkens after it”: This introduces a new action. Despite being still, the “fixed foot” leans and actively listens (harkens) towards the moving one.

Line 4: “And grows erect, as that comes home”: This depicts a response to the movement. As the “moving foot” returns, the “fixed foot” stands tall and straight, indicating a sense of completion and reunion.

The stanza emphasizes the active awareness and engagement of the “fixed foot” despite its seeming stillness. It leans and listens, demonstrating a deep emotional connection and desire for the other’s return. The final line signifies a sense of fulfillment and unity as the moving foot comes home, completing the circular journey.

Poetic devices

Personification: “It leans and hearkens after it…And grows erect, as that comes home” – further personifies the “fixed foot” to emphasize its emotional connection and anticipation of reunion.

Imagery: “Leans and hearkens…Grows erect” – creates vivid visual images to depict the dynamic connection between the souls.

Such wilt thou be to me, who must,

Like th’ other foot, obliquely run;

Thy firmness makes my circle just,

And makes me end where I begun.

Explanation

The final stanza of “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” utilizes the compass metaphor one last time to conclude the poem with a message of reunion and the cyclical nature of their love.

Line 1: “Such wilt thou be to me, who must”: This establishes a direct address to the speaker’s love, promising their role in the journey.

Line 2: “Like th’ other foot, obliquely run”: This acknowledges the speaker’s role as the moving foot, traveling on a non-linear path (“obliquely”).

Line 3: “Thy firmness makes my circle just”: This emphasizes the significance of the fixed foot’s stability. Their unwavering love ensures the journey has a complete “circle.”

Line 4: “And makes me end where I begun”: This concludes the poem with a powerful image of reunion. The journey, despite its detours, ultimately leads back to their starting point, signifying unity and the cyclical nature of their love.

This stanza concludes the poem by assuring the love that even though the speaker must travel far, their connection remains grounded and stable through the journey. They acknowledge their temporary separation but emphasize the inevitable reunion, completing the circle of their love.

Poetic devices

Metaphor: Comparing the speaker to the “other foot” reinforces their active role in the journey.

Imagery: “Circle…End where I begun” – creates a circular image to symbolize the cyclical nature of their love and inevitable reunion.

“A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” is a metaphysical poem by John Donne, written to his wife Anne before he left on a trip to Continental Europe. The poem is a beautiful exploration of the theme of love’s transcendence in the face of physical separation. The poem begins by comparing the departure of virtuous men from life to the quiet passing of a breath, setting the stage for the speaker’s impending departure from his beloved.

The central metaphor of the poem revolves around a compass. The speaker likens the love between him and his beloved to the legs of a compass. In this metaphor, the fixed foot represents the speaker’s beloved, while the other foot represents the speaker himself. The fixed foot remains steady, symbolizing the constancy and stability of the beloved’s love, while the moving foot explores the world.

The speaker argues that their love is so refined and spiritual that it can endure physical separation. He discourages mourning, suggesting that tearful goodbyes and expressions of sorrow would be inappropriate for their unique and elevated connection. The departure is not a breach but an expansion of their love, akin to gold being beaten into “airy thinness.”

The metaphor of the compass is extended further to describe the circular nature of their love. Even as the moving foot (the speaker) travels away, it remains connected to the fixed foot (the beloved), creating a complete circle. The speaker emphasizes that their love is not weakened by physical distance; instead, it grows and becomes more profound.

The poem concludes by highlighting the symmetry and completeness of their love. The beloved’s firmness, like the fixed foot of the compass, ensures that the speaker’s journey away is always linked to the central point, ultimately leading back to where it began. The circular motion of their love is presented as a harmonious and perfect union, making the speaker’s departure a necessary and fulfilling part of their shared experience. Overall, “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” celebrates a love that defies conventional boundaries and embraces the spiritual and enduring nature of a profound connection between two souls.

Author John Donne was an English poet, scholar, and cleric in the Church of England. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets.

Form The poem is a lyric poem and consists of nine four-line stanzas, or quatrains. It follows an ABAB rhyme scheme.

Speaker The speaker in the poem is likely a persona of John Donne himself, who is addressing his beloved.

Setting The setting of the poem is not explicitly stated, but it is a personal and intimate space where the speaker is expressing his feelings to his beloved.

Theme The main theme of the poem is the enduring nature of true love. The speaker explores the idea that true love can withstand physical separation and remains unbroken.

Plot The speaker begins by comparing his impending departure from his beloved to the death of virtuous men. He then urges his beloved to part quietly without any outward show of tears or sighs. The speaker contrasts their spiritual love with the physical love of ‘sublunary lovers’. He uses the metaphor of a compass to illustrate their love, where one foot remains fixed while the other roams around, yet they remain connected.

Tone The tone of the poem is solemn and earnest, reflecting the speaker’s deep emotions and the seriousness of the subject matter.

Style The style of the poem is characteristic of Donne’s metaphysical poetry. It is marked by the use of intellectual and philosophical themes, complex metaphors, and paradoxes.

Message The message of the poem is that true love is spiritual and enduring. It transcends physical presence and remains unbroken despite physical separation. The speaker suggests that their love is like a compass, where even if one part moves away, the other stays firm yet responsive, symbolizing the enduring bond of love.

1. Birth and Early Life John Donne was born in London, England, in 1572. He was born into a recusant Roman Catholic family during a time when practicing that religion was illegal in England.

2. Education Donne studied at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, but he did not take a degree from either university because as a Roman Catholic, he could not swear the required oath of allegiance to the Protestant queen, Elizabeth.

3. Career Donne had a diverse career. He was a poet, scholar, soldier, and secretary. Later in his life, he became a cleric in the Church of England. Under royal patronage, he was made Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London from 1621 to 1631.

4. Literary Works Donne is considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His poetical works are noted for their metaphorical and sensual style and include sonnets, love poems, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, and satires. He is also known for his sermons.

5. Style Donne’s style is characterized by abrupt openings and various paradoxes, ironies, and dislocations. These features, along with his frequent dramatic or everyday speech rhythms, his tense syntax, and his tough eloquence, were both a reaction against the smoothness of conventional Elizabethan poetry and an adaptation into English of European baroque and mannerist techniques.

6. Personal Life In 1601, Donne secretly married Anne More, with whom he had twelve children. Despite his great education and poetic talents, Donne lived in poverty for several years, relying heavily on wealthy friends.

7. Death John Donne died on March 31, 1631.

8. Legacy Donne is often considered the greatest love poet in the English language. He is particularly famous for his mastery of metaphysical conceits. His works continue to be studied and admired for their intellectual depth and emotional resonance.

Q: Who is the author of the poem?

A: The author of the poem is John Donne.

Q: What is the title of the poem?

A: The title of the poem is “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”.

Q: What is the main theme of the poem?

A: The main theme of the poem is the enduring nature of true love.

Q: How does the speaker want his beloved to react to his departure?

A: The speaker wants his beloved to part quietly without any outward show of tears or sighs.

Q: What does ‘sublunary lovers’ love’ refer to?

A: ‘Sublunary lovers’ love’ refers to physical, sensual love.

Q: What does the speaker compare their love to in the poem?

A: The speaker compares their love to a pair of compasses.

Q: What does the speaker mean by ‘a breach, but an expansion’?

A: The speaker means that their separation is not a break but an expansion of their love.

Q: What does the speaker compare the expansion of their love to?

A: The speaker compares the expansion of their love to gold beaten to thinness.

Q: What does the speaker identify himself as in the compass metaphor?

A: The speaker identifies himself as the roaming foot of the compass.

Q: What does the speaker say about the fixed foot of the compass?

A: The speaker says that the fixed foot leans and hearkens after the roaming foot.

Q: What does the speaker say about the roaming foot of the compass?

A: The speaker says that the roaming foot must run obliquely.

Q: What does the speaker say about the beloved’s firmness?

A: The speaker says that the beloved’s firmness makes his circle just.

Q: What does the speaker say about his circle?

A: The speaker says that his circle ends where it began.

Q: What poetic device is used in the line ‘No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move’?

A: The poetic device used is hyperbole.

Q: What poetic device is used in the line ‘Like gold to airy thinness beat’?

A: The poetic device used is simile.

Q: What poetic device is used in the line ‘As stiff twin compasses are two’? A: The poetic device used is metaphor.

Q: What type of poetry is “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”?

A: “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” is a metaphysical poem.

Q: What is a metaphysical poem?

A: A metaphysical poem is a type of poetry characterized by intellectual and philosophical themes, complex metaphors, and paradoxes.

Q: What is a metaphysical conceit?

A: A metaphysical conceit is a complex, and often startling, metaphor used in metaphysical poetry.

Q: What is the significance of the title “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”?

A: The title “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” is significant as it sets the tone for the poem. A ‘valediction’ is a farewell speech or message. ‘Forbidding Mourning’ suggests that the speaker is asking his beloved not to mourn his departure. The title thus encapsulates the poem’s theme of enduring love that transcends physical separation.

Q: How does the speaker use the metaphor of death in the first stanza?

A: In the first stanza, the speaker uses the metaphor of death to describe his impending departure. He compares his leaving to the peaceful passing of virtuous men, suggesting that their separation should be accepted with the same quiet resignation as death. This metaphor sets the tone for the theme of departure and separation that runs throughout the poem.

Q: How does the speaker use the metaphor of an earthquake in the third stanza?

A: In the third stanza, the speaker uses the metaphor of an earthquake to describe their separation. He suggests that their separation, though potentially disruptive like an earthquake, is innocent. The ‘trepidation of the spheres’ refers to the movement of celestial bodies, which is greater but harmless. This metaphor underscores the idea that their love is so profound and spiritual that it can withstand the ‘earthquakes’ of physical separation.

Q: What does the speaker mean by ‘sublunary lovers’ love’ in the fourth stanza?

A: In the fourth stanza, ‘sublunary lovers’ love’ refers to physical, sensual love. ‘Sublunary’ refers to the region of the universe below the moon, symbolizing things that are earthly or mundane. The speaker contrasts this type of love with his own spiritual love, which he suggests is so refined and profound that it transcends physical presence.

Q: How does the speaker use the metaphor of a compass in the seventh stanza?

A: In the seventh stanza, the speaker introduces the metaphor of a compass to describe their love. The two legs of the compass represent the speaker and his beloved, who are separate yet connected by their love. This metaphor is extended in the following stanzas, where the speaker identifies himself as the roaming foot of the compass and his beloved as the fixed foot.

Q: How does the speaker use the simile of gold in the sixth stanza?

A: In the sixth stanza, the speaker uses the simile of gold to describe the expansion of their love. He suggests that their love, like gold, can be stretched and expanded without breaking. This simile underscores the idea that their love is malleable and enduring, capable of withstanding the pressures of physical separation.

Q: What is the significance of the compass metaphor in the poem?

A: The compass metaphor is significant as it encapsulates the central theme of the poem – the enduring nature of true love. The speaker and his beloved are represented as the two legs of the compass, separate yet connected. Even when one leg (the speaker) roams far away, the other leg (the beloved) remains fixed yet responsive to the movement of the roaming leg. This metaphor beautifully illustrates the idea of love as a spiritual connection that remains unbroken despite physical separation.

Q: How does the poem reflect the characteristics of metaphysical poetry?

A: “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” reflects the characteristics of metaphysical poetry through its use of intellectual and philosophical themes, complex metaphors (like the compass), paradoxes (like the idea of a love so refined that they themselves do not know what it is), and the exploration of love as a spiritual rather than physical connection. These elements are characteristic of the metaphysical poetry of John Donne.

Q: How does the poem explore the theme of love?

A: The poem explores the theme of love as a profound, spiritual connection that transcends physical presence. The speaker suggests that their love is so refined and spiritual that it can withstand the pressures of physical separation. This is illustrated through various metaphors and similes, such as the compass and the gold, which underscore the enduring and malleable nature of their love.

Q: How does the poem conclude?

A: The poem concludes with the speaker identifying himself as the roaming foot of the compass that must run obliquely. The beloved’s firmness makes his circle just and brings him back to where he began. This final stanza brings the compass metaphor to a close, emphasizing the unity and reciprocity of their love. It suggests that no matter how far the speaker roams, he will always return to his beloved, thus underscoring the enduring nature of their love.

Write the critical appreciation of the poem.

Q: Discuss the use of metaphysical conceits in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”.

A: John Donne’s “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” is a classic example of metaphysical poetry, characterized by the use of metaphysical conceits. A metaphysical conceit is an extended metaphor that draws an ingenious comparison between two very unlike things. In this poem, Donne uses the metaphysical conceit of a compass to illustrate the bond between the speaker and his beloved. The two legs of the compass represent the speaker and his beloved, who are separate yet connected by their love. Even when one leg (the speaker) roams far away, the other leg (the beloved) remains fixed yet responsive to the movement of the roaming leg. This metaphor beautifully illustrates the idea of love as a spiritual connection that remains unbroken despite physical separation.

Q: Analyze the theme of love in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”.

A: The theme of love is central to “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”. The speaker explores the nature of his love for his beloved, which he presents as profound, spiritual, and enduring. Unlike ‘sublunary lovers’ whose love is physical and thus cannot bear absence, their love is so refined and spiritual that it transcends physical presence. Their two souls, which are one, endure not a breach but an expansion, like gold beaten to thinness. This suggests that their love, like gold, can be stretched and expanded without breaking. The speaker thus presents a vision of love that is not bound by physical presence or absence but exists in the realm of the spiritual and the eternal.

Q: How does “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” reflect the characteristics of metaphysical poetry?

A: “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” reflects the characteristics of metaphysical poetry through its use of intellectual and philosophical themes, complex metaphors, and paradoxes. The poem explores the theme of love as a profound, spiritual connection that transcends physical presence. This is illustrated through various metaphors and similes, such as the compass and the gold, which underscore the enduring and malleable nature of their love. The speaker’s use of paradox, such as the idea of a love so refined that they themselves do not know what it is, adds to the intellectual depth of the poem. These elements are characteristic of the metaphysical poetry of John Donne.

Q: Discuss the use of imagery in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”.

A: John Donne uses vivid and powerful imagery in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” to convey the depth and intensity of the speaker’s love for his beloved. The speaker uses the image of virtuous men dying quietly and peacefully to set the tone for the theme of departure and separation. The image of an earthquake is used to describe their separation, suggesting that their love can withstand the ‘earthquakes’ of physical separation. The image of gold beaten to thinness is used to illustrate the expansion of their love, suggesting that their love, like gold, can be stretched and expanded without breaking. The most striking image in the poem is the compass, which symbolizes the speaker and his beloved, who are separate yet connected by their love.

Q: How does the speaker convey his feelings towards his beloved in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”?

A: The speaker in “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” conveys his deep and abiding love for his beloved through his words and metaphors. He speaks of their love as something profound and spiritual, transcending physical presence. He urges his beloved to part quietly without any outward show of tears or sighs, suggesting a deep understanding and respect for their love. He compares their love to a compass, suggesting a deep connection and unity between them. Even when he must depart, he assures his beloved that their love will endure, like gold beaten to thinness. Through these words and images, the speaker conveys his deep affection and unwavering commitment to his beloved.