The Sunne Rising by John Donne | The Sun Rising | The Sunne Rising | John Donne | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Critical Appreciation | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
The Sunne Rising
Busy old fool, unruly sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers’ seasons run?
Saucy pedantic wretch, go chide
Late school boys and sour prentices,
Go tell court huntsmen that the king will ride,
Call country ants to harvest offices,
Love, all alike, no season knows nor clime,
Nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time.
Thy beams, so reverend and strong
Why shouldst thou think?
I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink,
But that I would not lose her sight so long;
If her eyes have not blinded thine,
Look, and tomorrow late, tell me,
Whether both th’ Indias of spice and mine
Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with me.
Ask for those kings whom thou saw’st yesterday,
And thou shalt hear, All here in one bed lay.
She’s all states, and all princes, I,
Nothing else is.
Princes do but play us; compared to this,
All honor’s mimic, all wealth alchemy.
Thou, sun, art half as happy as we,
In that the world’s contracted thus.
Thine age asks ease, and since thy duties be
To warm the world, that’s done in warming us.
Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere;
This bed thy center is, these walls, thy sphere.
line-by-line explanation of the poem
First Stanza
Line 1: Busy old fool, unruly sun,
Explanation: This line is an attention-grabbing opening that immediately establishes the speaker’s tone of playful exasperation. The use of the terms “busy old fool” and “unruly” suggests that the sun is a bumbling and out-of-control force that is disrupting the speaker’s peace.
Line 2: Why dost thou thus,
Explanation: This line continues the speaker’s interrogation of the sun, asking it directly why it is behaving so inconsiderately.
Line 3: Through windows, and through curtains call on us?
Explanation: This line describes the sun’s intrusive behavior, shining through windows and curtains and waking the speaker and his beloved up. The use of the word “call” suggests that the sun is actively trying to get their attention.
Line 4: Must to thy motions lovers’ seasons run?
Explanation: This line is a rhetorical question that challenges the sun’s assumption that its movements control the lives of lovers. The speaker suggests that love is not bound by the same rules as the natural world.
Line 5: Saucy pedantic wretch, go chide
Explanation: This line continues the speaker’s scolding of the sun, using the terms “saucy” and “pedantic” to suggest that the sun is both rude and pompous. The speaker tells the sun to go and “chide” others, implying that it should not be bothering him and his beloved.
Line 6: Late school boys and sour prentices,
Explanation: This line specifies the groups of people that the speaker thinks the sun should be bothering instead of him and his beloved. The terms “late school boys” and “sour prentices” suggest that these are people who deserve to be reprimanded.
Line 7: Go tell court huntsmen that the king will ride,
Explanation: This line continues the list of tasks that the speaker thinks the sun should be doing, suggesting that it should be announcing the king’s activities instead of intruding on the speaker’s private life.
Line 8: Call country ants to harvest offices,
Explanation: this line urge lowly farm workers to start their harvesting duties
Line 9: Love, all alike, no season knows nor clime,
Explanation: This line is a declaration of the power of love to transcend the limitations of time and geography. The speaker suggests that love is not bound by the seasons or the climate, and that it can exist in any place and at any time.
Line 10: Nor hours, days, months, which are the rags of time.
Explanation: This line continues the speaker’s critique of time, suggesting that the divisions of hours, days, and months are merely superficial and meaningless in the face of love’s eternal power.
Second Stanza
Line 1: Thy beams, so reverend and strong
Explanation: This line begins by addressing the sun directly, using the terms “reverend” and “strong” to suggest that the sun is a powerful and respected force.
Line 2: Why shouldst thou think?
Explanation: This line is a rhetorical question that challenges the sun’s assumption that its beams are worthy of reverence. The speaker suggests that the sun’s power is meaningless in the face of love.
Line 3: I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink,
Explanation: This line is a hyperbolic statement that emphasizes the speaker’s confidence in his love’s power. He suggests that he could easily block out the sun’s light with a simple wink.
Line 4: But that I would not lose her sight so long;
Explanation: This line explains the speaker’s reason for not eclipsing the sun. He would rather not lose sight of his beloved, even for a moment.
Line 5: If her eyes have not blinded thine,
Explanation: This line suggests that the speaker’s beloved’s eyes are so beautiful that they could even blind the sun. The use of the word “blinded” reinforces the idea that the speaker’s love is more powerful than the sun.
Line 6: Look, and tomorrow late, tell me,
Explanation: This line is a command to the sun, telling it to look upon the speaker and his beloved and then report back the next day. The use of the phrase “tomorrow late” emphasizes the speaker’s confidence in the enduring power of their love.
Line 7: Whether both th’ Indias of spice and mine
Explanation: Here Donne is referring to the East Indies for spices and the West Indies for gold. In a 1623 letter to Sir Robert Ker, Donne wrote: “Your way into Spain was Eastward, and that is the way to the land of Perfumes and Spices; their way hither is Westward, and that is the way to the land of Gold, and of Mynes.” [John Donne: Selected Prose. Edited by Helen Gardner and Timothy Healy, p. 155
Line 8: Be where thou leftst them, or lie here with me.
Explanation: This line is a challenge to the sun, asking it whether the riches of the East Indies and west indies will still be in their place when the sun rises the next day, or whether they will have been transformed into the speaker’s beloved. This line further emphasizes the speaker’s belief in the transformative power of love.
Line 9: Ask for those kings whom thou saw’st yesterday,
Explanation: This line continues the challenge to the sun, asking it to inquire about the whereabouts of the kings it saw the previous day. This line suggests that the speaker believes that the kings have been transformed by love, just as the riches of the East Indies and west indies have been transformed into his beloved.
Line 10: And thou shalt hear, All here in one bed lay.
Explanation: This line is the sun’s response to the speaker’s challenge. The sun informs the speaker that it will find the kings all lying in one bed with the speaker and his beloved. This line confirms the speaker’s belief that love has the power to transform and unify.
Third Stanza
Line 1: She’s all states, and all princes, I,
Explanation: This line is a declaration of the speaker’s belief that his beloved embodies all the power and prestige of the world’s states and princes. The use of the pronoun “I” suggests that the speaker sees himself as insignificant in comparison to his beloved.
Line 2: Nothing else is.
Explanation: This line is a continuation of the previous line, emphasizing the speaker’s belief that his beloved is the only thing that matters. The use of the word “is” in the present tense suggests that the speaker’s love for his beloved is an eternal and enduring truth.
Line 3: Princes do but play us; compared to this,
Explanation: This line begins by suggesting that princes and their games of power are insignificant when compared to the power of love. The use of the word “but” suggests that the speaker believes that princes are merely frivolous and superficial.
Line 4: All honor’s mimic, all wealth alchemy.
Explanation: This line continues the critique of princes and their wealth, suggesting that their honor is merely a reflection of true honor, and that their wealth is illusory. The use of the word “alchemy” suggests that the speaker believes that the wealth of princes is created through trickery and deception.
Line 5: Thou, sun, art half as happy as we,
Explanation: This line is a direct address to the sun, suggesting that even the sun is not as happy as the speaker and his beloved. The use of the phrase “half as happy” emphasizes the depth and intensity of the speaker’s love.
Line 6: In that the world’s contracted thus.
Explanation: This line explains the reason for the sun’s inferiority, suggesting that the sun’s gaze is spread out over the entire world, while the speaker and his beloved are focused on each other. The use of the word “contracted” suggests that the speaker believes that the world is a vast and empty place, while his love for his beloved is a concentrated and meaningful experience.
Line 7: Thine age asks ease, and since thy duties be
Explanation: This line suggests that the sun, as an old and weary entity, should focus on resting and fulfilling its duties rather than intruding on the speaker’s private life. The use of the word “asks” suggests that the speaker believes that the sun is yearning for rest and peace.
Line 8: To warm the world, that’s done in warming us.
Explanation: This line is a continuation of the previous line, suggesting that the sun can fulfill its duty of warming the world by simply warming the speaker and his beloved. The use of the word “that’s” suggests that the speaker believes that his love is a microcosm of the world, and that by warming them, the sun is indirectly warming the entire planet.
Line 9: Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere;
Explanation: This line is an instruction to the sun, telling it to focus its light on the speaker and his beloved. The use of the word “everywhere” suggests that the speaker believes that their love is so powerful that it radiates outwards and fills the entire world.
Line 10: This bed thy center is, these walls, thy sphere.
Explanation: This line is a final declaration of the speaker’s belief that his love is the center of the universe. The use of the words “center” and “sphere” suggests that the speaker believes that their love is a self-contained and all-encompassing world.
Word Meaning
| Line | Word | Meaning | अर्थ |
| Stanza 1 | |||
| 1 | Unruly | Not obedient or under control | अनियंत्रित |
| 2 | Dost | Do | करते हो |
| 2 | thou | you | तुम |
| 2 | thus | In this way | इस प्रकार |
| 3 | Curtains | Hanging pieces of cloth that can be drawn across an opening to control light or privacy | पर्दे |
| 4 | thy | your | तेरा |
| 4 | Motions | Movements of the body | हरकत |
| 4 | Lovers | People who are in love with each other | प्रेमी |
| 4 | Seasons | The four periods of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) | मौसम |
| 5 | Saucy | Impertinent or disrespectful | गुस्सा करने वाला |
| 5 | Pedantic | Excessively concerned with minor details or rules | विद्वान |
| 5 | Wretch | An unfortunate or despicable person | कमीना |
| 6 | Chide | Rebuke or scold | डांटना |
| 6 | Late school boys | Boys who are late for school | देर से आने वाले स्कूली बच्चे |
| 6 | Sour prentices | Apprentices who are unhappy or sullen | खट्टे प्रशिक्षुओं |
| 7 | Court huntsmen | Men who hunt for the king or queen | दरबारी शिकारियों |
| 7 | Ride | Travel on horseback | सवारी करेगा |
| 8 | Country ants | Peasant farmer | खेतिहर किसान |
| 8 | Harvest | Gather (crops) from the fields | फसल काटने के लिए |
| 9 | Alike | Similar or identical in nature | सबके लिए समान |
| 9 | Clime | The general character of the weather and climate of a place | जलवायु |
| 10 | Nor | Not either | न ही |
| 10 | The rags of time | a figure of speech meaning that such things are passing and immaterial. | ऐसी चीजें जो गुजर रही हैं और सारहीन हैं। |
| Stanza 2 | |||
| 11 | thy | your | तेरा |
| 11 | beams | rays | किरण |
| 11 | Reverend | Worthy of respect or veneration | पूजनीय |
| 12 | thou | you | तुम |
| 12 | Shouldst | Should | चाहिए |
| 13 | Eclipse | To temporarily obscure | ग्रहण करना |
| 13 | Cloud | To cover with clouds | बादल करना |
| 13 | With a wink | By a quick closing of the eyelid | एक पलक में |
| 14 | Lose | Fail to hold or keep | खोना |
| 15 | Blinded | Made unable to see | अंधा कर दिया है |
| 15 | thine | your | तेरा |
| 16 | Tomorrow | The day after today | कल |
| 17 | Both th’ Indias of spice and mine | the East Indies for spices and the West Indies for gold | मसालों के लिए ईस्ट इंडीज और सोने के लिए वेस्ट इंडीज |
| 18 | Be where thou leftst them | Be in the same place where you left them | वहाँ हो जहाँ तुमने उन्हें छोड़ा था |
| 18 | Lie | To be in a position of rest or inaction | लेट जाओ |
| 19 | Saw’st | Saw | देखा था |
| 20 | Thou shalt hear | You will hear | तुम सुनोगे |
| 20 | Lay | Lie | लेटे थे |
| Stanza 3 | |||
| 21 | All states | All countries or nations | सभी राज्य |
| 21 | Princes | Male members of a royal family | राजकुमार |
| 22 | Nothing else | No other thing or person | और कुछ नहीं |
| 22 | Is | Exists | है |
| 23 | Play | Amuse oneself or engage in activities for pleasure | खेलना |
| 24 | All honor’s mimic | A mere imitation of honor | सम्मान की नकल |
| 24 | All wealth alchemy | A mere illusion of wealth | धन का महज एक भ्रम |
| 25 | Thou | You | तुम |
| 25 | Half as happy | Not as happy | आधे खुश |
| 26 | Contracted | Drawn together or brought together | सिकुड़ गई है |
| 27 | Thine age asks ease | Your age demands rest | तुम्हारी उम्र आराम मांगती है |
| 27 | Duties be | Your duties are | तुम्हारे कर्तव्य हैं |
| 28 | To warm the world | To make the world warm | दुनिया को गर्म करना |
| 28 | That’s done | That is done | वह किया जाता है |
| 28 | In warming us | By warming us | हमें गर्म करके |
| 29 | Shine | Give light to | चमक |
| 30 | Bed | A piece of furniture used for sleeping | बिस्तर |
| 30 | Center | The middle point of something | केंद्र |
| 30 | Sphere | planet | ग्रह |
Summary
The poem “The Sun Rising” is a passionate and intimate declaration of love by a speaker to their beloved. The speaker is so enamored with their beloved that they believe their love is superior to all other things in the world, including the sun’s light, the power of kings, and the riches of the East Indies.
The poem begins with the speaker scolding the sun for intruding on their private moment of love. The speaker tells the sun that its beams are not as powerful as their love, and that it should be focusing on its duties of warming the world instead of bothering them.
In the second stanza, the speaker continues to exalt their love, comparing it to the wealth and power of kings. The speaker even challenges the sun to prove that its light is more powerful than their love.
The poem concludes with the speaker declaring that their love is the center of the universe. They tell the sun that it should focus its light on them and their beloved, as their love is the only thing that truly matters.
Overall, “The Sun Rising” is a beautiful and moving poem that celebrates the power of love. The speaker’s passionate language and vivid imagery create a powerful sense of the intensity and depth of their love.
Key Points
Author The poem is written by John Donne, an English metaphysical poet, and Christian cleric.
Form The Sun Rising” is a metaphysical love poem. ‘The Sun Rising’ consists of three stanzas of ten lines each. The rhyme scheme is consistent across all three stanzas and follows an ABBACDCDEE pattern. The meter used varies across lines within each stanza. Lines 1, 5, and 6 are iambic tetrameters while line 2 is a dimeter. Lines 3, 4 and 7-10 are iambic pentameters.
Speaker The speaker in the poem is a lover who is lying in bed with his beloved.
Setting The setting of the poem is in the bedroom of the lovers.
Theme The main theme of the poem is the power of love. The speaker asserts that love transcends time and space.
Plot The speaker addresses the sun as an old fool and asks why it disturbs him and his lover. He argues that their love is not subject to the sun’s motions or the passing of time.
Tone The tone of the poem is playful and defiant. The speaker challenges the authority of the sun and asserts the power of love.
Style The poem is characterized by the use of metaphysical conceits, personification, and hyperbole. The language is vigorous and fresh.
Message The message of the poem is that love is a powerful force that transcends all, even time and space. The speaker asserts that their love affair is so important that it is the center of the universe.
John Donne
Birth and Early Life: John Donne was born in 1572 in London, England. He was the third of six children..
Education: Donne was educated at home by private tutors until he went to Hart Hall, Oxford, at age 11. He left Oxford after three years.
Marriage: In 1601, Donne secretly married Anne More, with whom he had twelve children.
Works: Donne is known for his metaphysical poetry. His works are notable for their realistic and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, and sermons.
Career: Donne began his career as a lawyer. He later became a cleric in the Church of England.
Death: Donne died on 31 March 1631.
Legacy: Despite his great education and poetic talents, Donne lived in poverty for several years, relying heavily on wealthy friends. He spent much of the late 16th and early 17th centuries writing letters of recommendation for patrons in hopes of securing employment, and his literary reputation remained in obscurity until 20th-century scholars rediscovered him.
Very Short Answer Questions
Who is the author of “The Sun Rising”?
The author of “The Sun Rising” is John Donne.
What is the form of “The Sun Rising”?
“The Sun Rising” is a metaphysical love poem.
Who is the speaker in “The Sun Rising”?
The speaker in “The Sun Rising” is a lover lying in bed with his beloved.
What is the setting of “The Sun Rising”?
The setting of “The Sun Rising” is in the bedroom of the lovers.
What is the main theme of “The Sun Rising”?
The main theme of “The Sun Rising” is the power of love.
What is the tone of “The Sun Rising”?
The tone of “The Sun Rising” is playful and defiant.
How does the speaker address the sun in “The Sun Rising”?
The speaker addresses the sun as a ‘busy old fool’ and ‘unruly’.
Why does the speaker address the sun in this way?
The speaker scolds the sun for disturbing him and his lover.
What is meant by “court-huntsmen”?
“Court-huntsmen” refers to courtiers who accompanied the King in hunting.
What does the phrase “country ants” mean?
“Country ants” refers to farmers of the countryside who are as busy as ants.
What is meant by the phrase “the rags of time”?
“The rags of time” refers to subdivisions of time into larger units like ‘seasons’ and ‘climes’, and smaller units like ‘hours’, ‘days’, and ‘months’.
What idea does the sun have about its beams?
The sun thinks that its beams deserve respect and are strong in nature.
What does the lover mean by ‘eclipse’ and ‘cloud’?
By ‘eclipse’, the lover means the blotting out of the sun, and by ‘cloud’, he means the lessening of its brightness.
Whose eyes can blind the sun’s eyes?
The excessively shining eyes of the mistress can render the power of the sun’s eyes useless.
Why does the lover ask the sun to look ‘tomorrow late’?
The lover does not want to be disturbed so early in the morning.
What do ‘both the Indies’ refer to?
‘Both the Indies’ refer to the East Indies (popularly believed to be a home of spices) and the West Indies (popularly associated with gold mines).
Will the sun see ‘both the Indies’ where he left them yesterday?
The sun will not see ‘both the Indies’ where he left them yesterday because they will come to the mistress to be wholly absorbed in her.
What is the structure of “The Sun Rising”?
“The Sun Rising” is a 30-line poem divided into three stanzas, each containing ten lines.
What is the rhyme scheme of “The Sun Rising”?
The rhyme scheme of “The Sun Rising” is ABBACDCDEE in each stanza.
What is the message of “The Sun Rising”?
The message of “The Sun Rising” is that love is a powerful force that transcends all, even time and space.
Short Answer Questions
Who is the speaker of the poem addressing?
The speaker is addressing the sun, personifying it as an entity that can understand and respond to their feelings.
Why is the speaker upset with the sun?
The speaker is upset with the sun because it is intruding on their private moment of love. They believe that their love is more powerful than the sun’s light, and that the sun should not be bothering them.
What does the speaker compare their love to in the second stanza?
The speaker compares their love to the wealth and power of kings. They suggest that their love is even more valuable than these worldly possessions.
What challenge does the speaker issue to the sun in the second stanza?
The speaker challenges the sun to prove that its light is more powerful than their love. They suggest that if the sun can eclipse their love, then it is truly worthy of their attention.
What is the significance of the speaker’s use of the word “sphere” in the final line of the poem?
The speaker’s use of the word “sphere” suggests that their love is a complete and self-contained world. They believe that their love is the center of the universe, and that nothing else matters.
What is the theme of the poem?
The theme of the poem is the power of love. The speaker believes that love is the most important thing in the world, and that it is capable of overcoming all obstacles.
What is the significance of the setting of the poem?
The setting of the poem is a private moment between the speaker and their beloved. This setting emphasizes the intimacy of their love and the importance of their relationship.
What is the significance of the imagery of the sun in the poem?
The imagery of the sun is used to contrast with the power of love. The speaker believes that their love is even more powerful than the sun, which is a symbol of power and authority.
What is the significance of the repetition of the word “love” in the poem?
The repetition of the word “love” emphasizes the importance of this concept to the speaker. They are constantly reaffirming their belief in the power of love.
What is the effect of the speaker’s use of hyperbolic language in the poem?
The speaker’s use of hyperbolic language adds to the intensity and passion of the poem. Their exaggerated claims emphasize the depth of their love and their belief in its power.
What is the effect of the speaker’s use of personification in the poem?
The speaker’s use of personification makes the sun seem more relatable and understandable. This allows the speaker to engage in a dialogue with the sun, as if it were another person.
What is the significance of the poem’s title?
The poem’s title, “The Sun Rising,” suggests that the speaker’s love is like the sun, rising to prominence and illuminating their world. It also suggests that their love is a new beginning, full of hope and promise.
What is the overall message of the poem?
The overall message of the poem is that love is the most powerful force in the universe. It can overcome all obstacles, and it is the source of true happiness and fulfilment.
Essay Type Questions
Q. Write the critical appreciation of the poem?
Introduction
“The Sun Rising” is a metaphysical poem by John Donne, known for its intricate metaphors and philosophical exploration. The poem is a rich exploration of the theme of love, presented through a conversation between the speaker and the sun.
Structure, Form and Rhyme Scheme
The poem is composed of three stanzas, each containing ten lines. The rhyme scheme is ABBACDCDEE, which is consistent throughout the poem. The meter, however, is irregular, adding a dynamic rhythm to the poem.
Theme
The central theme of the poem is the power and immortality of love. The speaker believes that their love is not bound by time or physical presence. He asserts that their love is so profound and all-encompassing that it transcends the earthly concept of time, which he dismisses as “the rags of time”.
Imagery
The theme is further emphasized through the use of vivid and striking imagery. For instance, the speaker describes his beloved as “all states, and all princes” and their bed as the world’s center and the room’s walls as the universe’s sphere.
Poetic Devices
Donne employs personification and metaphysical conceit, two key characteristics of metaphysical poetry, to great effect in the poem. The sun is personified as a “busy old fool” and an “unruly schoolboy”. This serves to diminish the sun’s grandeur and elevate the status of the speaker’s love. The metaphysical conceit is evident in the speaker’s comparison of his love to the sun, suggesting that their love is as vital and universal as the sun.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Sun Rising” is a celebration of love’s power and permanence. Through his innovative use of personification, metaphysical conceit, and vivid imagery, Donne presents a compelling argument for the transcendental nature of love. The poem is not just a love poem, but a philosophical exploration of love’s place in the universe. It beautifully captures the intensity of love and the desire to stay in a blissful moment forever. It’s a powerful expression of the idea that love transcends all, even time and space. This poem is a testament to Donne’s mastery of metaphysical conceit and his ability to convey complex and profound themes in a compelling and accessible manner. It remains one of his most celebrated works and a classic of English literature.
