Word Meaning

The Sunne Rising by John Donne 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.