This is my play’s last scene by John Donne | This is my play’s last scene | John Donne | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Critical Appreciation | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
This is my play’s last scene
This is my play’s last scene; here heavens appoint
My pilgrimage’s last mile; and my race,
Idly, yet quickly run, hath this last pace,
My span’s last inch, my minute’s latest point;
And gluttonous death will instantly unjoint
My body and my soul, and I shall sleep a space;
But my’ever-waking part shall see that face
Whose fear already shakes my every joint.
Then, as my soul to’heaven, her first seat, takes flight,
And earth-born body in the earth shall dwell,
So fall my sins, that all may have their right,
To where they’are bred, and would press me, to hell.
Impute me righteous, thus purg’d of evil,
For thus I leave the world, the flesh, the devil.
line-by-line explanation of the poem
Line 1: This is my play’s last scene; here heavens appoint
Explanation: The speaker begins by comparing his life to a play and his death to the last scene of that play. This metaphor suggests that the speaker sees his life as a journey with a clear destination, which is death.
Line 2: My pilgrimage’s last mile; and my race,
Explanation: The speaker continues to compare his life to a pilgrimage and a race. These metaphors suggest that the speaker sees his life as a journey with a goal, and that he is now nearing the end of that journey.
Line 3: Idly, yet quickly run, hath this last pace,
Explanation: The speaker acknowledges that his life has been both idle and quick, suggesting that he has wasted some time but has also lived a full and active life.
Line 4: My span’s last inch, my minute’s latest point;
Explanation: The speaker is now very close to death. He is measuring his remaining life in inches and minutes.
Line 5: And gluttonous death will instantly unjoint
Explanation: The speaker personifies death in these lines by calling it “gluttonous.” This suggests that death is a powerful and unstoppable force.
Line 6: My body and my soul, and I shall sleep a space;
Explanation: The speaker contrasts his mortal body and immortal soul again in these lines. He calls his soul his “ever-waking part,” suggesting that it is constantly aware of God’s presence. The speaker also acknowledges that he will die, but he uses the metaphor of sleep to suggest that death is only a temporary state.
Line 7: But my’ever-waking part shall see that face
Explanation: The speaker is confident that his soul will see God’s face after death. This is a reference to the Christian belief in heaven and the afterlife.
Line 8: Whose fear already shakes my every joint.
Explanation: The speaker acknowledges that he is afraid of God, but he is also confident in God’s love and forgiveness.
Line 9: Then, as my soul to’heaven, her first seat, takes flight,
Explanation: The speaker is confident that his soul will go to heaven after death.
Line 10: And earth-born body in the earth shall dwell,
Explanation: The speaker contrasts his mortal body and immortal soul again in these lines. His body will die and be buried in the earth, but his soul will live on in heaven.
Line 11: So fall my sins, that all may have their right,
Explanation: The speaker acknowledges that he is a sinner, but he expresses confidence that his sins will be forgiven. He asks God to “impute him righteous,” meaning to declare him righteous. The speaker believes that he has been purged of evil through his faith in God.
Line 12: To where they’are bred, and would press me, to hell.
Explanation: The speaker is aware that his sins would lead him to hell, but he is confident in God’s forgiveness.
Line 13: Impute me righteous, thus purg’d of evil,
Explanation: The speaker is asking God to declare him righteous, meaning to forgive his sins. He believes that he has been purged of evil through his faith in God.
Line 14: For thus I leave the world, the flesh, the devil.
Explanation: The speaker is declaring that he is leaving the world, the flesh, and the devil behind. This is a reference to the three temptations that Jesus faced in the desert. The speaker is expressing his confidence that he has overcome these temptations and that he is now ready to face death.
Word Meaning
| Line | Word | Meaning | अर्थ |
| 1 | heavens | Paradise / God | स्वर्ग / ईश्वर |
| 2 | pilgrimage | a journey to a holy place | तीर्थयात्रा |
| 3 | idly | without much effort or enthusiasm | आलसी ढंग से |
| 3 | hath | has | |
| 4 | span | the total length or period of time during which something exists | अवधि |
| 5 | gluttonous | eating or drinking more than is necessary | लालची |
| 5 | unjoint | to separate the joints of something | अलग करना |
| 6 | space | a short period of time | कुछ समय |
| 7 | Ever-waking | always awake | हमेशा जागृत |
| 8 | shakes | To move | हिलाना |
| 9 | Take flight | to start to fly | उड़ान भरना |
| 10 | dwell | to live in a place | रहना |
| 11 | sins | guilt | पाप |
| 11 | right | power | अधिकार |
| 12 | bred | produced or developed | पैदा हुआ, विकसित हुआ |
| 12 | press | to force someone to do something | दबाव डालना |
| 13 | impute | to regard something as being the cause of something else | कारण मानना |
| 13 | righteous | morally right or good | धर्मी |
| 13 | purg’d | made free from sin or evil | शुद्ध किया हुआ |
| 14 | flesh | the soft part of the body under the skin | मांस |
Summary
The poem is a meditation on death and the afterlife, written from the perspective of a speaker who is nearing death. The speaker compares his life to a play, a pilgrimage, and a race, and death to the last scene, last mile, and last pace of those things. He acknowledges that he is a sinner, but he expresses confidence that his sins will be forgiven and that his soul will be reunited with God.
The poem is full of rich imagery and symbolism. The speaker personifies death as a “gluttonous” force that will “unjoint” his body and soul. He also contrasts his mortal body and immortal soul, suggesting that the body is mortal but the soul is immortal. The speaker also uses a number of poetic devices, such as alliteration and personification, to create a vivid and emotional picture in the reader’s mind.
The overall tone of the poem is one of resignation and acceptance. The speaker knows that he must die, but he is not afraid. He is confident in his faith and in God’s forgiveness. The poem is a powerful reminder that death is a natural part of life and that we should not fear it.
In short, the poem is about the speaker’s acceptance of death and his confidence in God’s forgiveness.
Key Points
Author The poem is written by John Donne, an English metaphysical poet, and Christian cleric.
Form The poem conforms to the pattern of a traditional, fourteen-line, Petrarchan sonnet. The text is contained within one block, but can be separated into two sections. One containing eight lines, also known as an octave, and one with six known as a sestet. The rhyme scheme follows a pattern of ABBAABBACDCDEE.
Speaker The speaker in the poem is the poet himself, John Donne.
Setting The setting of the poem is not explicitly mentioned, but it revolves around the speaker’s impending death.
Theme The main themes of the poem are death, the separation of the body and soul in death, and fear of death and God’s judgment.
Plot The poem begins with the speaker stating that he is in the last mile of his life. He knows that God has declared the beginning and end of his life and he’s happy to accept those limitations. He speaks on how death is going to come for him and separate his “earth-born” body from his soul.
Tone The tone of the poem is contemplative and introspective, as the speaker meditates on the nature of death and the afterlife.
Style Donne’s style is characterized by abrupt openings, 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.
Message The message of the poem is that death is not to be feared, but seen as a transition from earthly life to a spiritual existence. The speaker expresses faith in the promise of eternal life and the purification of the soul after death.
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. Some of his most famous works include:
“Go and Catch a Falling Star”
“The Good Morrow”
“A Valediction Forbidding Mourning”
“The Canonization”
“For Whom the Bell Tolls”
“Death Be Not Proud”
“Sunne Rising”
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 poem “This is my play’s last scene”?
The author of the poem is John Donne.
What is the form of the poem?
The poem is a sonnet.
Who is the speaker in the poem?
The speaker in the poem is the poet himself, John Donne.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABBAABBACDCDEE.
How does the speaker view death in the poem?
The speaker views death as a transition from earthly life to a spiritual existence.
What does the speaker say about the separation of the body and soul?
The speaker says that death will separate his “earth-born” body from his soul.
What does the speaker say about God’s judgment?
The speaker expresses fear of God’s judgment after death.
What is the poem about?
Contemplation of death and the afterlife
How does the speaker describe the current moment in the first line?
As the last scene of their life’s play
What does the speaker compare their life’s journey to in the second line?
A pilgrimage
How does the speaker characterize the pace of their race in the third line?
Idly, yet quickly run
What will death do according to the speaker?
Instantly unjoint body and soul
What does the speaker anticipate seeing after death?
A face that instills fear
Where does the soul take flight to in line nine?
Heaven, its first seat
What happens to the earthly body after death?
It dwells in the earth
What does the speaker wish for their sins in line eleven?
To fall so that they may have their right
Where do the sins want to press the speaker, according to line twelve?
To hell
What does the speaker hope for in the last two lines?
To be imputed as righteous and purged of evil
According to the last line, what is the speaker leaving behind?
The world, the flesh, the devil
What is the overall tone of the poem?
Reflective and contemplative
What is the form of the poem?
A sonnet
What religious themes are present in the poem?
Death, afterlife, purification, righteousness
What is the significance of the word “pilgrimage” in the poem?
It symbolizes the journey of life
How does the speaker view death in the poem?
As a separation of body and soul
What three entities does the speaker leave behind in the last line?
The world, the flesh, the devil
Short Answer Questions
What is the setting of the poem?
The setting of the poem is not explicitly mentioned, but it revolves around the speaker’s impending death.
What are the main themes of the poem?
The main themes of the poem are death, the separation of the body and soul in death, and fear of death and God’s judgment.
What is the plot of the poem?
The poem begins with the speaker stating that he is in the last mile of his life. He knows that God has declared the beginning and end of his life and he’s happy to accept those limitations.
What is the style of the poem?
Donne’s style is characterized by abrupt openings, various paradoxes, ironies, and dislocations.
What is the message of the poem?
The message of the poem is that death is not to be feared, but seen as a transition from earthly life to a spiritual existence.
What does the speaker say about the nature of death?
The speaker suggests that death is a transition from earthly life to a spiritual existence.
What does the speaker say about his life?
The speaker says that he is in the last mile of his life and accepts the limitations set by God.
What does the speaker say about his acceptance of death?
The speaker says that he is happy to accept the limitations set by God, including his impending death.
What does the speaker say about his fear of death?
The speaker suggests that death is not to be feared, but seen as a transition to a spiritual existence.
What does the speaker say about his faith in the afterlife?
The speaker expresses faith in the promise of eternal life and the purification of the soul after death.
What does the speaker say about the end of his life?
The speaker says that he is in the last mile of his life.
What does the speaker say about his spiritual existence after death?
The speaker expresses faith in the promise of eternal life and the purification of the soul after death.
What does the speaker compare his life to in the poem?
The speaker compares his life to a play, a pilgrimage, and a race. These metaphors suggest that the speaker sees his life as a journey with a clear destination, which is death.
What does the speaker personify in the poem?
The speaker personifies death in the poem by calling it “gluttonous.” This suggests that death is a powerful and unstoppable force.
What does the speaker contrast in the poem?
The speaker contrasts his mortal body and immortal soul in the poem. He suggests that the body is mortal but the soul is immortal.
What does the speaker ask God to do in the poem?
The speaker asks God to “impute him righteous,” meaning to declare him righteous. He believes that he has been purged of evil through his faith in God.
What is the overall tone of the poem?
The overall tone of the poem is one of resignation and acceptance. The speaker knows that he must die, but he is not afraid. He is confident in his faith and in God’s forgiveness.
What is the poem about?
The poem is about the speaker’s acceptance of death and his confidence in God’s forgiveness.
What is the significance of the title of the poem?
The title of the poem, “Holy Sonnets: This is my play’s last scene,” suggests that the speaker is seeing his death as a final scene in a play. This is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should cherish the time that we have.
What are some of the themes of the poem?
Some of the themes of the poem include death and the afterlife, faith and hope, and the nature of good and evil.
What are some of the poetic devices that Donne uses in the poem?
Donne uses a variety of poetic devices in the poem, including alliteration, personification, and metaphor. These devices help to create a vivid and emotional picture in the reader’s mind.
What is the significance of the poem’s last line?
The poem’s last line, “For thus I leave the world, the flesh, and the devil,” is a reference to the three temptations that Jesus faced in the desert. By saying this, the speaker is expressing his confidence that he has overcome these temptations and that he is now ready to face death.
Essay Type Questions
Q. Write the critical appreciation of the poem?
Introduction
“This is my play’s last scene” is a profound poem by John Donne that explores the themes of mortality, the separation of the body and soul in death, and fear of God’s judgment. The poem is a testament to Donne’s mastery of metaphysical conceit and his ability to convey complex emotions with simplicity and elegance.
Form and Structure
The poem is structured in the form of a sonnet, a traditional, fourteen-line, Petrarchan sonnet to be precise. The text is contained within one block, but can be separated into two sections. One containing eight lines, also known as an octave, and one with six known as a sestet. The rhyme scheme follows a pattern of ABBAABBACDCDEE, also characteristically Petrarchan.
Themes and Imagery
The primary themes of the poem are death, the separation of the body and soul in death, and fear of death and God’s judgment. Donne uses vivid imagery and metaphors to explore these themes. The speaker’s impending death is likened to the last scene of a play, symbolizing the end of his earthly existence.
Tone and Mood
The tone of the poem is contemplative and introspective, as the speaker meditates on the nature of death and the afterlife. This creates a mood of solemnity and acceptance, reflecting the speaker’s readiness to face death.
Language and Style
Donne’s language is simple yet profound, characterized by abrupt openings, various paradoxes, ironies, and dislocations. His use of everyday speech rhythms and tense syntax adds a sense of immediacy to the poem, making the speaker’s emotions palpable to the reader.
Poetic Devices Used
Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. For example, “My pilgrimage’s last mile” and “My span’s last inch, my minute’s latest point.”
Personification: The giving of human qualities to non-human objects or ideas. For example, Donne personifies death as a “gluttonous death” that will “unjoint” his body and soul.
Metaphor: The comparison of two things that are not normally alike. For example, Donne compares his life to a play, a pilgrimage, and a race.
Simile: The comparison of two things using the words “like” or “as.” For example, Donne compares his soul to “that face / Whose fear already shakes my every joint.”
Hyperbole: An exaggeration used for effect. For example, Donne says that his soul will “sleep a space” and that his body will “dwell” in the earth.
Message and Interpretation
The central message of the poem is that death is not to be feared, but seen as a transition from earthly life to a spiritual existence. The speaker expresses faith in the promise of eternal life and the purification of the soul after death. He accepts the limitations set by God, including his impending death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “This is my play’s last scene” is a powerful exploration of mortality and the afterlife. Through his unique style and profound insights, Donne captures the universal human experience of facing death. The poem serves as a reminder of the transient nature of life and the promise of a spiritual existence beyond death.
