Ivan James C.

Bantolino

BSED-Y3

Holy Sonnet 10: Death, Be Not Proud

by John Donne

I. Positive and Negative

The good aspect of the poem is that Donne shown death as a helpless figure. He claims
this Death is the place where our souls are born. Death, like sleep and repose, is a huge source of
joy for the poet.
II. Does the title immediately change how you think about it?
The title doesn't affect my way of thinking; It shows a picture of Death as an arrogant
being, and one who needs to be humble.
He says that Death is the birthplace of our souls and it should not see itself as powerful or
superior, because 'death' is not impervious to damage.
III. who tells the poem?
John Donne tells the poem
The poem's poetic narrator addresses "Death." Death is supposed to be mighty and
horrible because it takes everyone's life, but Donne has a different perspective on death. He feels
sorry for it and encourages Death not to be so proud of itself. Donne was ordained as a minister.
IV. Discuss the attitude each speaker or characters give off. Moreover, talk about if there
places where the poem’s tone may switch and why.
When the speaker proclaims, death shall be no more, death, thou shalt die, he sounds
assured and arrogant. His use of diction and personification of death as a person makes death
appear gentle and the polar opposite of forceful.

V. stanza by stanza
 Lines 1-2. By speaking directly to him, the speaker immediately creates a personified
representation of death. Death is depicted as an arrogant entity who has to be humbled, according
to him. The speaker takes on the role of Death, who must humble this entity. Even though people
have dreaded Death for years and referred to him as "powerful and terrifying," he advises him
that he shouldn't be so arrogant.
Lines 3-4. The speaker accuses death of having grandiose illusions. He states that, while
Death believes he has the ability to kill, he does not. Death is initially humbled by the speaker,
who tells him that his belief in his ability to topple lives is merely an illusion, and that he has no
such power at all. The speaker then nicknames Death Poor Death to further humiliate him.
Lines 5-6. Death is compared to rest and slumber in these lines, and the speaker even uses
the term pleasure to express how one should feel about death. Death, like a restful night's sleep,
should be pleasurable. Sleep, according to the speaker, is just a brief glimpse of Death. Thus,
death is nothing to be afraid of because it will deliver something like to a pleasant sleep.
Lines 7-8. The best men, according to the speaker, seem to die the quickest. While others
have long wondered why the best people seem to die the earliest, the speaker suggests that the
best among men are entitled to the tranquil rest of death sooner rather than having to bear the
agonies of a lengthy existence on earth. Both of these interpretations portray Death as a kind
visitor who comes to generously bring rest and tranquility, as well as the release of one's spirit
from an earthly body that is filled with agony and misery.
Lines 9-10. Here, the speaker adopts a more aggressive tone and begins taunting Death
with greater fervor than before. He refers to Death as a slave to chance, monarchs, and desperate
men in this passage. He informs Death that he isn't mighty and terrifying, but rather a poor slave
who can't even act on his own and is motivated not just by fate and chance, but also by people,
both rich and poor.
Lines 11-12. Death is teased much more by the speaker, who claims that everything he
provides is just a little rest, and also that he does not really do it as well as other rest-givers like
poppy or charms. Death is shown as not just powerless, but also delightful in this comparison.
Lines 13-14. The speaker exposes why he has been teasing death so fiercely in the
closing lines of Death, be not Proud. Although it is evident that Death is real and that those who
have died do not return to earth, the speaker explains why he believes Death is weak and easily
defeated. He says that Death is just a brief nap and that those who have died wake eternally.
Then he declares that "death shall no longer exist. Thou must die, he finally tells Death. Not only
has the speaker told Death that he has no actual power over anyone, but he has also stated that he
will witness the end of himself when all will awake in eternity and death will cease to exist.
VI. What Is the subject
Death, in reality, has none of those characteristics since individuals do not actually die
once death comes to them as the speaker pities them and the speaker will not really die when life
ends to him.
 Death, in reality, has none of those things since individuals do not actually die whenever
life ends to them as the speaker pities them and the speaker will not truly die when death will
come to him.
The poem's central idea is death's powerlessness. The poet's emotions are expressed in
the poem, which mocks death's position and argues that death is unworthy of fear or awe. Death,
he claims, is the place where our souls are born.