John Donne
2
8.9
- proper noun
- John Donne is often cited as the leading figure among metaphysical poets in English literature.
Examples
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John Donne wrote 'The Flea' and 'A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning'.
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Many literary scholars have analyzed the John Donne poem 'Death, be not proud' for its complex metaphors.
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The sermons of John Donne remain influential in the study of church history and religious rhetoric.
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The works of John Donne are studied in many literature classes.
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John Donne is often regarded as the most prominent metaphysical poet of the 17th century.
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The poetry of John Donne is famous for its intricate imagery and unique metaphysical conceits.
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Many consider John Donne a pivotal figure in the transition from Renaissance to modern poetry.
Surface Forms
Morphology
John + Donne
This is a proper name whose meaning (the identity and biography of the poet John Donne) is not compositionally derived from the parts 'John' and 'Donne'. Proper names are referential and idiosyncratic across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would not be able to infer the person’s identity or significance.
Etymology
John Donne was an English priest and poet from the 1600s who used surprising, strong pictures to connect love, death, and God. His poem 'Death, be not proud' speaks to death as if it were a person, and this bold image-making is why people still read and remember him today.