What is the Relic about John Donne?

What is the Relic about John Donne?

‘The Relic’ by John Donne describes the nature of miracles, and the spiritual love that exists between the speaker and his lover. The poem begins with the speaker proposing a future in which his remains, alongside a bracelet of hair, are interpreted as evidence of a miracle.

What miracles are associated with the lovers in the poem the Relic?

Miracles of Love: They did not know what they loved in each other and why, though they loved ‘well and faithfully’. Moreover, their love was not dependent on sexual relationship. Their love was “independent of the difference of sex”. Just as the love of guardian angels is not physical but spiritual.

What is the conceit in the Relic?

The conceit is exaggerated to give the idea of sainthood. The paradox is at play in the poem where the religious superstitious of the time in Donne seems questionable since they believe in false doctrine and devotion which is parallel to the belief of Mary Magdalen who was a true devotee to Jesus Christ.

What does get with child a mandrake root mean?

impregnate
‘ Donne’s next order also involves travel, and a lot more than travel: Get with child a mandrake roote, ‘Get with child’ means impregnate. A mandrake is the root of a variety of plant.

What were the miracles brought about by the harmless lovers in the poem the Relique?

What miracles we harmless lovers wrought. In this stanza the poet says that his grave was to be dug in time when people had lost the faith and were no more religious that the one who dug his graves would take his remains to the bishops and make the relics.

Is the Relic a metaphysical poem?

John Donne’s “The Relic”, as an Example of English “Metaphysical” Poetry. Founded in the XVII century, metaphysical poetry is one of the wittiest, deepest and the most complex poetic schools throughout the world.

What is figure of speech in poem?

An expressive, nonliteral use of language. Figures of speech include tropes (such as hyperbole, irony, metaphor, and simile) and schemes (anything involving the ordering and organizing of words—anaphora, antithesis, and chiasmus, for example).

What are the main features of Donne’s poetry?

His poetical works are noted for their metaphorical and sensual style and include sonnets, love poems, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, and satires. He is also known for his sermons. Donne’s style is characterised by abrupt openings and various paradoxes, ironies and dislocations.

  • August 6, 2022