Wednesday, January 28, 2009

A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning (Plog 2)

The poem "A Valediction Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne is about a man speaking to his loved one telling them not to be sad about death and that it is just another part of the great cycle of life. The poem begins with a more general understanding of death, and gradually becomes more direct and hints that in the end the reader is possibly dieing. In "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", through the use of imagery and diction we can see the speaker's underlying messages to his lover.
There are a few key images to note while reading the poem. The first image is the entire first stanza, and in this the speaker seems to be saying do not make a big deal out of death because there will always be strength in our love. The other important image is towards the end of the poem when Donne paints the image of a compass in the readers head. Although the two are apart at the feet they are forever together in the center. The speaker is saying that their love is so much more than physical and that it is more mental than anything presenting the idea of a new refined and true love.
This poem carries very strong diction as well. Some important words within the poem are words like: souls, love, circle, compasses, joys, fears, and innocent. All of theses words tie back into the poem and its theme.
Overall, the speaker is trying to say not to worry or be sad when we are apart because mentally and emotionally we will be together forever. He says to be happy for the time they spent together and to celebrate. Through the images their love makes a circle where the two are together forever in a continuous cycle of love.

4 comments:

cmosier said...

I didn't get the death part, I just thought the guy was going on a long trip...but I guess death is pretty long, right? Like eternal? Anyway, I think you pointed out key ideas in the poem and explained their meaning, but I'm not sure they were "images." I so thought you were going to mention rock climbing! But I guess that's unrelated. Also, a little note at the beginning telling the reader to imagine a person with a British accent is reading the commentary aloud would be a great improvement. Just saying.

sdub said...

Haha your comment had so much potiental at the start but the funny(ness) subsided with the rock climbing but the british accent was funny from class.

cmosier said...

i try

sweet as honey 09 said...

well steven, you make a very good point about the use of imagery and diction in the poem. however, you did a lack luster job on really delving into the text and explaining it. for example, you say the first image is the whole first stanza... thats impossible, a image is a single word or a grouping of words not an entire paragraph. i think you made some pretty decent points you just need to back up what you say with some examples. other than that i think you made a good point at the end of you commentary about the compass.