A NOCTURNAL UPON ST LUCY'S DAY (STRUCTURE, CONTEXT) Flashcards
1
Q
What form is the poem written in?
A
A rhymed elegiac structure
Pairs of lines with end rhymes
2
Q
Summarise the stucture of the poem
A
- Meter- Iambic pentameter.
- Enjambment.
- Rhymed couplets.
- Regular rhyme scheme (ABBA CDDC)
3
Q
What is the effect of using rhymed couplets?
A
- Continuty and inevitable cycle of grief which is contained within a structured form but never resolved.
4
Q
What effect does the use of iambic pentameter have?
A
- Steady rhythmic flow= Order contrasts the chaotic feelings of sorrow
5
Q
What effect does the enjambment have?
A
- Grief with no pause or conclusion, just spilling over to the next lines
6
Q
Why is the poem’s form described as elegiac?
A
- Elegy= A form that expresses mourning and grief.
- Thus the elegiac structure= intensifies emotional depth
7
Q
How does the alchemical imagery (e.g., “alchemy of love”) affect the form and meaning of the poem?
A
- Highlights the idea of transformation, but rather than refinement, the grief destructively transforms and empties the speaker.
8
Q
What is the winters solictice?
“Tis the years midnight”
A
- Shortest day and longest night in the year
- Reflecting emotional stagnation, spiritual and emotional coldness.
9
Q
What is St Lucy’s day? What is the significance of this day?
A
- The winter solstice fell on St Lucy’s day.
- SLD= a Christian feast day dedicated to St Lucy, a Christian martyr and a patron saint of the blind
10
Q
How might Donne’s personal experiences influence the themes in the poem?
A
- Death of Anne More (1617)
- Death of Lucy Countess of Bradford (godmother and patron)
- Religious doubts (search for meaning)
LCB= LUCY COUNTESS OF BRADFORD
11
Q
What is the significance of alchemy in the poem’s context?
A
- Alchemy, during Donne’s time, was seen as the pursuit of transformation and purification
12
Q
: How does Donne’s religious beliefs impact the themes of the poem?
A
- Hope for redemption/ spiritual resurrection.
