Death be not proud - Donne

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Donne dismantles mortality’s fear by personifying death as powerless

Question 2

1: Death is no longer fearsome but weak

Answer 2

“Death be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so”
→ Personification, paradox

Question 3

2: Death has no control, it is controlled

Answer 3

“Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men”
→ Cumulative listing, irony

Question 4

3: Death is just sleep before eternal life

Answer 4

“One short sleep past, we wake eternally”
→ Metaphor

Question 5

4: Death itself ceases to exist, reinforcing faith in salvation

Answer 5

Final line: “Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.” → Paradox, disrupted Petrarchan rhyme scheme

Question 6

Conclusion

Answer 6

Donne constructs death as merely a passage to eternal life, reflecting Descartes’ Dualism through linguistic syllogisms and dismantling fear through theological certainty.