The Flea

Question 1

what literary movement was donne a part of?

Answer 1

metaphysical

lived 1572 - 1631

Question 2

any relevant context for the poem? (metaphysical poets, roles of male and females within society)

Answer 2

• metaphysical poets explored physical desire as a reaction against strict puritanical ideals
• male infidelity accepted (sexuality seen as masculine). women censured for having affairs
• masculinity obtained by asserting sexual dominance
• female honour and reputation central

Question 3

different themes to gatsby

Answer 3

• sexual frustration (no attraction to D)
• donne depicting female sexuality in a positive light despite contextual restriction (speaker doesn’t demean woman); fitz. presents M’s love for wealth and sexuality as negative, causing death

Question 4

key quotes and methods

Answer 4

• ovidian flea conceit
• ribald erotic references
• theatrical melaframatic voice of typical (courtier)? pls help
• more caesura in 2nd stanza, slows down pace = more time for woman to consider argument (seeds of doubt/temptation)

Question 5

shared themes w gatsby

Answer 5

• lack of true love
• ignoring female desire, focus on male experience
• challenges contemporary conventions about female chastity and sex -> D, M, T

Question 6

shared themes with other poems

Answer 6

male experience

- the scrutiny

Question 7

any relevant context for Gatsby?

Answer 7

• ## flapper trend. women more independent, challenging social restriction and society’s expectations: wore trousers, ankles shown in public

Question 8

relevant methods and quotes from gatsby?

Answer 8

• depiction of M
• depiction of T and his affairs (male infidelity)
• parallels btwn T and M active in relationship, W and D passive. M subverts gender norms

Question 9

why is there a connection beween sex and death throughout the poem?

Answer 9

• ribald love poetry popular in 16th century (‘die’ and ‘kill’ terms for orgasm. intercourse believed to shorten male lifespan)

Question 10

what is the rhyme scheme and how does this emphasise the futility of the speaker’s effort to ‘kanoodle’ with the woman

Answer 10

alternating iambic pentameter and tetrameter except last lines which are only tetrameter (“me” and “thee”)
- the only way they will be united is through the poem, not real life

Question 11

connection between ovid and donnes poem

Answer 11

ovidian flea conceit used by donne

• belongs to genre where lover describes animal able to explore mistress’ body unlike him.
• evokes the immediacy of ovid’s poem - frustrated lust

Question 12

quotes for societal restrictions on sex

Answer 12

“two bloods mingled be”, “it woos before it swells”

• presents sex as bodily funtion
• removes societal stigma from sex
• mocks societal requirement for courtship before sex