Wit And Donne

Question 1

Para 1)

Donne:

Answer 1

Carnal human connections are key to a good life, thus, when lacking, will cause anxiety in the face of death

apostrophe Sunne rising

• utilises rhetorical questions and modal auxiliaries such as “shouldst” and “could” - authority over “unruly sunne”
• “thou sunne art half as happy as we”-alliteration reveals the source of his overwhelming confidence is his connection with his lover.
• “she’s all states and all princes… and the indies of spice and mine,” indicating their connection is worth more than the exotic wonders of Donne’s 17th century era.

Question 2

Para 1)

Wit:

Answer 2

• conversely, despite awaiting death in a hospital bed (a product of Edson’s time as cancer nurse and a reflection of her 20th as science battles mortality)
• paints Vivian as outwardly unfazed due to her belief”i know all about life and death. I am…a scholar of Donne’s holy sonnets”
• “im scared. I want…i want to hide” panicked exclamation
• dramatic irony, we can conclude her anxiety stems from her fixation on the wit of donne’s holy sonnets has allowed her to miss the true meaning of his early works, value of relationships.
• further affirmed by Edson’s use of analepsis… “Enjoy yourself with friends… I went back to the library,” implying her lack of human connection leading to her anxiety.

Question 3

Para 2)

Donne:

Answer 3

Spiritual security is a vital trait to evade fear of death.

Petrachan sonnet “if poysonous mineralls”

• employs his signature wit in the rhetorical questioning of God’s grand plan, “…if serpents envious cannot be damn’d, alas why should i be?”
• inquisition reflects Donne’s lack of spiritual assurance characterised by his vacillation from the Catholic to Anglican Church.
• At move to sestet, “oh god oh! Of thine only blood” impassioned irregularity of the rhythm shows his urgency to repent in the hopes of alleviating anxiety.

Question 4

Para 2)

Wit:

Answer 4

Reflect widely-secular 20th century context, her characters’ faith instead lies in knowledge, in vivians case: language.

• Edson expertly sculpts Vivian’s view of the world as determine by language, described evocatively as “magic,” “treat(ed) with respect” and “a way to see how good you really are” just as Christian faith was used by Donne’s contemporaries as they sought salvation.
• Thus when faced with her diagnosis Vivian remains devout, the metaphor “my only defence is the acquisition of vocabulary” becoming literal as her faith in language is the only defence of her mental fortitude.

Question 5

Para 3)

Donne:

Answer 5

by comparing the departing thoughts of both Donne and Edson’s Vivian we gain a complete understanding that only with balance can peace be achieved

Hymn to god, my god, in my sickness

Donne is able to reaffirm his faith and thus find peace

-“Is the pacific sea my home? …all straits…are ways to them” new found faith symbolised by the discoveries of his age.

-Continuing this geographic conceit, “What shall my west hurt me?”
no longer fears his west, his end.

Question 6

Para 3)

Wit:

Answer 6

Vivian finds emotional connection

-Connection to nurse Suzie via softened and emotive rhetoric, “Youre still going to take care of me, arent you?”
creates an upheaval mirroring the volta of a sonnet in her characters journey.

-final stage direction of Vivian standing “…naked, and beautiful, reaching for the light” shows she found peace.

Question 7

Thesis:

Answer 7

• in the face of death, anxiety stems from a sense of regret, neglect that leads to an unbalance and thus unfulfilled life
• postmodern play wit and the poetic works of donne
• cannot find peace without a balance between values key to their respective eras, human connection and spiritual security

Question 8

Note:

Answer 8

If context based question:
Focus on that human connection is the key value of 20th century value and spiritual security is key 17th century value i.e. each lack the key value of their era needed to overcome anxiety. (but need a little bit of both i.e. 3rd para).