Neoplatonist notions of love and their overcoming in John Donne’s poems

An analysis of "A Valediction: Forbidding mourning", "The Canonization", "The Sun Rising" and "The Flea"

Term Paper , 2019 , 14 Pages , Grade: 1,7

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

The aim of this term paper is to examine how John Donne broke with the Petrarchan tradition in English Renaissance poetry by openly alluding to sexuality while still including Neoplatonist and other Renaissance influences in his poetry. To this end, a look at some relevant aspects of Donne’s life and views will be followed by an overview on Neoplatonist and Petrarchan influences on English Renaissance poetry and its dealing with love and sexuality. An analysis of two of Donne’s poems illustrate the contrasting directions his poetry takes towards religious, spiritual and Neoplatonist ideas on the one and the allusion to sexuality on the other hand.

Among the poets of the English Renaissance, John Donne is one of the most original and innovative one, with a collection of poems that even have a modernist touch in them. One of the things that makes John Donne’s poetry so intriguing is its mixture of Neoplatonist or religious notions that had a great impact in English Renaissance poetry and the description of eroticism, physicality and sexuality that does not fit into the poetry marked by the Neoplatonism that followed the tradition of the Renaissance role model Petrarch and was very common at the time.

Table of Contents

• Introduction.
• John Donne - between Religion and Rebellion
• Neoplatonism, Petrarchism and Metaphysical Poetry.
  • Neoplatonism and Petrarchism
  • Love in the Context of English Renaissance and Metaphysical Poetry.
• Analysis of "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” and “The Canonization”.
  • Form and Content
  • Neoplatonist Ideas of Love.....
  • Contradiction to Neoplatonist Ideas of Love
• Analysis of "The Sun Rising” and “The Flea”
  • Form and Content
  • Contradiction to Neoplatonist Ideas of Love
  • Neoplatonist Ideas of Love......
• Conclusion.........

Objectives and Key Themes

This term paper examines how John Donne broke with the Petrarchan tradition in English Renaissance poetry by openly alluding to sexuality while still including Neoplatonist and other Renaissance influences. The paper analyzes Donne's life and views, explores Neoplatonist and Petrarchan influences on English Renaissance poetry, and examines the contrasting directions Donne's poetry takes towards religious, spiritual and Neoplatonist ideas on the one hand and the allusion to sexuality on the other. * John Donne's life and work as a bridge between religious and secular themes. * Neoplatonist and Petrarchan influences on English Renaissance poetry, particularly regarding love and sexuality. * Contrasting directions in Donne's poetry between religious/spiritual and erotic themes. * Donne's rejection of Petrarchan conventions and his unique representation of women and love. * The unification of body and soul in Donne's view of love.

Chapter Summaries

• The introduction outlines the paper's objective to explore John Donne's unique approach to love poetry within the context of English Renaissance literature, particularly his departure from the Petrarchan tradition.
• The second chapter examines Donne's life, highlighting his Catholic upbringing, worldly aspirations, and eventual turn to Anglicanism. The chapter emphasizes the contradictory nature of Donne's life and how it reflects his complex views on spirituality and passion.
• The third chapter delves into the influence of Neoplatonism and Petrarchan conventions on English Renaissance poetry. It explores how Neoplatonism emphasizes the spiritual nature of love, the ascent of the soul to the ideal, and the veneration of the beloved as a divine being. The chapter also examines the Petrarchan tradition and its focus on unattainable love and idealized beauty.
• The fourth chapter analyzes "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” and “The Canonization”, exploring their form, content, Neoplatonist ideas, and contradictions to Neoplatonist notions of love.
• The fifth chapter analyzes "The Sun Rising” and “The Flea”, examining their form, content, contradictions to Neoplatonist ideas of love, and remaining Neoplatonist elements.

Keywords

This paper focuses on John Donne's poetry, English Renaissance poetry, Neoplatonism, Petrarchism, love, sexuality, religious and secular themes, and the unification of body and soul. The paper explores the influence of Renaissance philosophies on Donne's work, particularly his innovative approach to love poetry that blends spiritual and physical elements.

• College: University of Augsburg
• Grade: 1,7
• Author: Sophie Barwich (Author)
• Publication Year: 2019
• Pages: 14
• Catalog Number: V496912
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346013200
• ISBN (Book): 9783346013217
• Language: English
• Tags: poetry, renaissance, john donne, neoplatonism