NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
As if Thou hadst sealed my pardon with Thy blood ends a poem written by a man torn between an obsession with death and a true understanding of the afterlife. Caught up in mans oldest paradox, John Donne creatively expresses his reverence for God through poetry in his Holy Sonnet 7: At the Round Earths Imagined Corners (Donne). Being raised a devout Pentecostal, I clearly recognize that by bringing together events predicted in the book of Revelations and the power of prayer, Donne evokes in his reader the need to repent for their souls sake. The purpose of this paper is to do a topical / historical analysis of John Donne's Holy Sonnet 7: At the Round Earths Imagined Corners.
Holy Sonnet 7 was written in London, England sometime in the late 1590 s to early 1600 s, the exact date it was penned remains a mystery. Its publication, dated 1633, reveals it posthumously, so information regarding Donne's works can only be found in records which vary and even contrast at times. On its way to becoming the biggest city in Europe, London's population was booming. During this period, the city was the center of a tremendous expansion in trade, colonization, and finance.
London was also the center of the English cultural Renaissance, particularly in literature, with major figures such as Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, and William Shakespeare (London, VII, C). With the turmoil that surrounded the secular sect, many artists were continuously changing the very face of civilization. The famous English Renaissance took place between 1580 and 1660 (English Lit. , IV, B). As society increased in size and prosperity, the populations became more diverse with different social classes that varied in background and power (Renaissance, IV, B). The Roman Catholic Church was rapidly declining spurring the growth of many humanists who hoped to reform Christian society by relying on education rather than on religious faith (Renaissance, VI, B). Humanism the dominant intellectual monument of the Renaissance, included disciplines such as: grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and ethics.
This conflicted directly with the traditional scholasticism, which concentrated on the study of logic, natural philosophy (science), and metaphysics, or the nature of reality (Renaissance, VII). Much of the literature written during this era was the result of a remarkable outburst of energy (English Lit. , VI, B). Many artistic contributors, including William Shakespeare, continue to affect various aspects of art even today. Born to a prosperous Roman Catholic family, when anti-Catholic sentiment was rife in England (Jokinen, 1), John Donne experienced a varied religious upbringing.
His Catholic birth and training implanted a preoccupation with the metaphysical, while his passionate mature ensured that questions would be subjected to searching examination (Hill, 33). Historic accounts of Donne's life in London report two possible periods during which it is assumed that many of his Holy Sonnets, including # 7, emerged. The first, when Donne began to question his faith (Jokinen, 2) between 1593 1596, just after his brother died in prison (there for harboring a Catholic priest). The second, just after the death of his wife (Anne) in 1617 (during the birth of their 12 th child) (Jokinen, 7). Donne's poetry is a confrontation, or struggle, to find a place in this world, his exploration for an identity and salvation (Doyle, 1). Holy Sonnet 7 contains events forecasted in the book of Revelations mixed with potent prayer.
As with many of his Sonnets, Donne combines a great sense of sinfulness with an effortful spirituality based on fear (Benet, 16). But let them sleep, Lord, and me mourn a space; For, if above all these my sins abound, 'Tis late to ask abundance of Thy grace, When we are there. Here on this lowly ground, Teach me how to repent, for that's as good As if Thou hadst seal'd my pardon with Thy blood. This powerful poem responds directly to the Pauline injunction to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Benet, 26). With a keen understanding of the after life, Donne reminds readers of the great power of, and need for repentance. Donne's career seems to have followed his life events.
Written at a time of great sadness, over either the death of his brother and / or his wife, The Holy Sonnets no doubt express Donne's private, psychological, religious, and moral struggles (Benet, 16). These writings obviously indicate a circumstantial spirituality created by external events and capable mostly of showing the poet the desirability of changing his life (Benet, 23). The exact dates of most Holy Sonnets are unknown. It is known however, that Holy Sonnet 17: Since She Whom I Love Hath Paid Her Last Debt was penned immediately following Annes death (Jokinen, 7). This Sonnet shows Donne seeking a fuller relationship with God, a change in his life and writings. This topical / historical analysis of John Donne's Holy Sonnet 7: At the Round Earths Imagined Corners looks at: when and where it was produced, the culture of the region in which it was produced, the major circumstances that produced it, the major issues it deals with and how it fits into Donne's career.
Though Ive never been a poet, I feel I can relate to Donne's Holy Sonnet 7. Raised in a strict Pentecostal family, my faith in God is strongly grounded. As I got older however, my need for personal restraints lessened and the many rules attached to the Pentecostal religion became overwhelmingly restrictive. I struggled for a time with letting go of the fear that had held me for so long, all the while feeling like a sinner doomed to hell.
I did let go however, and proceeded to move on with my life. Still, from time to time, that nagging conscious embedded deep in my memory jumps out at me reminding me to pray and repent for thats as good / As if Thou hadst sealed my pardon with Thy blood. In this time of turbulence and confusion when terrorism is at our back door, we all need to remember, that whatever your religion, now is the time to get yourself right and be ready for eternity. No man knows what tomorrow may hold (Unknown). Works Cited 1. Jokinen, Anniina.
The Life of John Donne (1572 - 1631). 22 Oct. 2001. 26 Jan. 2002 < web 2. "London (England) ." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001. 31 Jan. 2002 < web 3. "English Literature." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001. 26 Jan. 2002 < web 4. "Renaissance." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001. 26 Jan. 2002 < web 5. John Donne. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001. 31 Jan. 2002 < web bio. cgi? ID = 42 > . 6. Benet, Diana Trio. "'Witness this Books, (thy Emblem) ': Donne's Holy Sonnets and Biography. " Early Modern Literary Studies Special Issue 7 (May, 2001): 11. 1 - 36. 31 Jan. 2002 < web 7.
Donne, John. Holy Sonnet 7: At the Round Earths Imagined Corners. Literature An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts, Henry E.
Jacobs. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, Inc. 1998 756. 26 Jan. 2002 8. Doyle, Stephanie. John Donne's Dramatic Self-Presentation. Papers on Language & Literature v. 29 no 3. p 346 - 351. 22. 06. 1993. 26 Jan. 2002 < web 9.
Hill, Susan. His Life, Influences, and Works. Modules p 14. 28 Nov. 2001. 26 Jan. 2002. < web
Free research essays on topics related to: holy sonnet, john donne, historical analysis, roman catholic, william shakespeare
Research essay sample on Holy Sonnet Roman Catholic
