The Canonization by John Donne poem summary line by line

The Canonization by John Donne poem summary line by line-The Canonization by John Donne stands as a timeless exploration of love, spirituality, and the profound impact of human relationships. Penned during the early 17th century within the realm of metaphysical poetry, this piece reflects the enduring complexity and depth of human emotions.

From its initial lines, Donne beckons readers into a realm where love reigns supreme, urging them to withhold their voices and allow love to flourish unrestricted. Through a tapestry of vivid imagery and intricate metaphors, the poem delves into the nuances of romantic love, portraying it as a force transcending worldly concerns and lifting lovers to a divine state of union.

Fundamentally, "The Canonization" extols the transformative power of love, depicting it as a catalyst for personal evolution and spiritual enlightenment. The speaker's unwavering devotion to their beloved defies societal norms and expectations, championing a connection that is deeper and more profound.

The Canonization by John Donne poem summary line by line-Through its exploration of themes such as love, spirituality, and individuality, "The Canonization" continues to resonate across centuries. In this essay, we will unravel the poem's rich tapestry of imagery, intricate wordplay, and profound themes, uncovering the timeless wisdom and beauty encapsulated within Donne's masterwork.

The Canonization Poem summary line by line

1. For God's sake hold your tongue: The speaker urges someone to be quiet or stop speaking for the sake of God.

2. and let me love: The speaker expresses a desire to love freely without interruption or criticism.

3. Or chide my palsy, or my gout: The speaker dismisses potential criticisms or complaints about physical ailments like palsy or gout that might hinder their ability to love.

4. My five gray hairs: The speaker dismisses concerns about aging, represented by five gray hairs.

5. or ruined fortune flout: The speaker disregards any negative implications of a ruined fortune or financial status.

6. With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve: The speaker suggests that the listener should focus on improving their mind with education and culture, while leaving love to the speaker.

7. Take you a course, get you a place: The speaker advises the listener to pursue their own interests and ambitions.

8. Observe his Honor, or his Grace: The speaker suggests that the listener should seek the favor of honorable or noble individuals.

9. Or the King's real, or his stamped face: The speaker mentions the importance of royal favor or approval, symbolized by the king's face on currency.

10. Contemplate what you will: The speaker encourages the listener to contemplate or consider whatever they wish.

11. approve: The speaker suggests that the listener should approve of or support the speaker's love.

12. Or love, or sorrow, or content: The speaker lists various emotions that the listener may choose to focus on, but emphasizes the importance of their own love.

13. or age: The speaker mentions age as another potential concern that the listener might prioritize over love.

14. or need: The speaker dismisses considerations of necessity or need as reasons to avoid love.

15. or anything: The speaker suggests that nothing should prevent the listener from allowing the speaker to love.

16. A sigh or tear, or 'twixt their sheets: The speaker mentions typical expressions of love or intimacy, such as sighs and tears shared between lovers.

17. Or ruin them at games, or courts, or steeples: The speaker suggests that the listener may choose to spend their time and energy on various activities or pursuits, including games, courts (legal proceedings or social events), or steeples (churches).

18. With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve: The speaker repeats the earlier advice to focus on improving the mind with education and culture.

19. Take you a course, get you a place: The speaker repeats the advice to pursue one's own interests and ambitions.

20. Observe his Honor, or his Grace: The speaker repeats the advice to seek the favor of honorable or noble individuals.

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21. Or the King's real, or his stamped face: The speaker repeats the importance of royal favor or approval.

22. Contemplate what you will: The speaker repeats the encouragement to contemplate or consider whatever the listener wishes.

23. approve: The speaker repeats the suggestion that the listener should approve of or support the speaker's love.

24. Or love, or sorrow, or content: The speaker repeats the listing of various emotions, emphasizing the primacy of love.

25. or age: The speaker repeats age as a potential concern that the listener might prioritize over love.

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26. or need: The speaker repeats the dismissal of considerations of necessity or need as reasons to avoid love.

27. or anything: The speaker repeats the suggestion that nothing should prevent the listener from allowing the speaker to love.

28. If ever any beauty I did see: The speaker acknowledges having seen beauty in the past.

29. Which I desired, and got, 'twas but a dream of thee: The speaker suggests that any beauty they desired and obtained in the past was merely a dream compared to the listener's beauty.

30. And now good-morrow to our waking souls: The speaker bids farewell to their souls as they awaken from their slumber.

31. Which watch not one another out of fear: The speaker describes their souls as waking without fear of each other.

32. For love, all love of other sights controls: The speaker suggests that love controls all other desires or interests.

33. And makes one little room an everywhere: Love expands and fills every space, making a small room seem boundless.

34. Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone: The speaker compares love to the exploration of new worlds by sailors.

35. Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown: The speaker mentions the exploration of new worlds on maps.

36. Let us possess one world; each hath one, and is one: The speaker suggests that they and their lover possess their own world together, and that each of them is a world in themselves.

37. My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears: The speaker describes the reflection of their faces in each other's eyes.

38. And true plain hearts do in the faces rest: True hearts are reflected in the faces of lovers.

39. Where can we find two better hemispheres: The speaker suggests that they and their lover are like two halves of a perfect whole.

40. Without sharp north, without declining west: The speaker describes their love as without division or fluctuation.

41. Whatever dies, was not mixed equally: The speaker suggests that anything that dies was not composed of equal parts, unlike their love.

42. If our two loves be one, or thou and I: The speaker questions whether their love is one unified entity or whether it consists of separate individuals.

43. Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die: The speaker suggests that their love is so similar that neither lover will weaken or perish.

44. This is love's holly-day: The speaker describes their union as a sacred holiday or celebration of love.

45. This is love's holly-day: The speaker repeats the declaration of their union as a sacred holiday.

46. And in this holly-day: The speaker emphasizes the importance and sanctity of their love.

47. I mourn, and dare not show my discontent: The speaker admits to feeling sorrow but refrains from expressing it openly.

48. I love, and yet am forced to seem to hate: The speaker loves their beloved but feels compelled to appear to hate them.

49. I do, yet dare not say I ever meant: The speaker acknowledges their actions but hesitates to claim that they intended them.

50. I seem stark mute, but inwardly do prate: The speaker appears silent outwardly but is internally engaged in speech.

51. I am and not, I freeze and yet am burned: The speaker experiences conflicting emotions and sensations.

52. Since from myself another self I turned: The speaker has turned away from their own self to embrace their beloved as an extension of themselves.

53. My care is like my shadow in the sun: The speaker's concerns are likened to a shadow in the sunlight.

54. Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it: The speaker's cares seem to elude them when they try to confront or address them.

55. Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done: The speaker's cares remain with them, mirroring their actions.

56. His too familiar care doth make me rue: The speaker regrets the familiarity of their cares.

57. Least, when I would, I cannot love you: The speaker fears that they might be unable to love their beloved when they desire to do so.

58. But suck'd on country pleasures, childishly: The speaker describes indulging in simple pleasures like a child.

59. Or snorted we in the Seven Sleepers' den: The speaker alludes to the Seven Sleepers, a legend about Christian youths who slept in a cave for centuries.

60. Nor were by threes, nor by-shoulder'd men: The speaker dismisses the idea of sharing their love with others.

61. But, sigh'd for, like John Donne: The speaker compares their longing for their beloved to the sighs expressed in the poetry of John Donne.

62. I propose: The speaker suggests or proposes something.

63. What severser loves have done: The speaker references the actions of more severe or intense lovers.

64. Do, does, and did will do: The speaker emphasizes the ongoing nature of love's actions.

65. I am sorry, I am not sorry, I am content: The speaker expresses conflicting emotions but ultimately asserts their contentment.

66. This is love's holly-day: The speaker repeats the declaration of their union as a sacred holiday.

67. This love's holly-day: The speaker repeats the emphasis on the sanctity of their love.

68. And in this holly-day: The speaker reiterates the importance and celebration of their love.

69. I need not their poor threats, nor their pities: The speaker dismisses any threats or pity from others.

70. I waive that (to) this holy-to-day: The speaker chooses to focus on their sacred love rather than external concerns.

71. Nor loose our sight, though it doth play: The speaker resolves not to lose sight of their love even as it fluctuates or moves.

72. For those who make a god of love, and those who love: The speaker distinguishes between those who worship love as a deity and those who experience love.

73. And hope, and fear, and love, and endless wooing: The speaker lists the various emotions and experiences associated with love.

74. There will be no love to: The speaker suggests that love will endure despite any obstacles or challenges.

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75. Our bodies too: The speaker asserts that their physical bodies are also united in love.

76. Our souls too: The speaker asserts that their souls are also united in love.

77. Whom we are not: The speaker affirms their identity as lovers.

78. Though we are: The speaker acknowledges their existence as individuals.

79. This poem thus celebrates the transformative power of love and its ability to transcend earthly concerns, bringing unity and joy to those who embrace it fully.

The Canonization Poem Themes

Love and Devotion: The primary theme of the poem is love and devotion between two individuals. Donne celebrates the transformative power of romantic love, portraying it as sacred and all-encompassing. The speaker is deeply committed to their beloved, willing to disregard societal norms and personal obstacles for the sake of their love.

Spirituality and Profanity: Donne blends themes of spirituality with earthly, profane imagery, creating a complex portrayal of love as both divine and worldly. 

The Canonization by John Donne poem summary line by line-The speaker elevates their love to a spiritual level, likening it to religious devotion and sanctifying it as a holy experience. However, they also acknowledge the physical and passionate aspects of their relationship, demonstrating a fusion of the sacred and the profane.

Transformation and Unity: The poem explores the transformative nature of love, suggesting that it has the power to unite individuals and transcend personal boundaries. Through love, the speaker undergoes a metamorphosis, finding fulfillment and wholeness in their union with their beloved. Love is depicted as a unifying force that dissolves distinctions and creates harmony between lovers.

Individuality and Identity: Despite celebrating the unity of love, the poem also emphasizes the individual identities of the speaker and their beloved. 

The Canonization by John Donne poem summary line by line-Each lover retains their unique identity while simultaneously merging with the other, highlighting the complexity of personal relationships and the coexistence of independence and togetherness.

Rejection of Conventional Values: Donne challenges conventional societal values and expectations regarding love and relationships. The speaker rejects material wealth, social status, and external validation in favor of the pure, unadulterated love they share with their beloved. 

The Canonization by John Donne poem summary line by line-Their defiance of societal norms underscores the unconventional nature of their love and their willingness to prioritize personal fulfillment over external judgments.

 

 

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