Annotation of John Donne’s Holy Sonnet IX

Lauren Fike

Holy Sonnet IXIf poisonous minerals, and if that tree,Whose fruit threw death on (else immortal) us,If lecherous goats, if serpents enviousCannot be damn'd, alas ! why should I be ?Why should intent or reason, born in me,Make sins, else equal, in me more heinous ?And, mercy being easy, and gloriousTo God, in His stern wrath why threatens He ?But who am I, that dare dispute with Thee ?O God, O ! of Thine only worthy blood,And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood,And drown in it my sin's black memory.That Thou remember them, some claim as debt ;I think it mercy if Thou wilt forget.

Classification of Poem(1)If poisonous minerals, and if that tree,(2)Whose fruit threw death on (else immortal) us,(3)If lecherous goats, if serpents envious(4)Cannot be damn'd, alas ! why should I be ?(5)Why should intent or reason, born in me,(6)Make sins, else equal, in me more heinous ?(7)And, mercy being easy, and glorious(8)To God, in His stern wrath why threatens He ?(9)But who am I, that dare dispute with Thee ?(10)O God, O ! of Thine only worthy blood,(11)And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood,(12)And drown in it my sin's black memory.(13)That Thou remember them, some claim as debt;(14)I think it mercy if Thou wilt forget.

Archer comments on the works of other scholars who claim Donne’s poetry was influenced by meditative poetry.

Meditative poetry has the following structure:1) focus of setting 2) analysis of points3) colloquies (dialogue with God) One scholar, “Separates sonnet 9 into threefold

structure corresponding to the three parts of meditation” (Archer).

Lines 1-3 focus on the sin in the Garden.Lines 4-8 analyze the reasoning behind the

punishment of this sin.Lines 9-14 are directed to God as if in a conversation

with Him.However, Sonnet IX incorporates poetic tradition

through a rhyming scheme and detailed metaphors.

Furthermore, Sonnet IX is a blend of Meditative poetry and poetic tradition.

Meditative Poetry

Poetic Tradition

Sonnet 9

Debate of Meditative influenceMeditative poetry influenced Donne’s Poetry

• Archer states that the flaw to his argument would be if he was introduced to Meditative poetry at a young age.– It is possible outlet to Archer’s

perspective.

• Personally, I disagree with Kuchar. He relates Meditative poetry to all the sonnets while this work relates Meditative poetry to Sonnet IX alone.– As seen in the previous slide, the

structure of Meditative poetry is clearly an influence in Sonnet IX.

Meditative poetry had no effect of Donne’s Poetry

• Although Archer shows the claims of other scholars. He himself makes the claim that Donne was not influenced by meditative poetry.– He claims Donne studied Meditative

poetry during his career, not before his career as poet. Since his structure correlates from his beginning to works to his ending works, Meditative poetry could not have influenced his structure.

• Kuchar argues that Donne’s work do not take Meditative poetry form because they deviate too far from the original structure of Meditative poetry.

Structure to Determine Meaning(1)If poisonous minerals, and if that tree,(2)Whose fruit threw death on (else immortal) us,(3)If lecherous goats, if serpents envious(4)Cannot be damn'd, alas ! why should I be ?(5)Why should intent or reason, born in me,(6)Make sins, else equal, in me more heinous ?(7)And, mercy being easy, and glorious(8)To God, in His stern wrath why threatens He ?(9)But who am I, that dare dispute with Thee ?(10)O God, O ! of Thine only worthy blood,(11)And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood,(12)And drown in it my sin's black memory.(13)That Thou remember them, some claim as

debt;(14)I think it mercy if Thou wilt forget.

• Sonnet has rhyme scheme of ABBAABBAACCADD

• Poem is 14 lines (like a traditional sonnet)• Iambic pentameter meter

Since the Sonnet uses typical structure of 14 lines and uses iambic pentameter as the meter, the untraditional rhyme scheme is emphasized. One sees a shift in the rhyme scheme at line 10, while line 12 is especially accentuated due to its lack of a couplet.

One interprets this structure by concluding the meaning or main point of the poem is drawn through lines 10-14, with a stress on line 12. Furthermore, the speaker emphasizes in this poem the want of forgetfulness of sin.

Diction Compared to Other Holy Sonnets

In the Sonnet IX Wordle one sees that many questioning words appear such as “if”, “why,” and “should.” This choice in diction illustrates the speaker’s struggles with faith and doubt. While in the Wordle of the entire Holy Sonnets, one sees few questioning words. One can assume that Donne’s usual speaker uses statements rather than questions.One concludes, that the common subject matter of faith is addresses differently in Sonnet IX than it is in most of the Holy Sonnets.

Sonnet IX Wordle

Holy Sonnet’s Wordle

Note: a Wordle is a visual representation of words that gives more emphasis to repeated words through size.

Diction to Create Tone(1)If poisonous minerals, and if that tree,(2)Whose fruit threw death on (else immortal) us,(3)If lecherous goats, if serpents envious(4)Cannot be damn'd, alas ! why should I be ?(5)Why should intent or reason, born in me,(6)Make sins, else equal, in me more heinous ?(7)And, mercy being easy, and glorious(8)To God, in His stern wrath why threatens He ?(9)But who am I, that dare dispute with Thee ?(10)O God, O ! of Thine only worthy blood,(11)And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood,(12)And drown in it my sin's black memory.(13)That Thou remember them, some claim as

debt;(14)I think it mercy if Thou wilt forget.

These words of inquiry create a sense of apprehension and uncertainty. The reader feels the confusion and struggle of the speaker.

The speaker uses diction in another way to create a tone of uncertainty.

Lethean- references to “the classical river of forgetfulness, Lethe, which existed in the the underworld”(Silbergleid).

The idea of an underworld showcases the religion of Paganism. The speaker illustrates his confusion further by mixing in diction that illustrates different religious ideas.

Furthermore, he demonstrates this confusion through the juxtaposition of the word heavenly next to the word Lethean.

Shift in Sonnet IX(1)If poisonous minerals, and if that tree,(2)Whose fruit threw death on (else immortal) us,(3)If lecherous goats, if serpents envious(4)Cannot be damn'd, alas ! why should I be ?(5)Why should intent or reason, born in me,(6)Make sins, else equal, in me more heinous ?(7)And, mercy being easy, and glorious(8)To God, in His stern wrath why threatens He ?(9)But who am I, that dare dispute with Thee ?(10)O God, O ! of Thine only worthy blood,(11)And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood,(12)And drown in it my sin's black memory.(13)That Thou remember them, some claim as

debt;(14)I think it mercy if Thou wilt forget.

One sees a complete change of mind in the speaker from the start of line 9.

Chong suggests that Donne is using a shift similar to a particular chapter in the bible.

In Romans 8 Paul uses a similar rhetorical question to “But who am I to dispute with Thee?”

Using the pronoun thee ( a formal form of you during the time) shows a complete surrender to any points made against God.

The structural and tonal change in line 9 reference Romans 8.

This reference shows the speaker’s complete recoveryof his faith that was doubted

Rhetorical StrategyChong also suggests that Donne uses rhetorical

strategy to convince the reader of the conclusion made. Chung makes the point that the reader is invited to sympathize with the speaker in what is said in the beginning of poem. (Questioning the fairness of salvation). Yet agreeing with the skepticism in the beginning, the reader is expected to follow through with the conclusion made at the end of the poem. (God is sovereign and should not be questioned).

Chong supports this point through the change in pronouns. The shift from first person plural to first person singular allows the reader to more easily sympathize with the speaker. The speaker shifts the weight on to himself so the audience feels no pressure to abide but sorry for his confusion and doubt. He also supports this point through the way the speaker changes his mind. Instead of the speaker just accepting his faults, the speaker rebukes in a cry (shown through the explanation point). Listen to the recording of Lines 8-10 to more clearly understand this point. The audience sympathizes with the speaker and agrees to follow the same thought process as the speaker.

(1)If poisonous minerals, and if that tree,(2)Whose fruit threw death on (else immortal) us,(3)If lecherous goats, if serpents envious(4)Cannot be damn'd, alas ! why should I be ?(5)Why should intent or reason, born in me,(6)Make sins, else equal, in me more heinous ?(7)And, mercy being easy, and glorious(8)To God, in His stern wrath why threatens He ?(9)But who am I, that dare dispute with Thee ?(10)O God, O ! of Thine only worthy blood,(11)And my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood,(12)And drown in it my sin's black memory.(13)That Thou remember them, some claim as debt;(14)I think it mercy if Thou wilt forget.

to

Rebuked cry

Metaphors• Use of metaphysical metaphors• Compares unlikely objects with

each other to create unexpected imagery.

• Compares sin to lusty goats and malicious snakes.

• Compares grace to uncontrollable flood

• While aspects discussed in poem such as the fall of man, grace, and mercy usually create different imagery.

vs.

Dramatic Nature of Poem

• Through the punctuation, on would probably hear the poem more like the audio clip assembled:

• The following audio clip resembles Donne’s poetry without the punctuation:

Kuchar supports the claim of Donne producing dramatic poetry. He takes this claim to a further extent by stating, “Some of the most dramatic moment occur when Donne’s speaker recoils in the face of God” (Kuchar). As an example Kuchar mentions line 11 as a prime example.

Kuchar relates this aspect of Donne’s poetry to his life history through the drama experienced in emotions when completing intersecting discourse of religions in Catholicism and the Anglican Church.

Poetry Related to Life History“Donne often describes ecstatic

religious experience with the same metaphors of earthly instability and material metamorphoses he uses to catalogue his melancholic, self-destructive inclinations” (Trevor).

In Sonnet IX, one sees Trevor’s claim. The speaker has a conversation with God where he reclaims his faith. One who is religious would consider this an ecstatic experience. However, many of the metaphors and descriptions are dark or depressing.

Interpretations from Annotations

• John Donne uses a variety of devices to give meaning to his poem. – Metaphor– Structure– Diction– Rhetorical Strategy– Punctuation

• One sees through these devices, Donne’s speaker critiques his own spiritual life in hope that the audience will consider their spiritual life in a different perspective.

Works CitedArcher, Stanley. "Meditation and the Structure of Donne's "Holy Sonnets"“

ELH 28.2 (1961): 137-147. JSTOR. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Web. March 2010

Chong, Kenneth. "Blood, Sweat, and Tears: Self-Chastisement in Donne's 'If Poysonous Mineralls'." Renaissance and Reformation/Renaissance et Réforme 29.4 (2005): 41-55. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

Kuchar, Gary. "Petrarchism and Repentance in John Donne's Holy Sonnets." Modern Philology: Critical and Historical Studies in Literature, Medieval Through Contemporary 105.3 (2008): 535-569. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 2 Mar. 2010.

Silbergleid, Robin. 2000. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. <https://www.msu.edu/course/eng/491h/snapshot.afs/robins29/fs00/Worksheet/source/New%20Worksheets/Donne's%20_If%20poisonous%20mrls.html>.

Trevor, Douglas. "John Donne and Scholarly Melancholy." Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 40.1 (2000): 81-102. Winter. Project Muse. Web. 2 March 2010

ImagesSlide 10Joystick Division. 24 Nov. 2008. Web. 11 Mar. 2010.

<www.joystickdivision.com/flood%20house%20pic.jpg>."Poison Prevention." TampaGov. 4 June 2009. Web. 11 Mar. 2010.

<http://www.tampagov.net/dept_fire_rescue_public_education/information_resources/adults/poison.asp>.

"Saving Grace." Art.com. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. <http://artfiles.art.com/5/p/LRG/16/1650/NAZGD00Z/garret-walker-saving-grace.jpg>.

"The Puritans." 2007. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. <http://www.freewebs.com/olsenblockperiod5/The_fall_of_man.jpg>.

Slide 12“File:JohnDonne.jpg.” Wikipedia. 26 Sept. 2005. Web. 11 Mar. 2010.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JohnDonne.jpg>.