The Canonization
Poetry
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John Donne
The Canonization Themes
The Power and Holiness of Love: In “The Canonization,” love is shown as something powerful and holy. The speaker is an older man who has fallen deeply in love. He says that his love is not harming anyone, so people should let him love in peace. This love makes him and his beloved feel like one person. The poem connects love to Christian ideas. The poets shows that the lovers become holy like saint...
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The Canonization Characters
The Speaker (The Lover): The speaker of the poem is an aged lover. He is deeply in love and speaks to someone who criticizes him. He tells that person to stop judging his love and to mind their own business. The speaker believes his love is pure, spiritual, and even holy. He says that his love hurts no one. His love makes him and his beloved one soul. He feels that their love is strong enough to m...
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The Canonization Key Info
Key Facts
Title: The Canonization
Poet: John Donne (1572–1631)
Publication Date: First published in 1633, two years after Donne’s death, in Songs and Sonnets
Form: Metaphysical Love Poem
Meter: We find different iambs (metrical feet with a da-DUM rhythm) in this poem: pentameter, tetrameter, trimeter, etc.
Rhyme Scheme: Each nine-line stanza uses the same rhyme scheme: ABBACCCAA
Tot...
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The Canonization Literary Device
Figures of Speech
Conceit
Definition: A conceit is a strange and far-fetched comparison between two very different things. It is a surprising comparison that runs across many lines. So, conceit is also known as an extended metaphor.
Example and Explanation: Donne compares the lovers to saints. He writes, “Us canonized for love.” The lovers are not real saints, but their love is so pure and ho...
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The Canonization Quotations
1. “For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love,”
Exp: The speaker, a middle-aged lover, is telling his friend not to disturb him. He wants to love his beloved.
2. “Alas, alas, who’s injured by my love?
What merchant’s ships have my sighs drowned?”
Exp: The speaker is explaining that his love has done no harm to anyone or anything. Everything is normal as usual. So, he can love his beloved.
3...
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Notes
Explore 6 detailed notes related to The Canonization. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.