John Donne
17th century English poet, prose writer, and clergyman, considered the greatest of the metaphysical poets and one of the greatest writers of love poetry.Profile:
- Full Name: John Donne
- Born: c. 1572
- Place of Birth: Bread Street, London, England
- Death: March 31, 1631
- Place of Death: London, England
- Cause of Death: Stomach Cancer?
- Buried at: St Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Churchyard, City of London, Greater London, England
- Epitaphs: “He lies here in the dust but beholds Him, whose name is Rising”
- Father: John Donne
- Mother: Elizabeth Heywood
- Siblings: 5
- Brother: Henry Donne (d. 1593)
- Sister: Mary Donne (d. 1581)
- Sister: Katherine Donne (d. 1581)
- Marriage: 1601
- Spouse: Anne More (d. 1617)
- Number of Children: 12
- Daughter: Constance Donne (b. 1603)
- Son: John Donne III (b. 1604, d. 1662)
- Son: George Donne (b. 1605)
- Son: Francis Donne (b. 1607 d. 1614)
- Daughter: Lucy Donne (b. 1608)
- Daughter: Bridget Donne (b.1609)
- Daughter: Mary Donne (b. 1611, d. 1614)
- Stillborn: 1612
- Son: Nicholas Donne (b. 1613, d. 1614)
- Daughter: Margaret Donne (b. 1615)
- Daughter: Elizabeth Donne (b. 1616)
- Stillborn: 1617
- Education: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Lincoln’s Inn
- Known for: for both his sensitive and realistic portrayals of romantic love and his remarkable expressions of religious devotion
- Criticised for: NA
- Influences: NA
- Influenced: Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Merton
Quote:
''But I do nothing upon myself, and yet am mine own executioner.'' John Donne
Major Themes:
- Love
- Women
- Sexuality
- Religion
- Death
Notable Works:
-
The Anniversaries (1611-12)
-
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions (1624)
- Songs and Sonnets (1633)
Did you know?
- Donne’s father, a prosperous London merchant was also named John.
- Donne was the third of six children of his parents.
- His father deceased when Donne was only four years old.
- During marriage his wife Anne More was only 16 years old.
- After his father’s demise Donne’s mother married a prominent physician.
- Donne’s wife Anne spent most of her married life either pregnant or nursing.
- Anne bore 12 offspring, including two stillbirths.
- Donne’s wife died after giving birth of the 12th child.
- In 1593, John Donne’s brother, Henry, was convicted of Catholic sympathies and died of a fever in prison.
- Critics place Donne, along with the English poets George Herbert, Henry Vaughan, and Richard Crashaw, in the metaphysical school of poets.
- Donne’s greatness as a poet was not acclaimed until the 20th century.
- T.S. Eliot and William Butler Yeats did much to establish him as a great metaphysical poet.
- After his wife’s death Donne quit writing love poems and concentrated more on religious subjects.
- Donne was educated at home by Roman Catholic tutors until he was twelve years old.
- In 1615 Donne was ordained a priest.
- Although it is much debated how Donne died, many believed that he suffered from stomach cancer.
References
“John Donne.” Bio. 2015. A&E Television Networks. 6 April 2015
<http://www.biography.com/people/john-donne-9277090#profile>.
<http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/John_Donne.aspx>.
<http://www.notablebiographies.com/De-Du/Donne-John.html>.
<http://biography.yourdictionary.com/john-donne>.
