A Valediction Forbidden Mourning vs Love Poem Essay Example
Two poems, "A Valediction Forbidden Mourning" by John Donne and "Love Poem" by Elizabeth Jennings, discuss the topic of love, but each offers a unique perspective. While both writers draw upon personal experience, their distinct approaches and styles make their works markedly different. Donne employs a regular ab, ab rhyme scheme that connotes clarity of thought and a sense of calm gained from experience.
The theme of the poem is the celebration of love and how it can overcome long periods of separation. Donne uses the metaphor of two souls being united as one to assert that love is more powerful than anything, even death. In contrast, Elizabeth Jennings believes that love can be painful and unpredictable, as expressed in the line "In all true feelings that we find and every shaking of the heart...". Nevertheless, both poets emphasize the kindness of
...love with the recurring phrase "O love is kind, O love is kind" in each stanza.
Elizabeth Jennings expresses uncertainty about herself and love in her poem through an irregular rhyme scheme and a lack of personal detail. Unlike John Donne's specific descriptions, Jennings discusses love in a more general sense, opting for third person singular throughout the poem.
While the topic of shyness is addressed in one text, Donne elaborates on his personal experiences related to behavior, emotions and longing with his partner in the other.
Although Jennings also writes about love, her descriptions are lacking in depth compared to Donne. It is possible that this is because Jennings never experienced profound love herself. She tends to speak about love in very general terms, using words like "shyness." In contrast, Donne has a deep understanding
and first-hand experience of the many emotions associated with love. He articulates these complex feelings with precision and detail, without explicitly stating them. For Donne, love is an enigmatic puzzle that must be solved with unwavering confidence.
Donne is a man who accepts his and his partner's fate without question, believing that they will always remain together regardless of the circumstances. He contends that their love is unparalleled and superior to all other forms of love, possessing the strength to endure prolonged separations. In this poem, Donne likens the separation of lovers to death: "As virtuous men pass mildly away...".
In this passage, the author discusses the physical and emotional anguish experienced by a couple when one of them passes away. Despite this separation, the author argues that their souls remain united, proving the supremacy of their love. Jennings' poem further exemplifies the power of love, suggesting that it can blind a person to physical appearance as long as they remember the personality driving their passion. Ultimately, both authors celebrate the beauty of love, with Jennings declaring "O love is kind, o love is kind."
According to John Donne, the love he shares with his partner is of a higher caliber than that of others. He believes that their love is a fusion of souls, which sets it apart from the love of sublunary couples who rely solely on feelings and senses. Furthermore, Donne asserts that their love can endure long periods of separation, whereas the love of others cannot, as it is dependent on physical presence. He concludes that for other lovers, the absence of physical contact causes a removal of the very thing that created their
love. Donne also maintains that the love of other couples is more grounded in a physical connection and less of a psychological one. He notes that these lovers will miss each other's eyes, lips, and hands when separated.
"The cause of people mourning at their lover's death," is acknowledged, but Donne does not admit to mourning because he believes the separation is temporary: "No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move." Donne and his lover understand that true love means separation is only temporary, making their love superior. While Donne speaks of the beauty and pleasure in his love life, Elizabeth Jennings describes the pain she has endured. She employs run-on lines to emphasize the depth of her suffering.
The poet portrays love as capricious, subject to unmanageable alterations. Jennings further conveys the idea that agony is unavoidable as the connection between her and her significant other persisted, and that her suffering intensified over time. She writes, "That there should still remain the first sweetness, also the later thirst-this is why pain must play some part..."
John Donne uses a metaphor in his poem to describe the strength and superiority of his love by comparing it to a precious metal - gold. Although gold is a brittle material, it is also unbreakable. This indicates that their love is unbreakable, even though separation may be possible, just as gold can be beaten into long, thin pieces: "Like gold to early thinness beat." Thus, Donne illustrates the robustness and excellence of their love.
In the poem, Donne uses the metaphor of twin compasses to describe his relationship with his lover. He quotes, "As stiff twin compasses are two", and goes on to explain that
his soul is like the fixed foot of the compass and appears motionless, while his lover's soul moves in tandem. Donne compares the joint at the top of the compass to the connection between two souls, referencing his own connection with his lover.
Donne emphasizes the inseparability of two souls, likening it to the relationship between moving legs. Meanwhile, Jennings advocates for discretion and secrecy in love, noting that this makes it more significant. She believes that genuine love exists when it is held in doubt. Despite past struggles, Jennings remains a believer in love and celebrates its peaceful and gentle nature.
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