The Canonization by John Donne: Metaphysical Poetry, Wit, Saint Imagery, Conceits, and Immortal Love Explained
Q. Define Metaphysical poetry with reference to “The Canonization”.
Answer: Metaphysical poetry is an important poetic stream of the seventeenth
century. In this school of poetry, poetry is not just an expression of
emotions. Deep thinking and intelligence is used in this. In this type of
poetry, serious topics like love, soul, religion, God and life are considered.
Metaphysical poets resort to unique imaginations and logic to express their
ideas. John Donne is considered the most prominent poet of this school of
poetry.
John Donne's poem “The Canonization” is an excellent example of
metaphysical poetry. In this poem the poet does not consider love as an
ordinary human emotion. He presents love as a spiritual and sacred experience.
The poet rejects criticism of the society. He says that whatever is said to the
lovers, it has no effect on their love. This idea reflects metaphysical
thinking.
A beautiful combination of intellect and emotion is visible in this
poem. The poet justifies his love through logic. He shows that his love does
not harm anyone. This argumentative style is a main characteristic of
metaphysical poetry. Contradiction is also visible in the poem. Worldly love
has been raised to a religious level. The lovers are depicted as saints. This
is an example of awful imagination.
Metaphysical concepts are used in the poem, “The Canonization”. The poet
compares lovers to saints. He considers love as a type of worship. This gives
love a sacred and immortal form. Symbols and images also have deep meaning in
poetry. All these elements make metaphysical poetry special.
In the end it can be said that “The Canonization” contains all the main
characteristics of metaphysical poetry. There is deep thinking in this. There
is a balance of intellect and emotion. It uses unique imagination and logic.
For this reason this poem is considered an excellent example of metaphysical
poetry.
Q. What is ‘wit’ in Donne’s poetry? Explain with reference to the poem, “The Canonization”?
Answer: In John Donne's poetry, wit means deep intelligence and shocking
thought. This is not common sense. This is an idea that forces the reader to
think. Donne uses logic along with emotions in his poetry. They present topics
like love, religion and life in a new and unique way. His wit makes the poem
intellectual and impressive.
Donne's wit is clearly visible in the poem “The Canonization”. In this
poem the poet talks to those who criticize his love. He argues that his love
does not harm anyone. He asks if anyone has lost his job or his property has
decreased due to his love. This argumentative style reflects Donne's wit. He
combines emotions with logic.
Donne's greatest wit in this poem is to raise love to the level of
religion. He compares the lovers to saints. This is a very unique and shocking
idea. Generally saints worship God. But Donne turns love into devotion. The
fact, that the lovers were “canonized” as saints, is a testament to his sharp
wit.
Donne's wit is also visible in metaphysical concepts. He associates love
with the candle and the butterfly. The butterfly is attracted to the candle and
gets burnt. This example shows sacrifice in love. Similarly, the poet also
connects the lovers with the phoenix bird, which burns and comes back to life.
It shows the immortality of love.
Thus, Donne's wit in “The Canonization” is a beautiful blend of wit,
logic, and imagination. This wit gives deeper meaning to the poem. It inspires
the reader not only to feel, but also to think. Therefore Donne's wit is
considered the most important feature of metaphysical poetry.
Q. Explain the line: “Call us what you will, we are made such by love.”
Answer: The line “Call us what you will, we are made such by love.” There is a
very important line from John Donne's poem “The Canonization”. In this line the
poet clarifies his viewpoint towards the criticism of the society. The poet
says that people can name lovers whatever they want. They may also call them
crazy, stupid or anti-social. But these things have no effect on the lovers.
The main meaning of this line is that love has created the identity of
the lovers. They are as love has made them. His personality is made of love
only. Society's opinion does not matter to them. The poet believes that true
love is above external criticism. Therefore lovers do not need any
purification.
Donne's confidence is also visible in this line. The poet completely
believes in his love. He believes that love is a powerful and sacred emotion.
This feeling has changed him internally. Now they have become different and
special because of their love. This change is permanent.
This line also reflects metaphysical thinking. The poet uses logic along
with emotions. He does not oppose directly. He says calmly that no matter what
name one gives, the truth will not change. The power of love is greater than
any criticism.
Freedom of love is also visible in this line. Love is not bound by any
social rules. Love makes its own rules. The poet wants to tell that true love
is related to the soul. Therefore external things cannot influence him.
In the end it can be said that this line shows the greatness of love. It
shows that love gives identity, self-respect and stability. What love has made
of lovers is their true identity.
Q. What is the significance of saint imagery in the poem?
Answer: Saint imagery has a very deep and special significance in John Donne's
poem “The Canonization”. In this poem, the poet raises his love and his
beloved's love to a religious level. He compares the lovers to saints.
Generally saints are those who dedicate their life to the devotion of God.
Donne shows lovers to be similarly devoted. This gives love a sacred and great
form.
In this poem the poet says that even if the society separates them, they
can live only in their love. Just as saints do penance by separating themselves
from the world, similarly lovers also live in the world of their love. The
saint imagery here shows the depth of love. Love is not just physical
attraction. It is a spiritual and spiritual experience.
Another significance of Saint imagery is that it gives respect and
permanence to love. Saints are worshipped. People remember his life. Similarly,
the poet wants that the love of lovers should also be remembered. The poem
itself becomes a kind of religious text, in which the story of love is
preserved. In this way love becomes immortal.
The use of the word “canonization” in the poem is very important.
Canonization means declaring someone a saint. By saying this, the poet gives
the highest place to love. He shows that true love can be as pure as religion.
This idea was very new and bold for the society of that time.
Saint imagery also protects lovers from social criticism. The poet wants
to show that their love is not a sin. This is a sacred work. Just as saints are
not to be criticized, lovers too should not be criticized.
In conclusion it can be said that the saint imagery in “The Canonization”
spiritualizes love. It gives respect, purity and immortality to love. This is
the main importance of this imagery.
Q. Mention two metaphysical conceits used in “The Canonization”.
Answer: John Donne's poem “The Canonization” makes very effective use of
metaphysical concepts. Metaphysical concept means making a deep and unique
comparison of two very different things. Such comparison is not ordinary. It is
based on both intelligence and imagination. Donne presents his love at a higher
level through these concepts.
The first important metaphysical concept of this poem is to compare the
lovers to saints. Generally saints worship God and stay away from the world.
Donne also shows lovers as saints. He says that the life of lovers is also full
of sacrifice and dedication. His love is his worship. This comparison is very
unique, because worldly love is linked with religious piety. Through this
concept the poet proves love to be sacred, great and spiritual.
The second major metaphysical conceit is the image of the phoenix bird.
The poet compares lovers to the phoenix bird. Phoenix is a mythological bird,
which gets destroyed by burning and then gets new life from its ashes. Donne
says that lovers are also like this. They become completely absorbed in each
other in love. Their individual existence ceases to exist. But their love does
not die. He becomes even stronger and survives. The immortality of love has
been shown through this concept.
A beautiful combination of intellect and imagination is visible in both
these metaphysical concepts. These comparisons surprise the reader. It elevates
love above ordinary feelings. This makes the poem deep and impressive.
In the end it can be said that the metaphysical concepts in “The
Canonization” are the soul of the poem. These conceits clearly reflect Donne's
intelligence and metaphysical style.
Q. How is love shown as immortal in the poem, “The Canonization”?
Answer: Love has been immortalized in John Donne's poem “The Canonization”. The
poet shows that true love is above time and death. Love is not limited to the
body only. It is connected to the soul. That's why it never ends. Love is shown
in the poem as an enduring and great force.
The poet says that even if the lovers are separated from the world,
their love will still live on. They can experience the whole world even in a
small room. This shows that love does not need external things. Love is
complete in itself. This brings out the stability and depth of love.
The example of the Phoenix bird is very important in the poem. The
phoenix is destroyed by burning and then gains new life from its ashes. The
poet compares the lovers to phoenixes. He shows that in love the lovers lose
their old existence. But their love does not die. He comes alive again in a new
form. This makes the immortality of love clear.
The role of poetry is also important in making love immortal. The poet
believes that their love story will live on through poetry. Just as the stories
of saints are read from generation to generation, the story of lovers will also
be read. Thus love becomes immortal through words.
The poet also presents the lovers as saints. People remember and respect
saints. In the same way, the love of lovers also becomes able to worship.
People will consider their love as ideal. This gives stability to love.
In the end it can be said that in “The Canonization” love is shown above
death, time and society. Love has been proven immortal through poetry, symbols
and imagination.
Read also: 🔎
👉The Canonization by John Donne - Short Questions and Answers
👉 The Canonization- dramatic situation represented by John Donne
👉 The Canonization as a Metaphysical Love Poem