Introduction: “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
“On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson first appeared in 1616 in his collection titled Epigrams is an elegy, mourning the death of Jonson’s six-month-old daughter, Mary. Despite its brevity, the poem encapsulates a father’s profound grief and an attempt to reconcile with the loss through religious faith. The poem’s qualities lie in its simplicity, sincerity, and restrained emotion. Jonson employs straightforward language and vivid imagery to express his sorrow, making the poem universally relatable to anyone who has experienced loss. While the poem acknowledges the pain of losing a child, it also finds solace in the belief that Mary’s innocence has ensured her a place in heaven. This blend of grief and acceptance makes “On My First Daughter” a timeless reflection on mortality and faith.
Text: “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
Here lies, to each her parents’ ruth,
Mary, the daughter of their youth;
Yet all heaven’s gifts being heaven’s due,
It makes the father less to rue.
At six months’ end she parted hence
With safety of her innocence;
Whose soul heaven’s queen, whose name she bears,
In comfort of her mother’s tears,
Hath placed amongst her virgin-train:
Where, while that severed doth remain,
This grave partakes the fleshly birth;
Which cover lightly, gentle earth!
Annotations: “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
| Text | Annotation |
| Here lies, to each her parents’ ruth, | The speaker announces the burial of his daughter, expressing the grief (‘ruth’) of both parents. |
| Mary, the daughter of their youth; | He names his daughter, Mary, born during their youthful years. |
| Yet all heaven’s gifts being heaven’s due, | Despite the loss, he acknowledges that all blessings belong to heaven, emphasizing divine providence. |
| It makes the father less to rue. | This belief lessens the father’s sorrow (‘rue’) over her death, as he trusts in heavenly justice. |
| At six months’ end she parted hence | She passed away at the age of six months. |
| With safety of her innocence; | Her innocence ensured her safe passage to heaven. |
| Whose soul heaven’s queen, whose name she bears, | Her soul is with the Virgin Mary (‘heaven’s queen’), after whom she is named. |
| In comfort of her mother’s tears, | The mother finds solace in tears shed for her daughter. |
| Hath placed amongst her virgin-train: | Her soul is placed among the Virgin Mary’s companions (virgin-train), suggesting a blessed afterlife. |
| Where, while that severed doth remain, | As long as her physical remains (‘that severed’) are here, |
| This grave partakes the fleshly birth; | This grave holds her earthly body. |
| Which cover lightly, gentle earth! | He asks the earth to cover her gently. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
| Device | Example | Explanation |
| Allusion | “heaven’s queen” | Reference to the Virgin Mary |
| Amplification | “all heaven’s gifts” | Emphasis through exaggeration |
| Anthropomorphism | “heaven’s queen” | Attributing human qualities to a non-human entity |
| Assonance | “youth” and “ruth” | Repetition of vowel sounds |
| Enjambment | Lines 1-2 | Sentence or phrase continuing into the next line without punctuation |
| Euphemism | “parted hence” | Mild or indirect word for death |
| Hyperbole | “all heaven’s gifts” | Exaggeration for emphasis |
| Imagery | “gentle earth” | Vivid description to create a mental image |
| Irony | “less to rue” | Contrast between expected and actual meaning |
| Juxtaposition | “youth” and “ruth” | Placing contrasting ideas side by side |
| Metaphor | “heaven’s gifts” | Comparing two unlike things without “like” or “as” |
| Meter | Entire poem | Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables |
| Personification | “gentle earth” | Attributing human qualities to a non-human entity |
| Repetition | “heaven’s” | Repeating a word or phrase for emphasis |
| Rhyme | “youth” and “ruth” | Similar sounds in words |
| Symbolism | “six months’ end” | Using an object to represent an abstract idea |
| Synecdoche | “heaven’s queen” | Using a part to represent the whole |
| Understatement | “less to rue” | Downplaying the significance of something |
Themes: “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
- Loss and Grief: The poem opens with a direct declaration of loss, “Here lies…”, immediately establishing the theme of death and mourning. The phrase “each her parents’ ruth” emphasizes the shared grief of both parents, highlighting the universality of the experience of losing a child. Jonson’s raw expression of sorrow humanizes him, making his grief palpable to the reader.
- Faith and Acceptance: While the poem acknowledges the pain of loss, it also seeks solace in religious faith. The line “Yet all heaven’s gifts being heaven’s due” suggests an acceptance of God’s will. The reference to “heaven’s queen” (the Virgin Mary) and the belief that Mary’s soul has joined the “virgin-train” in heaven offers comfort and a sense of hope amidst the sorrow.
- Innocence and Purity: Mary’s young age (six months) and her “safety of innocence” are emphasized, creating a poignant contrast between the purity of childhood and the harsh reality of death. This theme also resonates with Christian beliefs about the innocence of children and their assured place in heaven. The imagery of Mary’s soul being placed amongst virgins further reinforces the theme of purity.
- Transience of Life and Physicality: The closing lines, “Where, while that severed doth remain, This grave partakes the fleshly birth; Which cover lightly, gentle earth!” touch upon the transient nature of earthly existence. The separation of body and soul is acknowledged, with the grave holding only the “fleshly birth.” The plea to the earth to “cover lightly” suggests a tenderness towards the physical remains and a recognition of the fleeting nature of material life.
Literary Theories and “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
This theory focuses on the unconscious desires and anxieties of the author. In “On My First Daughter,” Jonson’s grief and attempt to reconcile with the loss of his child can be viewed through a psychoanalytic lens. The poem’s emotional restraint and focus on the child’s innocence (“…that can sin no more”) might reflect a defense mechanism against overwhelming grief. Additionally, the final lines (“Rest in soft peace, and, ask’d, say here doth lie/Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry”) could be interpreted as an unconscious attempt to immortalize his daughter through his art, thereby mitigating the pain of her loss.
This theory emphasizes the reader’s personal interpretation and emotional response to a text. “On My First Daughter” can evoke a range of emotions in readers, from empathy and sorrow to contemplation of their own mortality. The poem’s simple language and direct address (“Here lies…”) invite readers to connect with the universal experience of grief. The concluding lines, where Jonson refers to his daughter as his “best piece of poetry,” can prompt readers to reflect on the profound love between parent and child, as well as the lasting impact of loss.
3. Historical-Biographical Criticism:
This theory examines a text within the context of the author’s life and historical period. Jonson wrote “On My First Daughter” after the death of his first child, Mary, at the age of six months. Understanding this biographical context sheds light on the poem’s emotional weight and the cultural norms surrounding death and mourning in 17th-century England. The poem’s form, an epitaph, was a common genre for memorializing the deceased, and Jonson’s adherence to its conventions demonstrates his engagement with contemporary literary traditions.
Topics, Questions, and Thesis Statements about “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
| Topic | Question | Thesis Statement |
| Parental Grief and Consolation | How does Jonson explore the complex emotions of parental grief and find consolation in the face of loss? | In “On My First Daughter,” Ben Jonson navigates the depths of parental grief through a poignant elegy, seeking solace in religious faith and the belief in his daughter’s innocent soul’s ascension to heaven. |
| Religious Faith and Acceptance of God’s Will | What role does religious faith play in Jonson’s acceptance of his daughter’s death? | Jonson’s Christian faith serves as a cornerstone in his acceptance of his daughter’s death, offering him solace and hope in the face of immense grief. |
| Innocence and Purity of Childhood | How does Jonson depict the innocence and purity of childhood in the poem? | Jonson accentuates the innocence and purity of childhood by emphasizing his daughter’s young age and associating her with the Virgin Mary, highlighting the Christian belief in the assured salvation of innocent souls. |
| Transience of Life and Physicality | How does Jonson address the transient nature of earthly existence and the separation of body and soul? | Jonson grapples with the transient nature of life and the separation of body and soul by acknowledging the physicality of death and the belief in the soul’s immortal journey to the afterlife. |
Critical Questions about “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
- What does the poem reveal about the speaker’s relationship with their daughter, and how does this impact their grief?
- The poem reveals a deep emotional connection between the speaker and their daughter, as evident in the use of phrases like “her parents’ ruth” (l. 1) and “her mother’s tears” (l. 5), which suggest a strong bond between the family members. This connection makes the speaker’s grief more poignant, as they mourn the loss of their child. The speaker’s use of possessive pronouns like “her” and “hence” also emphasizes their close relationship, implying a sense of ownership and responsibility. This emotional connection makes the poem more intimate and personal, allowing the reader to share in the speaker’s sorrow.
- How does the poem use religious imagery to cope with mortality, and what does this say about the speaker’s beliefs?
- The poem employs religious imagery to cope with mortality, invoking “heaven’s queen” (l. 3) and “heaven’s gifts” (l. 3), which suggests that the speaker believes in an afterlife and a higher power. This belief provides comfort in the face of loss, as the speaker seems to trust that their daughter is in a better place, safe from harm. The use of religious imagery also implies that the speaker finds solace in their faith, which helps them to accept their daughter’s death. The speaker’s beliefs appear to be rooted in Christianity, as they reference the Virgin Mary as “heaven’s queen”, indicating a deep respect for religious figures and ideals.
- What role does the poem’s structure and meter play in conveying the speaker’s emotions, and how effective is this in evoking a response from the reader?
- The poem’s structure and meter play a significant role in conveying the speaker’s emotions, as the short lines and simple meter create a sense of simplicity and directness. This simplicity belies the complexity of the speaker’s emotions, making the poem more powerful and relatable. The use of a consistent rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter adds to the poem’s musicality, creating a sense of rhythm that echoes the speaker’s sorrow. The structure and meter are effective in evoking a response from the reader, as they create a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, drawing the reader into the speaker’s emotional world.
- How does the poem balance the contrast between life and death, and what message do you think the speaker is trying to convey through this contrast?
- The poem balances the contrast between life and death by presenting death as a preservation of purity, rather than an end. The speaker notes that the daughter “parted hence / With safety of her innocence” (ll. 5-6), suggesting that death can be a safeguard against corruption or harm. The image of the “gentle earth” (l. 10) that covers her body also emphasizes the idea that death can be a gentle and peaceful transition. The speaker seems to convey that life and death are not mutually exclusive, but rather interconnected, and that death can be a natural part of life’s journey. This message is both comforting and thought-provoking, encouraging the reader to reevaluate their own beliefs about mortality.
Literary Works Similar to “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
- “On My First Son” by Ben Jonson: Both poems by Jonson explore the theme of parental grief and loss, reflecting on the death of a child and finding solace in spiritual beliefs.
- “Lycidas” by John Milton: Like Jonson’s poem, “Lycidas” mourns the death of a loved one—in this case, a friend (Edward King)—and reflects on themes of mortality and the afterlife.
- “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” by Thomas Gray: Gray’s elegy meditates on death and the passage of time, contemplating the lives of ordinary people buried in a churchyard, much like Jonson’s reflection on his daughter’s grave.
- “To the Memory of My Beloved, the Author, Mr. William Shakespeare” by Ben Jonson: This poem by Jonson also mourns the loss of a loved one (William Shakespeare), honoring the deceased with emotional depth and reverence.
- “Death, Be Not Proud” by John Donne: Donne’s sonnet challenges the power of death and explores themes of spiritual resilience, echoing Jonson’s exploration of grief and faith in “On My First Daughter.”
Suggested Readings: “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
- Cain, Tom. Ben Jonson and the Roman Frame of Mind. Bucknell University Press, 1991.
- Donaldson, Ian. Ben Jonson: A Life. Oxford University Press, 2011.
- “Ben Jonson.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/ben-jonson
- “On My First Daughter.” Academy of American Poets, poets.org/poem/my-first-daughter
- “Ben Jonson.” Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature, www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/jonson/jonsonbio.html
Representative Quotations of “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective (in bold) |
| “Here lies, to each her parents’ ruth,” | The speaker begins the elegy by addressing his deceased daughter, referring to the grief her death has caused her parents. | Apostrophe: The speaker addresses someone who is not present, in this case, his deceased daughter. |
| “Yet all heaven’s gifts being heaven’s due,” | The speaker reflects on the transience of life and the idea that everything given by heaven is eventually taken back. | Religious fatalism: The speaker accepts the idea that his daughter’s death is part of a larger divine plan. |
| “At six months’ end she parted hence With safety of her innocence;” | The speaker reveals that his daughter died at six months old, but was spared the pain and corruption of life. | Symbolism: The daughter’s “innocence” symbolizes her purity and untainted nature. |
| “Whose soul heaven’s queen, whose name she bears, Hath placed amongst her virgin-train:” | The speaker believes that his daughter’s soul has been taken in by the Virgin Mary and placed among her companions. | Allusion: The reference to the Virgin Mary alludes to the Christian belief in her as the protector of children and the innocent. |
| “Which cover lightly, gentle earth!” | The speaker asks the earth to gently cover his daughter’s body, implying a desire for her to be reborn. | Imagery: The use of “gentle earth” creates a vivid image of the speaker’s desire for a peaceful and serene burial. |