Introduction: “The Canonization” by John Donne
“The Canonization” by John Donne first appeared in 1633 in the posthumously published collection Songs and Sonnets. The poem exemplifies the key qualities of metaphysical poetry, a genre Donne is considered a master of. It is characterized by its intellectual wit, intricate conceits, and unconventional use of language and imagery. The poem explores the theme of love with a unique blend of passion and erudition, comparing the speaker’s love to the process of canonization, thus elevating it to a spiritual experience. The poem’s clever use of paradoxes and argumentative tone further showcases Donne’s distinctive poetic style.
Text: “The Canonization” by John Donne
For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love,
Or chide my palsy, or my gout,
My five gray hairs, or ruined fortune flout,
With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve,
Take you a course, get you a place,
Observe his honor, or his grace,
Or the king’s real, or his stampèd face
Contemplate; what you will, approve,
So you will let me love.
Alas, alas, who’s injured by my love?
What merchant’s ships have my sighs drowned?
Who says my tears have overflowed his ground?
When did my colds a forward spring remove?
When did the heats which my veins fill
Add one more to the plaguy bill?
Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still
Litigious men, which quarrels move,
Though she and I do love.
Call us what you will, we are made such by love;
Call her one, me another fly,
We’re tapers too, and at our own cost die,
And we in us find the eagle and the dove.
The phoenix riddle hath more wit
By us; we two being one, are it.
So, to one neutral thing both sexes fit.
We die and rise the same, and prove
Mysterious by this love.
We can die by it, if not live by love,
And if unfit for tombs and hearse
Our legend be, it will be fit for verse;
And if no piece of chronicle we prove,
We’ll build in sonnets pretty rooms;
As well a well-wrought urn becomes
The greatest ashes, as half-acre tombs,
And by these hymns, all shall approve
Us canonized for Love.
And thus invoke us: “You, whom reverend love
Made one another’s hermitage;
You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;
Who did the whole world’s soul contract, and drove
Into the glasses of your eyes
(So made such mirrors, and such spies,
That they did all to you epitomize)
Countries, towns, courts: beg from above
A pattern of your love!”
Annotations: “The Canonization” by John Donne
| Line | Annotation |
| For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love, | The speaker implores others to stop criticizing him and allow him to love. |
| Or chide my palsy, or my gout, | He suggests they criticize his physical ailments instead of his love. |
| My five gray hairs, or ruined fortune flout, | He lists his old age and financial ruin as alternative targets for their scorn. |
| With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve, | He advises them to focus on their wealth and intellectual pursuits. |
| Take you a course, get you a place, | He encourages them to follow a career path or gain a position of status. |
| Observe his honor, or his grace, | He suggests they admire someone’s honor or favor. |
| Or the king’s real, or his stampèd face | He tells them to contemplate the king’s rule or his coinage. |
| Contemplate; what you will, approve, | He gives them the freedom to approve of whatever they wish. |
| So you will let me love. | He asks only that they allow him to love in peace. |
| Alas, alas, who’s injured by my love? | The speaker questions who is harmed by his love. |
| What merchant’s ships have my sighs drowned? | He rhetorically asks if his sighs have caused any merchant ships to sink. |
| Who says my tears have overflowed his ground? | He wonders if his tears have flooded anyone’s land. |
| When did my colds a forward spring remove? | He questions if his coldness has delayed the arrival of spring. |
| When did the heats which my veins fill | He asks if the heat of his passion has caused illness. |
| Add one more to the plaguy bill? | He inquires if his passion has contributed to the plague. |
| Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still | He states that soldiers and lawyers will always have conflicts to occupy them. |
| Litigious men, which quarrels move, | He notes that contentious men will always find reasons to argue. |
| Though she and I do love. | Despite all this, he and his lover continue to love. |
| Call us what you will, we are made such by love; | He acknowledges that love defines their identity. |
| Call her one, me another fly, | He compares them to flies, ephemeral and insignificant. |
| We’re tapers too, and at our own cost die, | They are like candles, burning out for their own love. |
| And we in us find the eagle and the dove. | Their love encompasses both strength (eagle) and peace (dove). |
| The phoenix riddle hath more wit | He alludes to the mythological phoenix, a symbol of rebirth. |
| By us; we two being one, are it. | Their union makes them like the phoenix, a single entity. |
| So, to one neutral thing both sexes fit. | Their love transcends gender, making them a unified whole. |
| We die and rise the same, and prove | Their love makes them eternal, dying and rising together. |
| Mysterious by this love. | Their love is mysterious and profound. |
| We can die by it, if not live by love, | They are willing to die for their love if they cannot live by it. |
| And if unfit for tombs and hearse | If their love is not commemorated in physical tombs, |
| Our legend be, it will be fit for verse; | Their love will live on in poetry. |
| And if no piece of chronicle we prove, | Even if they are not recorded in history, |
| We’ll build in sonnets pretty rooms; | Their love will be immortalized in sonnets. |
| As well a well-wrought urn becomes | A well-crafted urn is as fitting for great ashes |
| The greatest ashes, as half-acre tombs, | As large tombs are. |
| And by these hymns, all shall approve | Through these poems, everyone will recognize |
| Us canonized for Love. | Them as saints of love. |
| And thus invoke us: “You, whom reverend love | People will invoke them as exemplars of sacred love. |
| Made one another’s hermitage; | Their love made them each other’s refuge. |
| You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage; | Their love, once peaceful, has become passionate. |
| Who did the whole world’s soul contract, and drove | Their love encompassed the entire world’s essence. |
| Into the glasses of your eyes | This essence was reflected in their eyes. |
| (So made such mirrors, and such spies, | Their eyes became mirrors and spies, observing everything. |
| That they did all to you epitomize) | Their eyes summarized the entire world. |
| Countries, towns, courts: beg from above | They represented countries, towns, and courts, asking for |
| A pattern of your love!” | A model of their love from above. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Canonization” by John Donne
| Literary/Poetic Device | Definition | Example from “The Canonization” | Explanation |
| Alliteration | Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words | “five gray hairs” | Emphasizes the speaker’s old age and weariness. |
| Anaphora | Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses | “When did my colds a forward spring remove? When did the heats which my veins fill…” | Creates a rhetorical effect, emphasizing the speaker’s defiance of conventional complaints. |
| Apostrophe | Addressing an absent person or abstract idea | “For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love” | The speaker directly addresses the person criticizing their love. |
| Assonance | Repetition of vowel sounds within words | “injured by my love” | Creates a musical effect, reinforcing the emotional intensity of the speaker’s love. |
| Conceit | An extended metaphor with a complex logic | Comparing love to canonization | The entire poem is built on this central conceit, elevating love to a spiritual experience. |
| Consonance | Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words | “drowned ground“ | Creates a sonic effect, emphasizing the speaker’s melancholic tone. |
| Enjambment | Continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next | “Contemplate; what you will, approve, / So you will let me love.” | Creates a sense of urgency and continuity in the speaker’s plea. |
| Hyperbole | Exaggeration for emphasis or effect | “What merchant’s ships have my sighs drowned?” | Exaggerates the power of the speaker’s emotions to defy any criticism. |
| Imagery | Use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas | “We’re tapers too, and at our own cost die” | Creates a visual image of lovers as candles, burning themselves out for love. |
| Irony | Expression of something that is contrary to the intended meaning | “Alas, alas, who’s injured by my love?” | The speaker ironically questions the harm caused by their love when it’s a source of fulfillment. |
| Metaphor | A comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as” | “We in us find the eagle and the dove” | Compares the lovers to both a predator and a symbol of peace, suggesting the complexity of their love. |
| Metonymy | Substitution of one word for another closely associated with it | “the king’s real, or his stampèd face” | Refers to the king’s coin (face stamped on it) instead of the king himself, emphasizing the triviality of worldly concerns compared to love. |
| Paradox | A seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a hidden truth | “We die and rise the same, and prove / Mysterious by this love” | Suggests that love is a transformative experience, leading to both death (of the individual self) and rebirth (as a united entity). |
| Personification | Attribution of human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas | “Soldiers find wars, and lawyers find out still / Litigious men, which quarrels move” | Suggests that war and litigation are inherent tendencies in certain professions, as opposed to being caused by love. |
| Pun | Play on words with similar sounds but different meanings | “We’ll build in sonnets pretty rooms” | Refers to both physical rooms and the structure of sonnets, highlighting the power of poetry to immortalize love. |
| Rhetorical question | A question asked for effect, not requiring an answer | “Who says my tears have overflowed his ground?” | Challenges the critics of the speaker’s love to provide evidence of any harm caused. |
| Rhyme scheme | The pattern of end rhymes in a poem | ABBA CDDC, etc. | Creates a musical effect and structural unity. |
| Simile | A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as” | “Call her one, me another fly” | Compares the lovers to flies, suggesting their insignificance in the eyes of their critics. |
| Symbolism | Use of objects or images to represent abstract ideas | The phoenix | Represents the transformative power of love, leading to death and rebirth. |
| Volta | A turn or shift in thought or emotion in a poem | Beginning of the fourth stanza (“We can die by it, if not live by love”) | Shifts from defending love to contemplating its immortality through poetry and legacy. |
Themes: “The Canonization” by John Donne
- Transcendence of Love: The poem centrally focuses on the idea that love transcends the mundane and elevates the lovers to a higher plane of existence. The speaker dismisses worldly concerns like wealth, social status, and political affairs as trivial compared to the intensity and depth of their love. “For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love,” the speaker pleads, indicating that love is a divine force that surpasses all earthly pursuits. The comparison of their love to the phoenix, a mythical bird reborn from its ashes, suggests a transformative power that defies death and decay.
- Love as a Religious Experience: Donne cleverly employs religious imagery and vocabulary to elevate love to the status of a spiritual devotion. The title itself, “The Canonization,” alludes to the process of declaring someone a saint, implying that the lovers’ devotion to each other is akin to religious piety. The speaker invokes a prayer-like tone in the final stanza, asking for blessings from above and envisioning their love as a model for others to follow. This religious framing of love challenges conventional notions and presents it as a path to spiritual fulfillment.
- Love’s Power to Defy Social Norms: The speaker fiercely defends their unconventional love against societal expectations and criticism. They reject the idea that love should conform to societal norms or be judged by its impact on others. “Alas, alas, who’s injured by my love?” the speaker retorts, dismissing the idea that their love is harmful or disruptive. This defiant stance celebrates love’s ability to transcend societal constraints and validate individual experiences.
- Immortality through Love and Poetry: The poem explores the idea that love can achieve immortality through poetry and artistic expression. The speaker envisions their love being commemorated in verse, becoming a legendary tale for future generations. “We’ll build in sonnets pretty rooms,” the speaker declares, suggesting that poetry can create a lasting monument for their love. This theme not only highlights the power of art to preserve human experiences but also underscores the speaker’s confidence in the enduring nature of their love.
Literary Theories and “The Canonization” by John Donne
| Literary Theory | Analysis | References from the Poem | Critiques |
| New Criticism | Focuses on the text itself, its formal elements, and its unity and complexity. Analyzes imagery, symbolism, and paradoxes in the poem. | – “Call us what you will, we are made such by love;” – The poem’s use of metaphors like “tapers,” “eagle and the dove,” and “phoenix” symbolizes the transformative and mystical nature of love. | Critics highlight the intricate use of metaphysical conceits and paradoxes in Donne’s poetry, emphasizing the intellectual rigor and emotional depth in “The Canonization” (Brooks, 1947). |
| Psychoanalytic Criticism | Explores the psychological dimensions of the poem, examining the speaker’s emotions and unconscious desires. | – “For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love,” – The intense desire for love despite societal criticism indicates a deep psychological need for connection and acceptance. | Psychoanalytic readings suggest that Donne’s depiction of love reflects both an assertion of personal identity and a rebellion against social constraints (Freud, 1910). |
| Historical/Biographical Criticism | Considers the historical context and Donne’s personal life, particularly his secret marriage and the impact of this on his work. | – “And by these hymns, all shall approve / Us canonized for Love.” – Reflects Donne’s defiance of societal norms and the legitimization of his love despite external opposition. | Historical critics argue that Donne’s poetry, including “The Canonization,” mirrors his personal experiences and the broader societal tensions of his time, particularly regarding issues of marriage and social status (Marotti, 1986). |
Critical Questions about “The Canonization” by John Donne
- Question: How does Donne’s paradoxical portrayal of love in “The Canonization” raise questions about the relationship between the erotic and the spiritual?
- Answer: In “The Canonization,” Donne masterfully intertwines the sacred and the profane, raising profound questions about the nature of love and its dualities. While the poem’s title and central conceit allude to the process of declaring someone a saint, implying a spiritual elevation of love, Donne simultaneously employs sensual imagery. References to “tapers” burning and the mythical “phoenix riddle,” suggestive of sexual union and rebirth, infuse the poem with erotic undertones. This juxtaposition creates an intriguing tension, prompting readers to contemplate whether Donne is advocating for a fusion of the sacred and the profane. Is he suggesting that passionate, earthly love can serve as a pathway to spiritual enlightenment? Or is he subtly critiquing religious dogma for its potential limitations in understanding the complex and multifaceted nature of human love, which encompasses both the physical and the spiritual? The poem’s ambiguity invites diverse interpretations, enriching its exploration of love’s dualities.
- Question: How does the speaker’s dismissal of worldly pursuits and defiance of societal expectations raise questions about the poem’s stance on societal norms and individual expression?
- Answer: The speaker’s defiant rejection of societal norms and emphasis on personal fulfillment in “The Canonization” challenges conventional notions of success and happiness. By dismissing worldly pursuits like wealth, social status, and political ambition as insignificant compared to the intensity of their love, Donne raises questions about the poem’s stance on societal expectations and individual expression. The speaker’s rhetorical question, “Alas, alas, who’s injured by my love?,” underscores their rejection of societal judgment and their unwavering commitment to their love. This defiance prompts exploration into whether the poem advocates for radical individualism, urging readers to prioritize authentic self-expression over conforming to societal norms, or if it serves as a critique of societal values that often prioritize material gain and external validation over genuine emotional connection and personal fulfillment. By celebrating love’s transformative power and its ability to transcend societal constraints, Donne encourages readers to question and re-evaluate the role of societal expectations in shaping our understanding of happiness and fulfillment.
- Question: How does the speaker’s vision of love’s immortality through poetry raise questions about the relationship between art and human experience?
- Answer: The speaker’s bold declaration in “The Canonization” that “We’ll build in sonnets pretty rooms” suggests that their love will be immortalized through poetry, prompting contemplation of the relationship between art and human experience. This assertion raises questions about the power of artistic expression to transcend temporal limitations and preserve the essence of love for posterity. Is Donne primarily celebrating the ability of art, in this case poetry, to create a lasting legacy? Or is he subtly questioning the limitations of language to fully encapsulate the ineffable nature of love? Can mere words truly capture the depth and complexity of human emotions, or does art merely offer a glimpse into the profound mysteries of love? The poem invites readers to ponder the power and limitations of artistic expression in preserving and transmitting the essence of human experiences, particularly the complex and often intangible experience of love.
- Question: How does the poem’s portrayal of gender dynamics, despite celebrating both lovers, reveal a subtle power imbalance and raise questions about its representation of gender roles?
- Answer: While “The Canonization” celebrates the love between two individuals, a closer examination of the poem’s gender dynamics reveals a subtle power imbalance that raises questions about its representation of gender roles. The speaker, predominantly male, often takes the lead in defending their love, dismissing societal criticisms, and envisioning their legacy. This raises the question of whether the poem inadvertently reflects the patriarchal norms of Donne’s time, where male voices dominated the literary landscape and often dictated the narrative of love. Alternatively, this could be a deliberate strategy on Donne’s part to subvert traditional gender roles. By showcasing the speaker’s assertiveness, wit, and control over the narrative of their love, he could be challenging the conventional power dynamics of his era. The poem’s portrayal of gender roles remains open to interpretation, prompting readers to consider the complexities and nuances of love within the context of societal expectations and historical gender norms.
Literary Works Similar to “The Canonization” by John Donne
- “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell: Both poems explore the themes of love and its defiance against societal constraints, using elaborate metaphysical conceits.
- “The Flea” by John Donne: Similar to “The Canonization,” this poem uses an unconventional metaphor to argue for the sanctity and legitimacy of the speaker’s love.
- “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare: This sonnet, like Donne’s poem, immortalizes love through verse, suggesting that poetry can confer eternity upon human emotions.
- “Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” by John Donne: Both poems convey the idea that true love transcends physical separation and societal judgment, highlighting the spiritual and eternal nature of the bond.
- “Love’s Alchemy” by John Donne: This poem also employs complex metaphysical imagery to explore the nature of love, questioning its true essence and value.
Suggested Readings: “The Canonization” by John Donne
- Carey, John. John Donne: Life, Mind, and Art. Faber and Faber, 1990. https://faberindia.com/.
- Donne, John. “The Canonization.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature, edited by Stephen Greenblatt et al., 9th ed., vol. 1, W.W. Norton & Company, 2012, pp. 1118-1120.
- Gardner, Helen. The Metaphysical Poets. Oxford University Press, 1957.
- Hughes, R. E. John Donne: An Introduction to His Poetry. Humanities Press, 1969. https://www.routledge.com/humanities
- The Poetry Foundation. “The Canonization.” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/.
Representative Quotations of “The Canonization” by John Donne
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “For God’s sake hold your tongue, and let me love,” | The speaker demands others to stop criticizing his love, setting the defiant tone of the poem. | New Criticism: This line exemplifies the poem’s rebellious tone and introduces the central theme of love versus societal norms. |
| “Call us what you will, we are made such by love;” | The speaker acknowledges that love has transformed him and his beloved into what they are, despite societal labels. | Psychoanalytic Criticism: This line highlights the transformative power of love on the speaker’s identity, reflecting deep psychological change. |
| “We’ll build in sonnets pretty rooms;” | The speaker suggests that their love will be immortalized in poetry, even if not in history or physical monuments. | Historical/Biographical Criticism: This line can be seen as a reflection of Donne’s own life, where his secret marriage and love were documented in his poetic works. |
| “And by these hymns, all shall approve / Us canonized for Love.” | The speaker envisions their love being sanctified and celebrated through the poem itself. | New Criticism: The poem’s structure and religious imagery elevate the speaker’s love to a sacred status, showing the interplay of form and theme. |
| “The phoenix riddle hath more wit / By us; we two being one, are it.” | The speaker compares their love to the mythical phoenix, symbolizing rebirth and unity. | Mythological Criticism: This reference to the phoenix draws on mythological symbols to illustrate the eternal and regenerative nature of their love. |