Lecture Notes: John Donne's "Canonization"

Introduction

• Poet: John Donne
• Poem: "Canonization"
• Context: Commonly studied in MA/BA courses on English literature.
• Themes: Metaphysical poetry, romantic love, canonization.

Speaker Information

• The speaker requests not to be mocked for their love.
• They emphasize the purity and intensity of love.

Key Concepts

Canonization

• Definition: A process in Christianity where a person is declared a saint.
• Irony: The poem uses canonization paradoxically to illustrate the sanctity of passionate love.

Address to a Friend

• The speaker urges a friend to avoid mocking or making fun of their love.
• Suggests the friend pursue other fulfilling activities instead.

Complexity of Romantic Love

• The poem explores how passionate love can be seen as worthy of canonization.
• Love is described as both a source of personal fulfillment and a subject of external criticism.

Poem's Dual Purpose

• The speaker argues love will canonize them into a kind of sainthood.
• The poem itself serves as a canonization of their love.

New Criticism

• Critics: Cleanth Brooks used the poem "Canonization" to illustrate the use of paradox as central to poetry.
• Comparison with Other Works: Included Alexander Pope’s "An Essay on Man" and Wordsworth’s "Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802".

Summary of Stanzas

Stanza 1

• The speaker asks to be left alone to love.
• Critiques the friend's focus on superficial concerns such as wealth and status.

Stanza 2

• The speaker argues that their love harms no one.
• Love does not detract from the world’s wars or legal disputes.

Stanza 3

• Introduces the metaphor of lovers as a single entity.
• Compares their love to the mystical phoenix, emphasizing rebirth and transformation through love.

Stanza 4

• Discusses the potential immortality of their love through poetry, even if not through traditional historical records.
• The poem itself is a testament to their love.

Stanza 5

• Imagines future generations recognizing the sacredness of their love.
• Love is portrayed as a form of spiritual enlightenment and devotion.

Themes

• Lovers as Microcosms: The idea that lovers create their own world.
• Religious Enlightenment and Sexual Ecstasy: Blends the physical and spiritual aspects of love.
• Search for True Religion: Love as a form of religious devotion.
• Power and Holiness of Love: Love as a sacred and powerful force.
• Mortality: Exploration of how love transcends earthly bounds.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to explore further if interested in romantic and metaphysical poetry.

Additional Resources

• Suggestions to visit the website for more materials and follow on Instagram for updates.

This lecture provides an in-depth exploration of Donne's "Canonization", emphasizing its themes, language, and significance in both literary and religious contexts. The poem stands as a rich example of metaphysical poetry, illustrating the paradox of love and sainthood.