John Donne's 'Holy Sonnet VII' delves into the themes of divine judgement and the search for forgiveness within the Christian faith. The poem, part of Donne's Holy Sonnets, uses the Petrarchan sonnet form to contrast the universal Last Judgement with the speaker's personal plea for mercy. Employing biblical allusions and poetic techniques, Donne presents a powerful meditation on mortality, redemption, and the human condition.
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The poem explores the concept of divine judgement and its impact on the human condition
The speaker pleads for forgiveness and mercy from God in the face of judgement
The poem reflects on the human struggle with mortality and the possibility of an afterlife
The poem follows the structure of a Petrarchan sonnet, with an octave and sestet and a volta marking a shift in focus
The poem adheres to the ABBAABBA and CDECDE rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet
The poem employs biblical allusions, anaphora, and a lexicon of excess to convey its themes with emotional power and intellectual clarity
The poem begins with a depiction of the Last Judgement, summoning the dead to account for their lives before God
The poem reflects on the human condition, including the ways in which lives are lost and the struggle with sin and judgement
The sestet narrows to the speaker's personal plea for salvation and the grace to repent before the final judgement
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The poem is part of Donne's ______ ______, which includes ______ poems exploring spiritual and theological themes.
Holy Sonnets
a series
nineteen
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Petrarchan Sonnet Form
14-line structure with an octave (ABBAABBA) and a sestet (CDECDE/CDCDCD).
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Volta in 'Holy Sonnet VII'
Shift from universal resurrection to speaker's plea for salvation at the start of the sestet.
