"Death, thou shall die" is a metaphysical paradox. When a person dies only physical body dies, the soul or spirit will remain forever. Therefore, Death dies with our physical bodies making our souls eternal.
Professor, Thank you for this. I have cancer and have been trying to understand this sonnet. I felt I needed to understand it. You have given me insight. That is no little task. I’m an accountant who is now looking at life and spirituality a little differently. Peace to you. 🌸
"When death is the greatest danger, one hopes for life; but when one becomes acquainted with an even more dreadful danger, one hopes for death. So when the danger is so great that death has become one’s hope, despair is the hopelessness of not being able to die.” ― Søren Kierkegaard / The Sickness Unto Death
Hi ma'am ! I am not a native speaker of English but the way you explained it , gave me a complete understanding of this metaphysical poem. It will help me to prepare my exams. God bless you. Amin!
Hello! loved your video. However you said in the beginning "1861" I'm sure you meant to say a year between 1572-1631, if not that would be quite scary to encounter the ghost of John Donne giving a sermon. :))
Thank you so much for your work, people like me, who just don't live in the USA and never had the chance to study those great minds of poetry... we are really grateful for you doing this work, thank you again
Good job. I first came across this poem as a high school 10th grader. It was 1969 [I'm an old guy]. This was in the day when we were not being assigned identity politics book and the like. We were assigned John Gunther's book Death Be Not Proud, a story about the death of his son to brain cancer. His son was about our age when he died. This book was very thought-provoking and caused us to introspect quite a bit about the meaning of life. Later that semester the English teacher and his wife died as a result of an accident. This also brought the meaning of the book home
I subscribed to your channel. Thanks for explaining the meaning behind Donne's "Death be not proud" sonnet. I always wanted to understand what he wanted to say.
Thank you SO MUCH for this! I'm studying this poem used by Benjamin Britten in song, and this analysis greatly helped me to understand the song itsself and Britten's intentions with it. Very clear analysis from you, and as a student who was never good at analyzing poems I really appreciate this!
Hello ma'am, your videos are a saviour.. I have my exams day after tomorrow but am down with fever was really stressing about what would I do in my papers.. Thank you so much for these ❤️ It would be really a great help if you do video's upon the various poets and their writing styles 🙂
This is my favorite of Donne's holy sonnets. I also love "Batter my heart three-person'd God" I teach them in my world literature course. I wish I had more time to devote to Donne in my course. There are so many of his poems that I would include!
I'm not exactly a poet enthusiast (meaning not at all), but this poem is just so striking and confident. "Death, thou shalt die." Literature rarely gives me chills. And thanks for the video too :)
I have an assignment on this poem tomorrow and you have helped me a great deal. Thank you! Btw ou English literature teacher always praises your videos and encourage us to watch them!
Excellent and enlightening analysis of the poem, but please note that John Donne was born in 1572 and died in 1631, so he wouldn't have been giving sermons in 1861. Otherwise, the background information is helpful for a better appreciation of the poem.
Several things came to pass in my vague life, Had they been full of lessons or wasteful strife? Alas! Much work was still to be done, Just before being covered an’ left alone. Angels must ask how I was in the world, Racked and ruined I could dare and say As I ‘m here being burned an’ curled today. Last thing I have just learned here above, It is love in life and life in love. from shajar ali.
Dying as a rotten apple falling. Compare Cicero? Lots of slip-ups here, not a lot of rhetoric-metaphor, ode, etc. So you wont score very high on the AP examinations.
*A very beautifully written poem, but after getting past the old English which in itself makes it hard to understand, I get nothing but Human arrogance and* *delusional superiority of the Human being with its vain and unwise loathing of death, decay and dying which is ignorantly seen as evil and bad.*
i dont know you are teacher or john donne lover.but your explanation is very good.after 2 days later i have exam.i understand this poem very well.thank you so much.
In the holy bible death fears the Lord , somewhere in the book of revelations there's a scripture basically saying We belong to the one death fears meaning Jesus THANK YOU JESUS yeah death is great if we go to heaven lol THANK YOU JESUS HALLELUJAH
I would love to hear a rapper interpret this in street parlance. It probably start with “death, you ain’t sh$&... A clever rapper, as many of them are , would be able to match pentameter and rhyme pattern.
"Death, thou shall die" is a metaphysical paradox. When a person dies only physical body dies, the soul or spirit will remain forever. Therefore, Death dies with our physical bodies making our souls eternal.
Excellent job explaining the poem line by line, your style of teaching is really cool. Really helped me a lot, thanks.
Professor,
Thank you for this. I have cancer and have been trying to understand this sonnet. I felt I needed to understand it. You have given me insight. That is no little task. I’m an accountant who is now looking at life and spirituality a little differently. Peace to you. 🌸
"When death is the greatest danger, one hopes for life; but when one becomes acquainted with an even more dreadful danger, one hopes for death. So when the danger is so great that death has become one’s hope, despair is the hopelessness of not being able to die.”
― Søren Kierkegaard / The Sickness Unto Death
Best comment, Thanks!!!! :D
Hi ma'am ! I am not a native speaker of English but the way you explained it , gave me a complete understanding of this metaphysical poem. It will help me to prepare my exams.
God bless you. Amin!
Hello! loved your video. However you said in the beginning "1861" I'm sure you meant to say a year between 1572-1631, if not that would be quite scary to encounter the ghost of John Donne giving a sermon. :))
Hahahah exactly what I was thinking
This is such great content and the way you explain is quite calming too
I'm glad you enjoyed it! :-)
Cool background information!! Made me understand more about the poem!! Nice!! Thx for sharing!
My pleasure!
Thank you so much for your work, people like me, who just don't live in the USA and never had the chance to study those great minds of poetry... we are really grateful for you doing this work, thank you again
You're welcome! I'm so glad. :-)
Good job. I first came across this poem as a high school 10th grader. It was 1969 [I'm an old guy]. This was in the day when we were not being assigned identity politics book and the like.
We were assigned John Gunther's book Death Be Not Proud, a story about the death of his son to brain cancer.
His son was about our age when he died. This book was very thought-provoking and caused us to introspect quite a bit about the meaning of life.
Later that semester the English teacher and his wife died as a result of an accident. This also brought the meaning of the book home
What a Treasure you have ma'am! It is fantastic, fabulous, tremendous, gorgeous explanation.!!!!!!!
i often find it hard to focus, but the way you talk and explain is so calming and kept me focused, thank you.
I'm performing this for school and you really helped me understand the tone and rhythm of the poem!! Thank you!
jessica perez Cool! I'm so glad. Hope it goes awesomely!
Sitting with my sweet, but dying sister. Your scholarship soothed me. Thank you,
New Subscriber
I subscribed to your channel. Thanks for explaining the meaning behind Donne's "Death be not proud" sonnet. I always wanted to understand what he wanted to say.
This channel is a life saver
you seem so peaceful and the way you explain the poems is really mesmerizing.
You are a wonderful presenter. Thanks for the gift you’ve given so many people by posting this.
Thank you SO MUCH for this! I'm studying this poem used by Benjamin Britten in song, and this analysis greatly helped me to understand the song itsself and Britten's intentions with it. Very clear analysis from you, and as a student who was never good at analyzing poems I really appreciate this!
I've always loved death be not proud, and you broke it down on another level! Free education is here folks!
Thank you so much for this video. It really helped me get my head around this poem!
Hello ma'am, your videos are a saviour.. I have my exams day after tomorrow but am down with fever was really stressing about what would I do in my papers.. Thank you so much for these ❤️ It would be really a great help if you do video's upon the various poets and their writing styles 🙂
This is my favorite of Donne's holy sonnets. I also love "Batter my heart three-person'd God" I teach them in my world literature course. I wish I had more time to devote to Donne in my course. There are so many of his poems that I would include!
Yes, me too! Enjoy your teaching!
As always very clearly explained.You make everything extremely interesting.Thank you so much.
U r my role model and i want to explain poema just like u 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺u r wonderful madam
sleep is a free trial of death
I think your channel saved me in my current poetry course. Thank you.
I'm not exactly a poet enthusiast (meaning not at all), but this poem is just so striking and confident. "Death, thou shalt die." Literature rarely gives me chills.
And thanks for the video too :)
I love the way you explain. Such patietice and humour. You have good narration skills
This video is the only way I'm able to write an essay for english comp. Thank youuuuuu!
I have an assignment on this poem tomorrow and you have helped me a great deal. Thank you! Btw ou English literature teacher always praises your videos and encourage us to watch them!
Great explanation - very helpful in coming to a greater appreciation of this classic poem! Thank you!
Excellent and enlightening analysis of the poem, but please note that John Donne was born in 1572 and died in 1631, so he wouldn't have been giving sermons in 1861. Otherwise, the background information is helpful for a better appreciation of the poem.
This video just helped me write my paper but what would help more...if she had a video on “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Goodnight”
I have an exam tomorrow and I was really worried about this poem.. mam you saved me ... Thank you !!
2:20 if u want to get straight to the poem
This video was very informative and, helped me understand the poem way more than the first time I read it myself. Thank you
Thnx it's very easy to understand and very helpful 🙏
You're welcome! I'm so glad.
Sarah hello can u help in study this hard for me
Thank you very much. Background information make it very clear to understand.
I'm glad!
I just wonder if the "soul's delivery" part may in fact mean "soul's birth".
Pretty hard to hear John Donnie preach in St Pauls in 1861 since he died in 1631!!!!
Heard him give a sermon in 1861? Only if you were some kind of clairvoyant. He died in 1631. Easy mistake to make though, only 230 years in it.
I appreciate the discussion but better if you include visuals. Thank you.
Good idea! I should up my game!
good understanding
thank you so much...the way you explain is easy to understand
You're welcome! I'm glad this helped you!
That was great, thanks so much such a good message as well😊
Persuasive Teaching ! You did a great job here I m now studyimng for mid term and your video helped me a lot Thanks :)
I thought John Donne died in 1631? It would therefore be difficult to hear him in St Paul’s in 1861?
The story l can love.
thank you, your excellent work saved me much time!
Great analysis
Thanks! :-)
Thanks for sharing...!! You've made it more clearer to me
This is what i report in our class thanks so much❤️❤️
You're amazing ❤ This video was so helpful ❤
John Donne was born in 1571, so it's not likely he was in St Pauls Cathedral in the 1800's
Great breakdown of a wonderful poem though.
Thank You so much!this helped me a lot
You're welcome!
can you gave me the generl meaning !😊
Very Nice explanation ma'am.
Thnx very much nice video I have a test tomorrow and that helped a lot
Bang bang You're welcome! So glad! Good luck with your test.
Its really awesome... thnx a lot again 🌹❤😘
Thank you so much
THANK YOU
MrAgedGouda You're welcome!
Several things came to pass in my vague life,
Had they been full of lessons or wasteful strife?
Alas! Much work was still to be done,
Just before being covered an’ left alone.
Angels must ask how I was in the world,
Racked and ruined I could dare and say
As I ‘m here being burned an’ curled today.
Last thing I have just learned here above,
It is love in life and life in love.
from shajar ali.
Thank your for sharng and giving context.
Thanks mam..
very informative..
S A Hafsa You're welcome!
Thank you for this!
Dying as a rotten apple falling. Compare Cicero? Lots of slip-ups here, not a lot of rhetoric-metaphor, ode, etc. So you wont score very high on the AP examinations.
Loved you explanation thanks!
You are sweet. You're very welcome!
This really helps! Thanks youuu
*A very beautifully written poem, but after getting past the old English which in itself makes it hard to understand, I get nothing but Human arrogance and* *delusional superiority of the Human being with its vain and unwise loathing of death, decay and dying which is ignorantly seen as evil and bad.*
Hello 😊 can you explain the poem collar by george hebert because i have an exam and you explanation is very clear and nice 😘
زهراء 97 !So sorry that I don't know that poem well. I would need to study it first. Thanks for your kind words
very good
This is very helpful, thank you!
i dont know you are teacher or john donne lover.but your explanation is very good.after 2 days later i have exam.i understand this poem very well.thank you so much.
jahid mahi I'm a teacher at a community college. I do love the poem!
1861??
Thank you! This was so helpful!
You rock! Keep it up
Thanks
love it! thankyou
Whos here because of fucking school?!?!
wow!!
In the holy bible death fears the Lord , somewhere in the book of revelations there's a scripture basically saying We belong to the one death fears meaning Jesus THANK YOU JESUS yeah death is great if we go to heaven lol THANK YOU JESUS HALLELUJAH
1861?
Not in 1861
This is how I’m passing Comp ll
👏
You look different
In 1861 Donne had been dead for 230 years
Tony Taylor Oh my gosh, you're right! Thank you for the MAJOR correction! I will try to add a note inside the video that uses the correct date.
Grt
I would love to hear a rapper interpret this in street parlance. It probably start with “death, you ain’t sh$&...
A clever rapper, as many of them are , would be able to match pentameter and rhyme pattern.
Try to explain with animations please
Thou art cute!
I thought the poem was about sex.... or so that’s what my English teacher said.🤷🏻♀️
HAHAHA THANK YOU
The Sir You're welcome!