response to Meditation 17

Meditation 17 is a very well-written text which summarizes the purpose of human life and the relationship between humans and God. In this text John Donne writes that god is the author and humanity is a book. All human beings are a chapter, so when a human dies, the chapter is not torn out of the book but is translated into a better language. All humans are a continent, and not an island. When one dies a piece of the continent falls off and becomes smaller. When the bell tolls,no human being will know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for all, yet humans should not live in misery but should know that tribulations are a treasure and cherish each day and not be afraid to rise early. I really liked this text because it is so eloquently written and is not too short nor too long. Donne grasped the idea of humanity well, and used analogies well to describe it in a less complex way. This text has many truths in it and is very interesting to read.

Sonnet 116 review

In sonnet 116, the speaker says that between “true minds”, love is timeless and will never fade. By incorporating metaphors and rhyme, Shakespeare depicts the meaning of love as an “ever-fixèd mark” that withstands any storm and as a star that shines constantly through storms to guide lost ships. Everlasting and priceless, love shall remain until the “edge of doom”. With the rhyme scheme, Shakespeare uses it as an advantage by linking each rhyming couplet together. Each couplet shares the same idea and stands out because of that. The poet sounds uncertain in the last couplet, saying that if all he said is wrong, then he has in fact never truly loved another.
Shakespeare describes love as true, eternal and forever unchanging. Love itself does not exist if it is between impure minds. Being true, even when everything else changes, such as Judgement Day, and even when one of the two is unfaithful. If love stays even after a part of it falters, it’s not surprising if it can withstand the passage of time. As beautiful as it is, love is not like physical beauty which deteriorates with time. It does not come within reach of the “bending sickle” or curved sword. This represents the blade of a Grim Reaper which in turn symbolizes death. In other words, love can surpass even death and transcend graves. In his metaphors, love is depicted as a stable lighthouse and the North star, both a beacon of light and a symbol of hope to the dark storms and lost ships which can be depicted as those in turmoil or in despair.
The images are placed in a logical order. The poet starts saying that love is never altered and that it is a mark that is never shaken and that it shines like a star to guide many a lost and wandering ship. It will never swerve off course, and will keep going far longer than forever, even if it meets obstacles and doom.
The poet symbolizes love as a star, constant and bright, and the imagery is of a ship sailing and trying to find its way, guided by love.

Sonnet 79 review

This sonnet talks about how physical beauty isn't the most important thing in the world. A virtuous mind is much more valuable because beauty fades, while intelligence and spirit never shall. I think this sonnet was written for a woman who is beautiful and all the men around her love her, yet she does not have a personality and mind as beautiful as her looks. I think that this sonnet has a sincere yet a bit desperate tone. It seems as though the poet realizes that this woman possesses nothing but beauty, and is out of reach for him for she is coveted by others and is light-headed. The poet seems to be telling the woman that she should not be happy just because others are calling her beautiful, because it wont last forever.This sonnet has a very nice rhythm and I like that it has a good moral to it. It was very well written capturing the whole theme in just a paragraph.