One thing that matters quite a lot in Donne’s sonnets is that he was, on the one hand, “a very masculine lover of women”, on the other hand “a very devout lover of God” (cf. Edwards 6). He was constantly torn between sexual love and the love to God. This is why this term paper will also briefly explain what love and sexuality in the Renaissance were like.
This might help to understand some of Donne’s motives. After that the sonnet will look at two of the Holy Sonnets in-depth and try to find out why he used the sexual imagery. Does it have a certain purpose or is Donne just that much into sexuality and love? One could actually claim that, even if most of the Holy Sonnets were written after his ordination in 1615, Donne probably used them to process that he keeps on being torn between sex and God – sometimes subliminal, sometimes more explicit. That is why the sonnets on hand, the fourteenth and the eighteenth, definitely combine both by using imagery and a certain choice of words.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- INTRODUCTION
- LOVE AND SEXUALITY IN THE RENAISSANCE
- ANALYSIS
- BATTER MY HEART, THREE-PERSONED GOD...
- SHOW ME DEAR CHRIST, THY SPOUSE...
- CONCLUSION
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper explores the depiction of love and sexuality in John Donne's Holy Sonnets, specifically focusing on the fourteenth and eighteenth sonnets. The paper aims to understand how Donne's personal experiences and the prevailing societal views on sexuality in the Renaissance influenced his use of sexual imagery in his religious poetry.
- Love and sexuality in the Renaissance
- John Donne's personal struggle between sexual love and the love of God
- The use of sexual imagery in Donne's Holy Sonnets
- The interplay of religious and secular themes in Donne's poetry
- The interpretation of Donne's sonnets in relation to his life and the historical context
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: Introduces John Donne and his Holy Sonnets, highlighting the complexity of his work and the challenges of interpreting his use of sexuality in religious context. The chapter provides background information on Donne's life and the historical context of his writing, with particular emphasis on the dating of his sonnets.
- Love and Sexuality in the Renaissance: This chapter explores the societal views on love and sexuality in the Renaissance. It examines the influence of the Catholic Church and its teachings on sexual behavior, highlighting the tension between official doctrines and societal practices. The chapter also discusses the concept of "courtly love" and the influence of Greek concepts of love, such as Eros and Agape, on Renaissance thought.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper delves into the complexities of John Donne's Holy Sonnets, examining themes of love, sexuality, and religion in the context of Renaissance England. Key concepts include the tension between sexual desire and spiritual devotion, the influence of societal norms on artistic expression, and the nuanced interpretation of religious imagery.
- Citation du texte
- Lena Gräf (Auteur), 2016, Love and Sexuality in John Donne’s Sonnets. On Inner Conflicts, Desperation and the Devotion to God, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/423484
