Concetti Chiave
- John Donne was born in London in 1572 to a prosperous merchant father and a mother related to playwright John Heywood.
- Educated in the Roman Catholic faith, Donne faced challenges due to his religion, including leaving Oxford without a degree to avoid the oath of supremacy.
- His secret marriage to Ann More in 1601 led to his imprisonment and subsequent loss of position, resulting in years of poverty and hardship.
- Despite personal difficulties, Donne's unwavering love for his wife Ann was a central aspect of his life, as they had twelve children together.
- Renowned for his intellectual vigor, Donne was celebrated as an impressive preacher, with only a few of his sermons published during his lifetime.
John Donne's early life
One of the most intriguing personalities of the 17th century, John Donne was born in London in 1572. His father was a prosperous merchant; his mother was the daughter of the playwright John Heywood. He was educated in the Roman Catholic faith, and soon learned what it meant to be a Catholic in England in that peiod: his maternal uncles died in exile because they were Jesuits; his younger brother was imprisoned for sheltering a priest, and died in jail at the age of 19.
He himself had to leave Oxford without a degree because he refused to take the oath of supremacy.
Love and consequences
In He seemed to be destined to a splendid career, when there was a tunning point in his life. He fell passionately in love with Ann More, the young niece of the lord keeper’s wife, and in 1601 secretly married her without her guardian’s consent. As a result, he was imprisoned and, when released, he lost his position. The following years saw him fighting with poverty, illness and discomfort. He had to depend on charity keep a family costantly growing – Ann bore him twelve children, only seven of whom survived – but in spite of the hardships the passionate and costant love for his wife was always the reference point of Donne’s life.
Donne's literary achievements
There is no certainty about the composition of his finest poems, the This work reveals another aspect of 1617 marked another crucial moment in his life: his Donne’s intellectual vigour, wide and wit made him a magnificient, impressive preacher; the best society assembled to hear his splendid sermons, only a few which, however, were printed during his life. The only other work that he published in this last period was Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, in prose (1624).
Domande da interrogazione
- What challenges did John Donne face due to his Catholic upbringing in England?
- How did John Donne's secret marriage to Ann More impact his life?
- What were some of John Donne's notable literary achievements later in life?
John Donne faced significant challenges due to his Catholic upbringing, including leaving Oxford without a degree because he refused to take the oath of supremacy. His family also suffered; his maternal uncles died in exile as Jesuits, and his younger brother died in jail for sheltering a priest.
John Donne's secret marriage to Ann More led to his imprisonment and the loss of his position. This event marked a turning point in his life, resulting in years of poverty and hardship, although his love for Ann remained a constant source of strength.
Later in life, John Donne became a magnificent preacher, attracting the best society to his sermons, though few were printed during his lifetime. He also published "Devotions upon Emergent Occasions" in 1624, showcasing his intellectual vigor and wit.
Accedi a tutti gli appunti
Tutor AI: studia meglio e in meno tempo
