Holy Sonnet Diction
Holy Sonnet XIX
Oh, to vex me, contraries meet in one:
Inconstancy unnaturally hath begot
A constant habit; that when I would not
I change in vows, and in devotion.
As humorous is my contrition
As profrane love, and as soon forgot:
As riddingly distempered, cold and hot,
As praying, as mute; as infinite, as none.
I durst not view in heaven yesterday; and today
In prayers and flattering speeches I court God:
Tomorrow I wake with true fear of his rod.
So my devout fits come and go away
Like a fantastic ague; save that here
Those are my best days, when I shake with feare. After reading this section from John Donne’s “Holy Sonnets”, it is evident that the writer is having an internal conflict with himself. More specifically, this passage …show more content…
For instance, line one says “Oh, to vex me, contraries meet in one:” (Line 1). With the beginning “Oh” it gives off an exhausted or frustrated tone (Line 1). This tone can be seen throughout most of the paper as well. A demonstration of a conflict is when Donne uses the word “contraries” (Line 1). By using this word, it again demonstrates that there are two feelings or opinions fighting each other (Line 1). When you put together both the stress of the sentence, and his choice of words it paints the picture of a conflict causing him stress. Moving on to lines two and three, Donne further demonstrates that there is a conflict. Lines two and three state, “Inconstancy unnaturally hath begot… A constant habit;…” (Lines 2-3). The important figures within these two lines are “inconstancy” and “constant habit” (Lines 2-3). By saying this, Donne is showing that his thoughts or feelings going back and forth are “A constant habit….” (Lines 2-3).Therefore, this is further prove of a …show more content…
Line four says, “I change in vows, and devotion” (Line 4). This line is pretty simple to understand. Donne discusses how he has been indecisive with religion (Line 4). The overall meaning this adds to the passage is a little less obvious however. It is the first clarification of what his conflict is about. His internal conflict is about him and his “…change in vows, and in devotion” (Line 4). Line five is interesting because it is the first piece of evidence for Donne knowing how he truly feels about religion. Donne, in line five, says, “As humorous is my contrition” (Line 5). The reason this points to Donne knowing how he should feel is because of the words “humorous” and “contrition” (Line 5). Essentially, John is saying that he sees his current situation or feelings as being ironic (Line 5). With this in mind, it makes it sound as if he knows this argument is ridiculous. Therefore, the reader can see that he truly knows how he should
Oh, to vex me, contraries meet in one:
Inconstancy unnaturally hath begot
A constant habit; that when I would not
I change in vows, and in devotion.
As humorous is my contrition
As profrane love, and as soon forgot:
As riddingly distempered, cold and hot,
As praying, as mute; as infinite, as none.
I durst not view in heaven yesterday; and today
In prayers and flattering speeches I court God:
Tomorrow I wake with true fear of his rod.
So my devout fits come and go away
Like a fantastic ague; save that here
Those are my best days, when I shake with feare. After reading this section from John Donne’s “Holy Sonnets”, it is evident that the writer is having an internal conflict with himself. More specifically, this passage …show more content…
For instance, line one says “Oh, to vex me, contraries meet in one:” (Line 1). With the beginning “Oh” it gives off an exhausted or frustrated tone (Line 1). This tone can be seen throughout most of the paper as well. A demonstration of a conflict is when Donne uses the word “contraries” (Line 1). By using this word, it again demonstrates that there are two feelings or opinions fighting each other (Line 1). When you put together both the stress of the sentence, and his choice of words it paints the picture of a conflict causing him stress. Moving on to lines two and three, Donne further demonstrates that there is a conflict. Lines two and three state, “Inconstancy unnaturally hath begot… A constant habit;…” (Lines 2-3). The important figures within these two lines are “inconstancy” and “constant habit” (Lines 2-3). By saying this, Donne is showing that his thoughts or feelings going back and forth are “A constant habit….” (Lines 2-3).Therefore, this is further prove of a …show more content…
Line four says, “I change in vows, and devotion” (Line 4). This line is pretty simple to understand. Donne discusses how he has been indecisive with religion (Line 4). The overall meaning this adds to the passage is a little less obvious however. It is the first clarification of what his conflict is about. His internal conflict is about him and his “…change in vows, and in devotion” (Line 4). Line five is interesting because it is the first piece of evidence for Donne knowing how he truly feels about religion. Donne, in line five, says, “As humorous is my contrition” (Line 5). The reason this points to Donne knowing how he should feel is because of the words “humorous” and “contrition” (Line 5). Essentially, John is saying that he sees his current situation or feelings as being ironic (Line 5). With this in mind, it makes it sound as if he knows this argument is ridiculous. Therefore, the reader can see that he truly knows how he should