Donne, John

Donne, John
(1572-1631)
   English poet, one of the most important of the group known as metaphysical poets. Born into a Roman Catholic family, in his youth he managed his education at Oxford and the law schools (the Inns of Court) carefully so that he could avoid taking the oath of supremacy that acknowledged the monarch's position as head of the church, which was required of all recipients of degrees. He travelled on the European continent before settling down to the study of law and seems to have recanted his Catholicism while at the Inns of Court. He served in a naval expedition against Spain and won appointment as private secretary to a high government official. His clandestine marriage to a niece of his patron cost him his official favor and threw him and his family into poverty.
   Under James I, however, Donne's fortunes improved, helped by two tracts defending the Anglican church and criticizing Roman Catholicism. In 1615, encouraged by the king, he was ordained as a clergyman; in 1616 he became official preacher and theological lecturer at Lincoln's Inn; and in 1621 he became dean of St. Paul's cathedral. He often preached in the presence of Kings James I and Charles I, and his published sermons are among the finest English sermons of the 17th century.
   Donne's poetry, much of it love poetry written in his youth, and some of it written on the theme of death during his later years, is notable for its striking figures of speech and its passionate spirit. After several centuries of being out of fashion among critics, his work was rediscovered by English-language poets of the early 20th century. Since that rediscovery, Donne has come to be regarded as a major lyric poet. Little of his verse was published in his lifetime, and only a few of his sermons. Shortly after his death, his son published three volumes of his sermons. Though many of his poems had circulated in manuscript, most of them were collected and published in editions of 1632 and 1635. The best of his poems, such as the elegy The Second Anniversary, are among the most widely admired lyrics in the English language.

Historical Dictionary of Renaissance. . 2004.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Donne,John — Donne (dŭn), John. 1572 1631. English metaphysical poet and divine who served as chaplain to James I and as dean of Saint Paul s Cathedral (after 1621). His works include Divine Poems (1607). * * * …   Universalium

  • Donne, John — born с Jan. 24–June 19, 1572, London, Eng. died March 31, 1631, London English poet. Donne was born into a Roman Catholic family. He entered the University of Oxford at age 12; he later transferred to the University of Cambridge and subsequently… …   Universalium

  • DONNE, John — (1572 1631) Known as the father of metaphysical poetry, John Donne was an English poet, essayist, and theologian who served as dean of St. Paul s Cathedral. Born in London in 1572, Donne was named for his father, a successful ironmonger. His… …   Renaissance and Reformation 1500-1620: A Biographical Dictionary

  • Donne, John — (c. 1573–1631)    Poet.    Although Donne was born into a Roman Catholic family (he was a great greatnephew of Sir Thomas more), he became an Anglican and was educated at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and at Lincoln’s Inn. He served in …   Who’s Who in Christianity

  • Donne, John — ► (1572 1631) Poeta inglés. Su poesía es intelectual, sensual y preciosista. Obras: Canciones y sonetos (1590 98) y Sonetos sacros (1615), entre otras. * * * ( 24 ene. 19 jun. 1572, Londres, Inglaterra–31 mar. 1631, Londres). Poeta inglés. Donne… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Donne, John — (1573 1631)    Born in London of Roman Catholic parents, his father, a prosperous merchant, died when Donne was four, and his mother remarried. He was educated at Hart Hall (now Hertford College), Oxford, but because he would not swear allegiance …   British and Irish poets

  • DONNE, JOHN —    English poet and divine, born in London; a man of good degree; brought up in the Catholic faith; after weighing the claims of the Romish and Anglican communions, joined the latter; married a young lady of sixteen without consent of her father …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Donne, John — (1573 1631)    Poet and divine, s. of a wealthy ironmonger in London, where he was b. Brought up as a Roman Catholic, he was sent to Oxf. and Camb., and afterwards entered Lincoln s Inn with a view to the law. Here he studied the points of… …   Short biographical dictionary of English literature

  • Donne — Donne, John …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • John Donne — (1572 31 de marzo de 1631) fue el más importante poeta metafísico inglés de las épocas de la reina Isabel I (Elizabeth I) (1559 1603), el rey Jacobo I (James I) (1603 1625) y su hijo Carlos I (Charles I) (1625 1642). La poesía metafísica es más o …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”