Critical Analysis comparing Donne

The two poems mentioned in the title above are not only seen as artifacts of the Renaissance. The metaphysical, poets John Donne and George Herbert can also be compared with each other as there are distinct differences and similarities between them. These comparisons between the poets help the reader to gain an interesting and richly flavoured meaning to each of the texts.

Donne and Herbert were closely associated with each other in the late sixteenth century. It is also noted that there was a great influence of Donne upon the works of Herbert. However, most of the poetry of Herbert’s that is influenced by Donne, is love poetry, and his religious verse is of a later period in his life (T.S Elliot, 1962, pg 18). Herbert gained most of his inspiration through “faith, in hunger and thirst after godliness and in his self-questioning and religious meditation”(T.S Elliot 1962, PG 19). Here, one can suggest the differences between the careers of Donne and Herbert in the church. Donne was the Dean of St Paul’s, whose sermons drew many c

However, it is remarkable to see the Biblical undertones and spiritual relationship in line 17-18, in which the speaker tells the mistress, “Now take off those shoes, and then softly tread/In this loves hallow’d temple, this soft bed”. This can be compared to Exodus 3:6, where the voice of the burning bush commands Moses to remove his sandals, as he is standing on Holy ground. In both these cases, the removal of the shoes is a preparation for one of the members of that relationship entering onto the realm of the Holy, as well as to the perception or impartation of divine knowledge. Strangely, it is the voice of the Burning Bush that commands Moses to lead the Israelites to the land of “milk and honey”, while Donne’s speaker progresses to the discovery of “My America! My new-found land”. Thus Moses and the speaker of “Going to Bed” are being directed to a Promised Land of “varying spiritual and sensual significance”. (http://www.geocities.com/milleldred/donnetomistress.html, www.Gradesavers.com).

Some topics in this essay:
CA Patrides, Poems Renaissance, XX Donne, TS Elliot, Promised Land, Mistress Bed”, Collar” Donne, Donne Herbert, Burning Bush, John Donne, donne herbert, mistress bed”, elliot 1962, 1962 pg, elliot 1962 pg, john donne, george herbert, burning bush commands, love religion, 1971 pg, bush commands, donne’s poem, donne’s poem “to, voice burning bush, poem “to mistress,