... different in terms of the ambiguity encountered in his work. many of his poems will logically support a vast number of interpretations. "Batter my heart," a holy sonnet by John Donne, uses sexual imagery to describe the speaker's acceptance of God's will. To what degree should critics focus on the suggestive language used to describe God forcing the speaker to serve ... 's creation" (Payne 1). In this interpretation, the first four lines seem to indicate a violent struggle rather than a romantic interlude. William kerrigan addresses this element of the poem by pointing out that John Don...

• Word Count: 2802
• Approx Pages: 11

... the circuitous trail that ultimately ends at the woman's heart- - and the nearby bedroom. Many consider poetry a sort of road map to the desired destination. John Donne's "The Flea," Robert Herrick's "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," and Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress," all seem to have been ... which poet displays the firmest grasp of the female psyche and the most powerful wea! pons to win this battle. By its title, one may assume that Donne's "The Flea" concerns nothing more than a blood sucking parasite; this, in fact, exposes his speakers strategy. In pointing out the f...

• Word Count: 2776
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School