Elegy 19
Who wrote this poem?
John Donne
What becomes the central symbol of love and persuasion in the poem?
The Flea
What time of day is referenced in the poem’s title, symbolizing a new beginning in love.
The Morning
This personal object is buried with the speaker in the poem.
What natural setting surrounds the two lovers as they sit and reflect in the poem?
Riverbank (River)
The speaker tells his mistress that removing these items brings them closer to truth and intimacy. What are the items?
Clothes/Garments
The flea has does what to both the speaker and his beloved?
Mixes their blood
The speaker compares their life before love to this stage of life.
Childhood
The bracelet is made from what part of the woman’s body.
While sitting together, the lovers hold this part of each other’s body.
What is the literary movement that is associated with Donne and is known for intellectual language and complex metaphors?
Metaphysical Poetry
What does the speaker claim the flea represents between him and the woman.
A sacred bond
The speaker says their love makes “one little room” equal to this vast thing. What is he comparing to?
The Whole World
The speaker asks that no one question or disturb this event after his death.
His Funeral
In the poem, what part of the lovers is described as leaving their bodies and joining together.
their souls
The speaker compares discovering his mistress’s body to what?
Exploring/Discovering "A New World"
After the woman kills the flea, the speaker argues that this supposed “loss” proves physical intimacy would not cause real harm. What is this "Loss?"
Virginity/Honor
The speaker refers to “sea-discoverers” and “new worlds” as a way to contrast physical exploration with what deeper type of connection?
Spiritual Love
The bracelet symbolizes this lingering emotional attachment the speaker still carries.
Love for his mistress
The speaker argues that true love requires not just spiritual connection, but also this physical element.
Their body connection (Physical Union)
The speaker compares undressing his mistress to explorers claiming new land in order to justify physical intimacy as what kind of conquest?
a form of heroic exploration
What literary device does Donne use when he builds an extended argument comparing the flea to love and physical intimacy?
A Metaphysical Conceit
The poem suggests that if their two loves are perfectly equal, then what will not happen to their relationship?
It will never end
The poem suggests that revealing the truth about the bracelet could damage this woman’s social reputation.
Her Honor
The poem suggests that separating soul from body completely would make love incomplete because love requires a balance between what two things?
The union of the body and soul