Obesessed With Death?

As we come to the end of our study of the poet John Donne (I will refrain from saying we are done with Donne), we can begin to ponder the deeper truths he has revealed to us. Donne's poertry stays with you a long time, so I find it fitting that you will have a winter break to contemplate about this truly intellectual artist.

The picture to your left was commissioned by Donne a few months before his death. It was intended to represent how Donne expected to appear when he rose from the grave at the Apocalypse (or Compt, as Othello would call it). He hung the portrait on his wall as a reminder of the transience of life. We have his poetry hanging in the gallery of our minds to remind us of this transience as well.

We will be watching Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Wit in class this week as a way to see another view of Donne's work. Year Twos, you will be asked to address one of the following topics on your blog site after viewing the play. Please label your blog entry by the question you are addressing and be sure you reference the work. This will be due before the end of the year; I will be checking them in the warmth of my holidays home in Virginia.

* Defend Wit as a play that explores the thematic pattern of creation/fall/redemption.

* Analyze why Wit is the perfect title for this work.

* What does Vivian's dying teach her about life?

* Detail how Wit illustrates the meaning of John Donne's sonnet "Death, Be Not Proud."

* Explore the parallels between Vivian Bearing and E.M. Ashford with Jason Posner and Harvey Kelekian.