Holy Sonnet 14: "Batter my heart"

Question 1

Overview:

Answer 1

Within Holy Sonnet 14, the speaker apostrophised to God in a dramatic plea for brutal spiritual salvation. The speaker wishes to be broken by God in order to become spiritually cleaned with the intensity of his need for salvation evident in the conceit of the blacksmith. The volta marks the speaker’s address to God becoming more desperate.

Question 2

“batter my heart”.

Answer 2

• First person possessive pronoun - expresses Donne’s personal appeal - reinforces the personal strength of struggle with faith.

Question 3

“batter”, “knock”, “break”, “blow”

Answer 3

• Violent verbs - have connotations of aggression.
• Subverts the traditional sonnet that typically has themes of courtship with violence.
• Suggestion that God is a blacksmith - wants god to reshape him.
• Plosive’s show the harshness of the speakers emotions.

Question 4

“reason your viceroy in me should defend”

Answer 4

• The image of God as a soldier - extended when Donne refers to humbled as a viceroy.
• Suggests that Donne wishes to relinquish control and responsibility for his faith.
• Wishes to be subjugated by god.

Question 5

“nor ever chaste, except you ravish me”.

Answer 5

• Sonnets last lines are a paradox - Donne wishes to reclaim his innocence through being ravished by god.

Question 6

Context:

Answer 6

• Reflection of Donne’s religious grief as a result of his apostasy.
• Donne asking God to internee and purify his soul challenges the protests doctrine of grace.