The Anniversary

Question 1

Overview:

Answer 1

The poem, written to mark the anniversary of a couple, notes how love can transcend the traditional constraints of society and time. Donne puts the lovers’ relationship on a pedestal with the motif of the courtly world and the reference to the relationship as a reign. There is also a sense of mutuality in this relationship, with the balance created between the couple, arguably allowing for the continuation of their relationship.

Question 2

Form:

Answer 2

• Dramatic Monologue.
• Elegiac quality - focuses on the eternal nature of true love which allows it to transcend death.

Question 3

“this no tommorow hath nor yesterday”.

Answer 3

• love existing beyond the bounds of time.
• Given that it exists beyond time it is immutable, incapable of decay because it is unchanging.
• Links to the idea that love also transcends courtly concerns.
  “ All Kings and all there favourites”.

Question 4

“Must leave at last in death these eyes and ears,/oft fed with sweet salt tears”.

Answer 4

• Eyes and ears - represents the means by which people physically connect with the world.
• They permit each lover to receive and to communicate their love.
• tears - consequences of their love.
• sibilance of the ‘s’ - sobbing.

Question 5

“when bodies to their graves, souls to their graves remove”.

Answer 5

• parallelism.
• conveys the sense of balance - conveying the natural process of death.
• When the bodies are confided to the grave - the souls are liberated.

Question 6

“here upon earth we’re kings, and none but we can be such kings, nor of such subjects be”.

Answer 6

• Donne returns to the motif of the couple as royalty.
• They are seen as both king and subject in one.
• paradox resolved through the fact that they are the only members of their world.

Question 7

“years and years union years”.

Answer 7

• focus on the time they have together.
• repitition - implies that their love is long lasting and almost eternal.

Question 8

“second of our reign”.

Answer 8

• Bathetic conclusion - illustrates how little of their relationship has already gone by.
• Another image of royalty.

Question 9

Form:

Answer 9

• Regular rhyme scheme.
• Structure conveys a sense of regularity and connection - shows the profound connection between his and his beloved.