The Flea Flashcards
1
Q
What is a conceit
A
Metaphor that compares two very unlike things in a surprising and clever way- often extended metaphors that dominate entire passage/poem
2
Q
Context
A
- fleas popular subject for sexual humor during reinaissance
- believed that during sex blood of two participants mixed together
- ability to freely roam ladies’ flesh made them envy of john donne’s poetic narrator
3
Q
Typicality in metaphysical poetry
A
Themes of love, religion, pleasure. Explores carpe diem mentality.
4
Q
‘a sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead’
A
- a sin- agrument for why she shouldnt refuse him
- enjambment separates sin from action, weakens the importance
5
Q
‘this flea is you and I, and this- our marriage bed, and marriage temple is’
A
- the flea is joining of bodies and souls
- holy, pure, important- convinces
- him, her, god- marriage, holy trinity
6
Q
‘and cloistered in these living walls of jet’
A
- religious connotations of cloistered- sheltered nuns
- living in the flea, separate from others
7
Q
‘cruel and sudden, hast thou since. purpled thy nail in blood of innocence?’
A
- purple- from heart, arteria blood and symbolises sex
- she squashes the flea- had enough, female impact/involvement
8
Q
‘just so much honour, when thou yeild’st to me’
A
final sense of persuasion, honour-virginity, she should give her body to him
