The Funeral

Question 1

Overview:

Answer 1

Donne utilises the typically petrarchan trope of a scorned lover, but takes it further with the speaker of the voice being a dead body addressing a mortician. The speaker, through the image of the wreath of hair on his wrist notes the controlling nature of the woman, the poem however takes on a vindictive tone when the speaker promises to return to control the woman himself.

Question 2

“subtle wreath of hair, which crowns my arm”

Answer 2

• Wreath - motif - token of love.
• Subtle - suggests it is difficult to find.
• Crowns - suggests preciousness.

Question 3

Semantic field of states:

Answer 3

“dissolution”, “provinces”, - ending a partnership between states - end of a relationship.

Question 4

“By this should know my pain,/ As prisoners then are manacled, when they are condemned to die”.

Answer 4

• Bracelet of hair acting as a manacle.
• He has been chained to his unrequited love - woman has intended to cause him suffering.

Question 5

“For since I am Love’s martyr, it might breed idolatry”.

Answer 5

• Catholic imagery of “love’s martyr” - died as a result of the woman’s rejection of him.

Question 6

“Since you should have none of me, I bury some of you”

Answer 6

• Subverts readers exception.
• His revenge for the woman’s unrequited love is to take a part of her away into death.
• Parralelism - connection.

Question 7

Structure:

Answer 7

• Regularity of the octaves - suggests the continuity of love.
• Frequent changing in metre reflects changes to the poetic voices attitudes.
• Elegaic form - feelings of bitterness and retribution.