The Sun Rising | John Donne | Study Guide

Author: John Donne

Year: 1633

Type: Poetry

Genre: Metaphysical Poetry

About Title 

"The Sun Rising" is one of John Donne's most famous poems. It is a metaphysical love poem in which the speaker addresses the sun, criticizing it for interrupting his time with his lover. The poem explores themes of love, time, and the insignificance of worldly affairs in comparison to the intimacy shared between two lovers.

Characters

The speaker: The persona of the poem, who addresses the sun directly and expresses his disdain for its interference.

The lover: The speaker's romantic partner, whose presence is cherished above all else in the poem.

Summary 

"The Sun Rising" is a metaphysical poem in which the speaker addresses the sun, personifying it as a meddlesome intruder disrupting his intimate moment with his lover. The speaker expresses frustration at the sun for trying to assert its dominance over his private space and declares that his love for his partner transcends the cycles of day and night. Throughout the poem, the speaker uses witty language and paradoxes to convey the enduring power of love and the insignificance of worldly concerns compared to the bond between lovers.

Symbol 

The sun: Represents the external world and its demands, which the speaker rejects in favor of his intimate relationship.

The bed: Symbolizes the private, intimate space shared by the lovers, which the speaker jealously guards against external intrusion.

Time: Symbolizes the mundane concerns of the world, contrasted with the eternal and timeless nature of love.

Themes

Love and Intimacy: The poem celebrates the power of love to create its own world, separate from external distractions.

Time and Transience: The speaker challenges the sun's authority over time, asserting that love transcends temporal concerns.

Rebellion against Authority: The speaker defies conventional authority represented by the sun and asserts the primacy of personal relationships and desires.

Paradox and Wit: Typical of metaphysical poetry, the poem employs paradoxical statements and witty language to convey complex ideas about love and existence.

 

In conclusion, John Donne's poem "The Sun Rising" serves as a poignant exploration of love's power to transcend time and space. Through vivid imagery and witty language, Donne playfully challenges the authority of the sun and asserts the supremacy of love. As the poem unfolds, readers are swept into a world where lovers reign supreme, unaffected by the passage of time or the demands of the outside world. Ultimately, "The Sun Rising" stands as a timeless tribute to the enduring nature of love and its ability to create a sanctuary of joy and intimacy in the face of life's uncertainties.