Close Analysis of Holy Sonnet 1 by John Donne
Close Analysis of “Holy Sonnet #1” by John Donne This sonnet opens with a direct address and question to God and as this is an Italian sonnet this question prepares us for the theme of the octave. ... In line 3, the isolation of the word “death” by surrounding caesuras dramatically underlines the weight and significance of this word in the sonnet. ... Donne subsequently picks up on this use of consonantal alliteration and this becomes a recurring sound in the octave of the sonnet. ... There is a turn in the sonnet as the speaker again directly addresses God in line 9: “Only thou art above…” This emphasises the shift in tone as becoming a Petrarchan sonnet and we see a first glimpse of hope for the speaker. ... This weakness is also successfully highlighted by the phrase: “not one hour” and Donne emphasises to us the speaker’s feelings of terrible inadequacy and need of God’s support. ... The speaker has recognised his own limitations and is calling on God to take control of his life and to draw him close to Him.