Long- Distance Relationship To-Be

This is the "preliminary formal analysis" of John Donne's "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning." 

Genre: This has characteristics of a metaphysical poem.  Firstly, it is a poem about love. There are also unusual or obscure metaphors, such as the comparison of their love with the movement of two compasses. He explains that because they are in love, they both “[make] no show/ To move, but doth, if the’other doe.” It is a sonnet, with 36 lines broken into four-line stanzas written in an ABAB pattern.

Narrator: A man, assumingly John Donne, leaving his love as he goes on a trip. He cares deeply for this woman and softly proclaims their love to be “so much refin’d” and not limited by physical distance.

Setting: The setting of the sonnet is ambiguous; what we do know is that the two lovers will be in different places—“moving of th’ earth” – very soon (since this is a poem for a moment of parting). If we assume that the narrator is John Donne, then the author’s setting is most likely late 16^th- early 17^th century England.

Characters: There are two characters in the poem. One is the narrator, who is leaving on a trip. He seems to be a man of conviction who is very much in love. He gently discloses to his lover with a certain amount of pride that their love goes beyond a “dull sublunary” love so that they are “two soules…which are one,” even when they are separated by distance. Readers can assume that this woman returns the speaker’s love and “hearkens after [him].” They both seem young and clearly devoted to each other.

Plot: There is no immediate plot during this poem. It gives the sense of being on the edge of an event, perhaps an event about to begin, which is the man’s trip away from his love. There is more focus on the emotion of the scene, with the narrator comforting his love to not “sigh-tempests move” as he travels away, but to be assured that he will return “where I begunne.”

Diction: Donne uses figurative language to paint a picture of the relationship shown in the piece. There are many metaphors, such as their love being  “like gold”—most spread out but still precious and beautiful—and their souls being like compasses, always pointing in the same direction. He even starts the work with the imagery of “virtuous men [passing] mildly away” to assure his love that she should not fear, but should be happy and have hope in a bright future together.

Tone: Generally, the piece is tender and reassuring. The tone shows a quiet but complete confidence in his (the narrator’s) relationship. He is familiar and affectionate with his lover, with whom he shares a love he describes as “much refin’d.”

Rhetoric: The narrator is using a primarily persuasive tone. It is gentle but encouraging as the speaker tries to convince his lover that they truly are meant to be, and that this distance will never hinder their love. He wants this for her, so she will not weep "teare-floods" as his absence, and also for himself and his piece of mind as he is away and upon his return.

Visual Design: Again, the poem is split into nine four-line stanzas. The ABAB pattern is laid out in the format. Each stanza is also separated to make the piece more reader-friendly.

Textual Awareness: There are no direct references to other poems or pieces of literature. There are certainly comparisons made, but nothing to connect this piece directly to another work.

...Well, I tried!