Analysis of Holy Sonnet XIV.
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Analysis of Holy Sonnet XIV. Throughout history, many people have endeavoured to convey their interpretations, or experiences, of the relationship between God and mankind. Many interpretations are positive - Psalm 139 of the Bible, for example, portrays the relationship between man and God as a personal and intimate one - yet just as many are decidedly negative. One such interpretation is Holy Sonnet XIV, an intensely personal poem by John Donne which explores the feelings of a man torn between physical desire and spiritual longing. In this essay I aim to study the poem in more depth, analysing what Donne says and how he says it. Holy Sonnet XIV was written at a time of crisis and confusion in Donne's life; a time when he was torn between spiritual longing for religion and holiness, and physical passion. The poem conveys a feeling of utmost ambivalence - at one point, Donne expresses his...

