ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -In “Meditation 17", Donne declares that he heard the church bell ring every time there was a death in the community, which made him think about his own life. He concludes that suffering of humanity, rather than making us suffer, must inspire us to live to the fullest and be ready at the time of death.

Detailed explanation-2: -Donne begins his sermon by engaging a pretense: A church bell is ringing, signifying someone’s death (a traditional ceremony of the church on these occasions). Donne wonders if the man was so sick that he didn’t comprehend that the bell was announcing his death.

Detailed explanation-3: -In “Meditation 17, ” John Donne faces his own mortality, and sees how humanity is connected as a whole. John Donne uses several literary connotations like metaphors, similes, synecdoche, allusions/personification, and symbolism to establish themes in this work.

Detailed explanation-4: -If one doesn’t grow spiritually from the experience, then the affliction is worthless. The metaphor illuminates the paradoxical theme of affliction and treasure. Because affliction is treasure, intestinal illness is gold. “Meditation 17” is a sermon, meaning that Donne would have stood and delivered it as a speech.