John Donne: Poems Lesson Plan

In "Anatomy of the World," Donne writes, perhaps rhetorically, "new philosophy calls all in doubt." Compared to another famous 17th century poet, John Milton, Donne was both knowledgeable about and interested in "new philosophy." What do you think the stakes were for Donne in accepting or rejecting the new philosophy? From what you've read of his poems so far, does he seem to enjoy and accept science into his work?

Students should think about two things in tension in Donne's work: his apparently eager use of abstruse and often scientific metaphors, and his deep Christian devotion. Donne does use the images of science. However, he uses them to describe a body in decay, for...