Song: Go and catch a falling star
by John Donne
Analysis
‘Song: Go and catch a falling star’ has
three stanzas, each of nine lines. The lines follow a consistent rhyme scheme
of ababccddd. The syllable pattern changes with sets of rhyme. For example, the
first four lines are of seven syllables. The next two contain eight, then there
are two two-syllabic lines. Finally, the stanza ends with a seven-syllabic
line. This pattern works best if read aloud or sung.
In the poem, Donne is annoyed of the
inconstancy of women. He compares the impossibility of something like catching
a star to finding an honest and beautiful woman. The poet believes, that he’ll
never come upon a woman who will treat him fairly and not run off with someone
else.
In the first stanza of this poem, the poet
asks the listener to “Go and catch a falling star” and to “Get with child,” or
impregnate, a “mandrake root.” Both of these statements have a magical mood
about them. He further asks the listener to “Tell” him facts about the past, an
impossibility as no one can truly know the history. The next statement refers
to the “cleft” in the devil’s foot. He wants to know, how it was decided which
form the devil was to take.
The poet asks the listener to teach him
to “hear mermaids singing” or how to “keep off envy’s stinging.” Finally, he says,
that he wants to know what makes people honest.
In the second stanza, he complains
about the unfair way he has been treated by women. He expresses his belief that
there are no women who are “true, and fair” or honest and beautiful, in the
world. He asks the listener to go to strange sights, to see unbelievable
things, and “Ride ten thousand days and nights” and seek as many “strange
wonders” as can be found.
He believes that anyone who attempted
this would have to ride until their hair turned white and still, they would not
come upon a woman “true, and fair.” It is not clear why he believes this to be
the case, but obviously, something in his past tuned his mind in this
direction.
In the final stanza, the poet says,
that if “thou find’st” a woman who is both true and fair, then he will go on a
“pilgrimage” to find her. He knows that this isn’t going to be the case though
so he does not go.
The poet says, that he thinks, that
“she Will be False” eventually. There might be a period of time before the
realization comes to pass, but he knows that it eventually will. Donne
separates women into two categories, those who are beautiful and faithless and
those who are ugly and not worth considering.
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