A Burnt Ship by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

A Burnt Ship

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

A Burnt Ship

Out of a fired ship, which by no way

But drowning could be rescued from the flame,

Some men leap'd forth, and ever as they came

Near the foe's ships, did by their shot decay;

So all were lost, which in the ship were found,

They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drown’d.

 

Summary (Not Analysis)

A ship catches fire at sea, and there is no way to save it from burning except by abandoning it and jumping into the water. Some of the sailors on board try to escape the flames by leaping off the burning ship into the sea. As they swim away, they head toward the enemy's ships, possibly hoping to be rescued or simply trying to survive.

However, as they get closer to the enemy ships, the enemy fires upon them. Many of these escaping sailors are killed by gunfire before they can reach safety. In the end, everyone perishes — those who stayed on the burning ship drowned when it sank, and those who jumped into the sea were shot by the enemy. Thus, no one survived, whether they tried to escape or stayed on board.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Original Line 1:

Out of a fired ship, which by no way

Paraphrase:

From a ship that had caught fire and could not be saved by any means

 

Original Line 2:

But drowning could be rescued from the flame,

Paraphrase:

The only way to escape the fire was to jump into the sea and drown.

 

Original Line 3:

Some men leap'd forth, and ever as they came

Paraphrase:

Some sailors jumped into the water, and as they swam toward safety

 

Original Line 4:

Near the foe's ships, did by their shot decay;

Paraphrase:

When they got close to the enemy’s ships, they were shot and killed.

 

Original Line 5:

So all were lost, which in the ship were found,

Paraphrase:

So, everyone who had been on the ship ended up dying—no one was spared.

 

Original Line 6:

They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drown’d.

Paraphrase:

Those in the sea were shot and died (burnt metaphorically by gunfire), and those who stayed aboard the burning ship drowned.

 

Analysis in Detail

Tone and Mood

The poem carries a stark, somber, and tragic tone. The mood is one of hopelessness and despair. From the outset, Donne presents a dire situation — a ship on fire — and quickly escalates the crisis to a point where death is inescapable, no matter the choice.

 

Theme of Inescapable Death

At its heart, the poem explores the inescapability of death in certain situations. The sailors are trapped between two equally fatal outcomes: stay aboard the burning ship and drown, or jump into the sea and be shot by enemy fire. This grim dichotomy emphasizes how death can be unavoidable, regardless of one’s decision or action. Donne does not romanticize bravery or survival; rather, he presents the cold finality of death.

 

Imagery and Conciseness

Despite its brevity (only six lines), the poem is densely packed with vivid imagery:

“A fired ship” immediately conjures a dramatic, urgent scene.

“Leap’d forth” shows the desperation of the men.

“By their shot decay” is a poetic way to describe being killed by enemy fire, evoking both destruction and withering.

Donne’s word choice is economical yet potent. In just a few phrases, he presents a full and tragic narrative.

 

Structure and Style

The poem is a single six-line stanza (a sestet) and follows no fixed meter or rhyme scheme, reflecting perhaps the chaos of the situation described. The final line serves as a kind of tragic summary, using a poetic reversal:

“They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drown’d.”

This inversion highlights the futility of both options and ties the poem to the paradoxical style typical of metaphysical poetry, though the poem lacks the intellectual wit more commonly found in Donne’s other works.

 

Use of Irony

There’s a strong sense of irony in the poem:

The men jump into the sea to escape the fire, but end up being burned metaphorically by enemy gunfire.

Those who stay aboard are burned, yet Donne says they drown, inverting expectations.

This tragic irony reinforces the idea that human efforts to escape fate or death can be futile.

 

Historical Context

Though Donne doesn’t mention a specific event, the imagery reflects naval warfare in the early 17th century, when ships were made of wood and highly flammable, and battles often left no survivors. The poem may be inspired by real incidents Donne witnessed or read about, perhaps during England’s wars with Spain or other sea powers.

 

Philosophical Undertone

While the poem appears to describe a simple wartime tragedy, it also reflects Donne’s deeper meditation on human mortality and helplessness. The poem becomes an allegory for the human condition: caught between dangers, no clear escape, and all choices leading to the same end — death. This idea fits Donne’s preoccupation with death and eternity, as seen throughout his poetry and sermons.

 

Possible Exam Questions

What is the central incident described in the poem “A Burnt Ship”?

 

How do the sailors try to escape the burning ship?

 

What happens to the men who jump into the sea?

 

What two causes of death are presented in the poem?

 

How many lines are there in the poem “A Burnt Ship”?

 

Name one poetic device used by Donne in this poem.

 

What does the phrase “by their shot decay” mean?

 

Why can’t the ship be saved from the fire?

 

Describe the tragic fate of the sailors in “A Burnt Ship.”

 

How does John Donne portray the theme of unavoidable death in “A Burnt Ship”?

 

Give a detailed summary of the poem “A Burnt Ship.”

 

Explain the irony in the final line of “A Burnt Ship.”

 

How does Donne use imagery to evoke the horror of war in this poem?

 

Comment on the paradox in the line: “They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drown’d.”

 

Discuss how the poem “A Burnt Ship” reflects the metaphysical concerns typical of John Donne’s poetry.

 

Is “A Burnt Ship” merely a war narrative, or does it carry a deeper philosophical message? Give reasons for your answer.

 

How does Donne compress a complete tragedy into a six-line poem? Discuss with reference to the poem.

 

Compare the tone and subject matter of “A Burnt Ship” with any other metaphysical poem by John Donne.