Hero and Leander by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Hero and Leander

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

Hero and Leander

Both robb’d of air, we both lie in one ground,

Both whom one fire had burnt, one water drown’d.

 

This two-line epigram distills the tragedy of Hero and Leander—two lovers from Greek mythology—into a clever paradox: one (Leander) dies by drowning while crossing the Hellespont, and the other (Hero), upon discovering his death, throws herself into the sea—and yet Donne ironically says they were “both burnt” and “both drowned.” The paradox highlights the intensity of love and passion, which consumes them both by fire (love) and water (death).

 

Summary

This brief poem consists of only two lines and presents a summary of the tragic story of Hero and Leander from Greek mythology.

“Both robb’d of air” – The speaker says that both Hero and Leander have lost their breath; they are dead and now lie in the grave. The word “air” refers to life or breath, and being “robbed” of it means they have died.

“We both lie in one ground” – The speaker (imagining the voice of the dead lovers) notes that they are buried together in the same grave or ground.

“Both whom one fire had burnt” – This line refers to the intense passion or love that both Hero and Leander shared. Their mutual love was like a fire that consumed them emotionally.

“One water drown’d” – Despite being metaphorically “burnt” by love, they were both destroyed by water in the end. Leander drowned in the sea while swimming to meet Hero, and Hero also drowned herself afterward.

So, the summary is that Hero and Leander, united in love, died tragically—both were consumed by the passion of love (fire) and both lost their lives through drowning (water), and now lie buried together.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Line 1:

Both robb’d of air, we both lie in one ground,

Paraphrase:

We have both stopped breathing and now lie buried together in the same grave.

 

Line 2:

Both whom one fire had burnt, one water drown’d.

Paraphrase:

Although the same passion (love) burned us both emotionally, the same water (the sea) ended both our lives.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne’s Hero and Leander is a remarkably brief poem—just two lines long—yet it is packed with meaning, emotion, and classical allusion. Drawing on the well-known Greek myth of Hero and Leander, Donne distills the tragic love story into an epigrammatic and paradoxical statement. The myth tells of Leander, who swims each night across the Hellespont to be with his lover Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite. One night, during a storm, he drowns, and Hero, upon discovering his body, throws herself into the sea and dies. Donne assumes the voice of the lovers—“we”—speaking from beyond the grave.

The first line, “Both robb’d of air, we both lie in one ground,” evokes a powerful image of unity in death. The phrase “robb’d of air” symbolizes their loss of life—air being a fundamental element of breath and vitality. Now lifeless, they lie in “one ground,” suggesting a shared burial or final resting place. This physical union in death contrasts with their separated, doomed attempts to be together in life.

The second line introduces a clever paradox: “Both whom one fire had burnt, one water drown’d.” The “fire” refers to the intense passion or love that consumed both Hero and Leander. It is metaphorical, representing desire and emotional fervor. Ironically, though burned by love, they were also drowned by “one water”—the sea that claimed both their lives. Donne’s juxtaposition of fire and water, two opposing elements, intensifies the tragic irony. Their love, like fire, should have united them, but instead, the literal force of water (a stormy sea) tore them apart and ultimately caused their deaths.

This contrast of elemental forces—fire (love) and water (death)—is a hallmark of Donne’s metaphysical style, where emotional and physical experiences are bound tightly together. The poem reflects on love’s ability to both elevate and destroy. Even though the lovers were devoted, their fate was not governed by the strength of their love but by external forces (the sea). The paradox deepens the tragedy: their burning passion leads them to a cold and watery grave.

In only two lines, Donne delivers a compact meditation on love, death, and fate, using the classical myth as a symbolic backdrop. His mastery lies in saying so much with so little—melding myth, metaphor, and irony into a poignant reflection on the human condition and the sometimes fatal consequences of desire.

 

Possible Exam Questions

Who are the two mythological lovers referred to in John Donne’s Hero and Leander?

 

How many lines does Donne’s Hero and Leander contain?

 

What elements does Donne contrast in the poem Hero and Leander?

 

What does the “fire” symbolize in the poem?

 

What is the significance of “one water” in the poem?

 

Which literary device is used in “one fire had burnt, one water drown’d”?

 

From whose point of view is the poem Hero and Leander narrated?

 

Write a brief summary of the poem Hero and Leander by John Donne.

 

Explain the paradox presented in the second line of the poem.

 

How does John Donne condense a tragic myth into just two lines?

 

Describe how love and death are portrayed in the poem.

 

Comment on the use of imagery in the poem.

 

How does Donne use irony in Hero and Leander?

 

Discuss how John Donne uses contrast and paradox in his poem Hero and Leander.

 

Examine the poem as a metaphysical reflection on love and death.

 

How does Donne transform a classical myth into a metaphysical meditation in just two lines?

 

Compare Donne’s Hero and Leander with other love poems that deal with tragic endings.

 

Analyze the effectiveness of the poem as an epigram.

 

Explore the emotional and thematic depth conveyed in such a brief poem.

 

How does the poem reflect John Donne’s metaphysical poetic style?