Niobe by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Niobe

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

Niobe

Niobe in this marble weepeth,

And her tears are tears indeed:

Who would not be dissolved in tears,

If this marble could so bleed?

 

This epigram draws on the myth of Niobe, a figure from Greek mythology who was turned into a stone after the gods punished her for her pride. In her grief, she weeps eternally. Donne captures this tragic image in just a few lines, marveling at the emotional power even a statue can convey.

 

Summary

The poem presents an image of Niobe, a figure from Greek mythology, who has been transformed into marble (stone) as a result of her overwhelming grief. Despite being turned into stone, she is still described as weeping, and her tears are said to be real.

The speaker then reflects on the powerful emotional impact of this scene: if something as hard and lifeless as marble can appear to shed real tears, then any person witnessing this should naturally be moved to tears themselves. The idea is that Niobe’s sorrow is so intense and genuine that it can be felt and seen even through cold stone.

Summary in steps:

Niobe is depicted as a marble statue.

Despite being marble, she is shown weeping real tears.

The speaker is struck by the realism and emotional depth of the statue.

He suggests that anyone seeing such grief in marble would themselves be moved to weep.

The poem emphasizes the power of sorrow and how it can transcend even lifeless matter.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Original Line 1:

"Niobe in this marble weepeth,"

Paraphrase:

Niobe is crying in this marble statue.

 

Original Line 2:

"And her tears are tears indeed:"

Paraphrase:

And the tears we see on her are truly real (or they seem genuinely real).

 

Original Line 3:

"Who would not be dissolved in tears,"

Paraphrase:

Who wouldn’t break down and start crying themselves,

 

Original Line 4:

"If this marble could so bleed?"

Paraphrase:

If even cold, hard marble can appear to cry like this?

 

Analysis in Detail

Theme and Subject:

The poem is centered around Niobe, a figure from Greek mythology who was turned into stone after the gods punished her for her pride and sorrow. Even though she becomes a statue of marble, she is described as weeping—her grief is so deep that it is visibly expressed through tears in the stone.

 

The key themes include:

Grief and Suffering: The poem reflects on how overwhelming sorrow can transform a person—even into stone—yet still remain visibly powerful.

 

Art and Emotion: Donne draws attention to the lifelike emotion that can be portrayed in art, especially in sculpture.

 

Empathy and Human Reaction: The speaker suggests that witnessing such intense sorrow—even in stone—should move any human to tears.

 

Tone and Emotion:

The tone is awe-struck and compassionate, with a touch of melancholy. Donne admires the emotional depth that the sculpture of Niobe conveys, suggesting that even marble—cold and lifeless—appears to bleed with sorrow. This admiration borders on astonishment.

There is also a quiet sense of pity and reverence for the depth of Niobe's pain.

 

Literary Devices:

Allusion:

The entire poem alludes to the Greek myth of Niobe, who lost all her children and was turned into stone while weeping over them.

 

Personification:

Marble (a lifeless material) is described as “weeping” and “bleeding,” giving it human traits to emphasize the depth of sorrow.

 

Imagery:

The visual of a stone figure shedding tears creates a vivid and haunting image. It makes the reader imagine grief so powerful that it becomes visible and real even in inanimate material.

 

Irony:

There’s subtle irony in the fact that something as lifeless as marble can appear to feel and express emotion more potently than many people might.

 

Hyperbole:

The poem suggests that marble can “bleed” or express sorrow. This exaggeration is used for dramatic effect.

 

Interpretation:

Donne is reflecting on the power of grief—so deep that it transcends life and death, flesh and stone. The poem could also be read as a comment on the power of art to move people emotionally. A sculpture of Niobe, carved from unfeeling stone, can still convey such intense sorrow that it draws real emotional responses from viewers.

This shows the enduring connection between human suffering and artistic representation. The poem also invites readers to imagine how deeply one must have suffered to still appear full of grief even after becoming marble.

 

Possible Exam Questions

Who is Niobe, and what does she symbolize in the poem?

 

What is unusual about Niobe’s depiction in the poem?

 

What emotion is central to the poem?

 

What does the speaker mean by “her tears are tears indeed”?

 

What literary device is used when marble is described as weeping?

 

Discuss the central idea of John Donne’s poem “Niobe.” How does the poet use a mythological reference to convey human emotion?

 

Examine the use of imagery and personification in the poem “Niobe.” How do these devices enhance the emotional impact?

 

How does John Donne portray the power of grief and suffering in “Niobe”? Support your answer with textual references.

 

In ‘Niobe,’ John Donne turns to Greek mythology to express universal feelings of sorrow. Comment on the poet’s technique and effect.

 

What does the poem suggest about the ability of art to express real emotion?

 

Do you think the poet is admiring the sculpture or commenting on the human ability to feel? Give reasons.

 

How does Donne use contrast between life and lifelessness in the poem?