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

 

The Anagram

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

The Anagram

Marry, and love thy Flavia, for she

Hath all things whereby others beauteous be,

For, though her eyes be small, her mouth is great;

Though they be ivory, yet her teeth be jet;

Though they be dim, yet she is light enough;

And though her harsh hair fall, her skin is rough;

What though her cheeks be yellow, her hair's red,

Give her thine, and she hath a maidenhead.

These things are beauty's elements, where these

Meet in one, that one must, as perfect, please.

If her lips be not red, her hands are white;

If her hands be not white, her breasts are bright;

If her breasts be not bright, her legs be straight;

If her legs be not straight, her heart’s upright.

If her heart be not upright, I am no true man;

The truth is, she hath everything, that's no woman.

Yet, let her not be ugly, not be fair;

Be but virtuous, she’s more than both are.

Yet be she neither, but let her be mine;

And only then the Anagram is fine.

 

Summary

The speaker begins by encouraging someone—possibly himself—to marry and love a woman named Flavia, despite her unconventional looks. He insists that she possesses all the necessary parts that make other women beautiful, though not in the usual or ideal forms.

He acknowledges that her eyes are small, but her mouth is large.

Her teeth are described as black like jet, though they are in contrast with the usual ideal of white teeth.

Her eyes may lack brightness, but he says she still brings enough light.

Her hair may be coarse or falling, and her skin rough, yet he still counts these as part of her beauty.

Her cheeks are yellow, and her hair is red, both of which were not traditional beauty standards of the time.

He makes a cheeky note that even if she lacks physical attraction, she is still virginal, which he presents as a virtue.

The speaker continues by listing qualities that are traditionally considered beautiful, implying that even if one feature is missing or lacking, another compensates for it:

If her lips aren't red, her hands are white.

If her hands aren’t white, her breasts are bright.

If her breasts aren’t bright, her legs are straight.

If her legs aren’t straight, at least her heart is upright (honest or good).

Then, with a humorous twist, he claims:

“If her heart be not upright, I am no true man;

The truth is, she hath everything, that’s no woman.”

This line sarcastically suggests that she might be lacking all the traits that define a woman, at least by conventional standards.

However, he concludes on a more sincere or reconciliatory note. Even if she is not beautiful (ugly) or not fair (lovely), if she is virtuous, she is more valuable than both beauty and fairness.

Finally, he says that even if she is neither virtuous nor beautiful, as long as she belongs to him, the “anagram”—a metaphor for her mismatched or oddly arranged features—is complete and pleasing.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. Marry, and love thy Flavia, for she

→ Marry and love Flavia, because she

 

2. Hath all things whereby others beauteous be,

→ Has all the features that make other women beautiful,

 

3. For, though her eyes be small, her mouth is great;

→ For example, her eyes may be small, but her mouth is large,

 

4. Though they be ivory, yet her teeth be jet;

→ Though her eyes are pale (like ivory), her teeth are black like jet stone,

 

5. Though they be dim, yet she is light enough;

→ Her eyes may be dull, but she still brightens the room,

 

6. And though her harsh hair fall, her skin is rough;

→ Though her hair is coarse and falling out, her skin is rough too,

 

7. What though her cheeks be yellow, her hair’s red,

→ So what if her cheeks are yellowish and her hair is red?

 

8. Give her thine, and she hath a maidenhead.

→ If you marry her, she’ll still be a virgin (and that's a plus).

 

9. These things are beauty's elements, where these

→ These are the parts that make up beauty, and when they

 

10. Meet in one, that one must, as perfect, please.

→ All come together in one person, that person should be seen as perfect.

 

11. If her lips be not red, her hands are white;

→ If her lips aren't red, at least her hands are fair-skinned.

 

12. If her hands be not white, her breasts are bright;

→ If her hands aren't fair, her breasts are light and radiant.

 

13. If her breasts be not bright, her legs be straight;

→ If her breasts aren’t fair, her legs are well-shaped.

 

14. If her legs be not straight, her heart’s upright.

→ If her legs aren’t shapely, her heart is morally upright.

 

15. If her heart be not upright, I am no true man;

→ And if her heart isn’t good, then I must be lying (or not a real man).

 

16. The truth is, she hath everything, that's no woman.

→ Honestly, she has all the features—just not the ones you'd expect in a woman.

 

17. Yet, let her not be ugly, not be fair;

→ Still, let her be neither ugly nor pretty;

 

18. Be but virtuous, she’s more than both are.

→ If she's virtuous, she's better than either beauty or ugliness.

 

19. Yet be she neither, but let her be mine;

→ Even if she's not virtuous or beautiful, as long as she's mine,

 

20. And only then the Anagram is fine.

→ Then her jumbled, mismatched features (the anagram) will seem perfect.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne’s “Elegy: The Anagram” is a witty, satirical, and paradoxical poem that pokes fun at traditional ideals of beauty while also challenging them. The poem is centered around a woman named Flavia, who clearly does not conform to conventional standards of physical attractiveness. Donne uses her as a humorous symbol to explore the subjectivity of beauty, male desire, and the value of inner virtues over outer appearances.

 

Theme and Tone

The primary theme is the relativity of beauty—Donne suggests that physical features, even when considered unattractive by society, can be rearranged or reimagined to form a kind of strange perfection. He calls this an “anagram”—a metaphor for a jumbled but complete whole. A secondary but crucial theme is virtue and love. By the end of the poem, Donne subtly shifts from mocking physical imperfections to affirming that virtue and possession (love or emotional attachment) are more important than beauty.

The tone of the poem is unmistakably comic, ironic, and mock-heroic. Donne begins with an exaggerated attempt to praise Flavia’s unattractive features, but in doing so, he makes them sound even worse. His tone borders on sarcasm, especially when he lists the woman’s physical flaws in an overcompensating manner. Yet by the final lines, the tone softens and becomes philosophical, even tender, as he expresses that love and commitment matter more than physical ideals.

 

Imagery and Language

Donne’s imagery is deliberately earthy and unflattering, and this is done for comedic effect. He uses descriptions like “harsh hair,” “rough skin,” “yellow cheeks,” and “jet” teeth (black) to construct a vivid portrait of a woman who fails to meet Renaissance standards of beauty. These exaggerated descriptions form a type of anti-Petrarchan catalog, mocking the poetic convention of idealizing a woman’s features.

The poem also plays with contrasts and opposites. For example, he says:

“If her lips be not red, her hands are white...”

This becomes a repeated rhetorical device, a kind of “either/or” logic that tries to balance out flaws with alternative virtues. It highlights the absurdity of measuring beauty as if it were a checklist.

 

Structure and Progression

The poem is written in rhymed couplets, maintaining a steady and controlled rhythm. This formal structure contrasts with the chaotic or “jumbled” nature of Flavia’s features, reinforcing the “anagram” metaphor. The progression of the poem moves from mock praise of physical features, to ironic defense, to a more serious reflection on virtue and love.

At first, Donne uses a kind of mock cataloguing, as if building a scientific or logical case for her beauty, but it’s clear he’s making fun of that very idea. This satirical list of physical traits builds up to the ironic line:

“The truth is, she hath everything, that’s no woman.”

This line is crucial—it turns the poem from merely humorous to philosophically provocative, questioning the idea of what truly makes someone a woman (or a person worthy of love).

The final few lines offer a resolution: even if she is not beautiful or virtuous, as long as she is his, her “anagram”—her oddly assembled self—is perfect. This gives the poem a surprising depth and sincerity beneath its satirical surface.

 

Poetic Devices

Donne’s hallmark wit and wordplay are at the heart of this poem. The title itself—“Anagram”—is a clever metaphor. An anagram rearranges letters to form something new, and Donne applies this to Flavia’s mismatched traits, suggesting that beauty can be found in unexpected combinations.

He also uses paradox and irony extensively. The paradox of someone having “everything, that’s no woman” is both humorous and thought-provoking. The anaphora (“If her... If her...”) in the middle lines reinforces the piling up of justifications.

The poem is rich in hyperbole—exaggeration for comic and rhetorical effect—and the playful manipulation of physical traits is a key device in creating satire.

 

Conclusion

“Elegy: The Anagram” is more than just a comedic poem; it is a metaphysical reflection on love, beauty, and value. Donne mocks the idea that beauty is a fixed or ideal form. Instead, he suggests that affection, ownership (in a romantic sense), and virtue are what truly make someone desirable. Beneath the humor, Donne challenges readers to rethink how we assess worth in others—especially in matters of love.

 

Possible Exam Questions

Who is the woman referred to in “Elegy: The Anagram”?

 

What is the significance of the title “Anagram” in the poem?

 

Identify two physical traits of Flavia described in the poem.

 

How does the speaker contrast Flavia’s outward appearance with her inner qualities?

 

What does Donne suggest is more valuable than physical beauty in a woman?

 

What poetic device is used in the lines beginning with “If her lips be not red…”?

 

Give an example of irony used in the poem.

 

What is the tone of the poem? Mention two adjectives.

 

What is meant by the line: “The truth is, she hath everything, that's no woman”?

 

Mention one way in which Donne subverts traditional Petrarchan love poetry in this poem.

 

Describe how John Donne humorously presents Flavia’s physical features in the poem.

 

What role does irony play in “Elegy: The Anagram”?

 

How does the structure of the poem support its central theme?

 

In what ways does Donne challenge conventional ideas of beauty in the poem?

 

Discuss the use of the metaphor “anagram” and its relevance to the poem’s message.

 

Examine “Elegy: The Anagram” as a satire on idealized beauty.

 

How does Donne use wit and paradox to explore love and attraction in “Elegy: The Anagram”?

 

Discuss how Donne shifts from mockery to sincerity in “Elegy: The Anagram.”

 

Analyze the speaker’s attitude toward Flavia. Does he truly admire her, or is the poem purely satirical?

 

How does “Elegy: The Anagram” reflect characteristics of metaphysical poetry?