The Funeral By John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

The Funeral

By John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

The Funeral

Whoever comes to shroud me, do not harm

Nor question much

That subtle wreath of hair, which crowns my arm;

The mystery, the sign you must not touch,

For 'tis my outward soul,

Viceroy to that which then to heaven being gone

Will leave this to control

And keep these limbs, her provinces, from dissolution.

 

For if the sinewy thread my brain lets fall

Through every part

Can tie those parts, and make me one of all,

Those hairs, which upward grew and strength and art

Have from a better brain,

Can better do 't: except she meant that I

By this should know my pain,

As prisoners then are manacled when they're condemned to die.

 

Whate’er she meant by it, bury it with me,

For since I am

Love’s martyr, it might breed idolatry

If into other hands these relics came.

As 'twas humility

To afford to it all that a soul can do,

So 'tis some bravery

That since you would save none of me, I bury some of you.

 

Summary

Stanza 1 Summary:

The speaker begins by addressing the person who will prepare his body for burial. He instructs them not to disturb or question the small "wreath of hair" tied around his arm. This lock of hair, he says, is a symbol of his beloved's soul, which represents her presence and connection to him. He describes it as a "mystery" and a "sign"—something sacred and untouchable. He claims it acts as a viceroy or deputy for her soul, which, once his own soul has departed to heaven, will govern his body and protect it from decay.

 

Stanza 2 Summary:

The speaker reflects on the idea that just as his own brain sends signals through the body, allowing all parts to function as one, this lock of hair—which comes from a more refined and noble source (his beloved)—has even greater power. It can hold his body together even after death. He then considers the possibility that the hair was given to him to remind him of his emotional pain, in the same way that prisoners are manacled (chained) when they are sentenced to die. The hair may serve as a token of both love and suffering.

 

Stanza 3 Summary:

The speaker finally instructs that the lock of hair should be buried with him, regardless of its original intent. He sees himself as a "love’s martyr", having died because of love, and fears that if someone else were to possess this token, they might worship it or treat it as a relic, leading to idolatry. Since he gave all of himself emotionally and spiritually to this love, it is only fair, he says, that he should take a part of his beloved to the grave with him. The poem ends with this idea: that even in death, he buries a part of her, just as he gave all of himself during life.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Stanza 1

Whoever comes to shroud me, do not harm

Whoever prepares my body for burial, please don’t damage or disturb anything—

 

Nor question much

And don’t ask too many questions—

 

That subtle wreath of hair, which crowns my arm;

About the delicate lock of hair tied like a bracelet around my arm.

 

The mystery, the sign you must not touch,

It is a mysterious and sacred symbol, so don’t touch it.

 

For 'tis my outward soul,

It represents my soul outwardly, in a physical form.

 

Viceroy to that which then to heaven being gone

It acts as the deputy to my real soul, which will be in heaven after I die—

 

Will leave this to control

And will leave this lock of hair behind to take charge—

 

And keep these limbs, her provinces, from dissolution.

And protect my body—her territory—from rotting or falling apart.

 

Stanza 2

For if the sinewy thread my brain lets fall

If the threads (nerves) that my brain sends out—

 

Through every part

Which connect and control every part of my body—

 

Can tie those parts, and make me one of all,

Can hold my body together as one whole being—

 

Those hairs, which upward grew and strength and art

Then these hairs, which grew from her head and were given with care—

 

Have from a better brain,

Come from a more noble or superior mind (his beloved’s).

 

Can better do 't: except she meant that I

So they can do this even better—unless she meant something else—

 

By this should know my pain,

Maybe she gave it to remind me constantly of my suffering in love,

 

As prisoners then are manacled when they're condemned to die.

Just like condemned prisoners are chained when sentenced to death.

 

Stanza 3

Whate’er she meant by it, bury it with me,

Whatever her reason was, just bury the hair with me.

 

For since I am

Because I am now—

 

Love’s martyr, it might breed idolatry

A martyr of love, people might turn this token into an object of worship—

 

If into other hands these relics came.

If this lock of hair ended up in someone else’s hands.

 

As 'twas humility

Just as she humbly gave it—

 

To afford to it all that a soul can do,

And allowed it to have all the value and power a soul can give—

 

So 'tis some bravery

It is now an act of courage—

 

That since you would save none of me, I bury some of you.

That since none of me will be preserved, I will at least take a part of her (the hair) to the grave with me.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne’s The Funeral is a metaphysical poem that explores themes of love, death, the body, the soul, sacrifice, and memory. The speaker, presumably close to death, addresses those who will handle his body and makes a deeply emotional and symbolic request regarding a lock of his lover’s hair that he wears tied around his arm. This seemingly simple object becomes the focus of the poem, carrying layered meanings tied to love, spiritual connection, and identity.

 

Tone and Voice:

The poem’s tone is solemn and reverent, yet also marked by bitterness, passion, and a sense of resignation. The speaker accepts death, but he insists on preserving the sanctity of the lock of hair as a sacred relic of love. Donne uses a dramatic monologue form, where the speaker addresses an unseen listener—likely the person preparing his body for burial. This intimate and intense voice gives the poem an emotional urgency.

 

Themes:

1. Love as Sacred and Spiritual:

The lock of hair is not just a token of affection—it is described as the speaker’s "outward soul" and a "viceroy" (a representative or ruler on behalf of another). These metaphysical images elevate human love to a spiritual plane. The speaker believes that the hair, once tied around his body, has the power to preserve his corpse or govern his body, even after his soul has gone to heaven.

 

2. Physical Symbolism of Love:

The wreath of hair becomes the physical representation of a deep emotional and spiritual bond. Donne plays on the metaphysical conceit—a hallmark of his style—by giving a mundane object (hair) an elaborate and symbolic meaning. It shows how the material (hair) and the immaterial (soul, love) are deeply interconnected.

 

3. Pain and Bondage in Love:

There is a shift in the second stanza where the speaker questions whether the hair was given as a reminder of pain rather than comfort. He compares it to manacles on a condemned prisoner, suggesting love has caused emotional suffering and entrapment. This duality of love—as uplifting and painful—is a key tension in the poem.

 

4. Death and Legacy:

The speaker is preparing for death, but he is conscious of what survives after him. He sees himself as a “love’s martyr”, someone who died because of love. The fear that someone might idolize the hair after his death reflects a concern for misunderstanding or misusing the sacredness of love. Thus, he insists it be buried with him, preserving the intimacy and secrecy of their relationship.

 

Imagery and Language:

Donne uses religious and political imagery to heighten the significance of the hair:

Religious: Words like soul, mystery, relics, martyr, and idolatry align love with religious sacrifice and devotion.

Political: Terms like viceroy, provinces, and control present the lover's soul as a ruler maintaining order even after death.

This blending of spiritual and secular imagery is typical of metaphysical poetry and illustrates the complexity of the speaker’s emotions.

 

Structure and Style:

The poem is written in iambic pentameter, but with frequent variations in rhythm and line length, adding to the conversational yet intense tone.

Donne uses enjambment, allowing thoughts to flow beyond single lines, creating a natural, spoken feel.

The structure follows a clear three-stanza progression:

Introduction of the hair as a sacred object

Reflection on its emotional meaning and possible motive

Final request and resolution about its burial

This gives the poem a sense of movement from symbolism to personal pain to closure.

 

Metaphysical Elements:

Conceits: Comparing a lock of hair to a “viceroy,” a “soul,” and even a “manacle” are elaborate metaphysical conceits that push the reader to think beyond literal meanings.

Paradoxes: Love gives life and causes death. A small piece of hair controls a dead body. Something humble (hair) becomes a sign of bravery.

Tension between body and soul: Donne’s work often explores the duality of human existence—here, the soul goes to heaven, but something must remain to guard the body. The hair bridges that gap.

 

Conclusion:

The Funeral is a complex and moving poem where John Donne expresses the intertwining of love, death, memory, and pain. It is not merely a lament or romantic gesture—it is a meditation on how love imprints itself onto the body and soul, and how even in death, love continues to claim and preserve identity. The speaker wants to control how love is remembered: not as an object for public devotion, but as a sacred bond that only he and his beloved shared, sealed forever in the grave.

 

Possible Exam Questions     

What object is tied around the speaker’s arm in The Funeral?

 

Why does the speaker ask not to be questioned about the lock of hair?

 

What does the speaker refer to as his “outward soul”?

 

Who is the "viceroy" mentioned in the poem and what does it represent?

 

What comparison does the speaker make to prisoners in the second stanza?

 

Why does the speaker fear the hair might “breed idolatry”?

 

How does the speaker describe himself in relation to love?

 

What is the significance of the lock of hair in Donne’s The Funeral?

 

How does Donne use religious imagery in the poem?

 

Explain the metaphor of the "viceroy" in the first stanza.

 

What is the speaker’s final request in the poem and why?

 

How does the poem reflect the theme of love and suffering?

 

Discuss how The Funeral reflects John Donne’s metaphysical style.

 

Examine the speaker’s relationship with love and death in the poem The Funeral.

 

Analyze how Donne uses metaphysical conceits in The Funeral.

 

“Since you would save none of me, I bury some of you.”

— Comment on the emotional and symbolic weight of this line.

 

How does Donne explore the tension between the physical and the spiritual in The Funeral?

 

How is martyrdom portrayed in the poem The Funeral?

 

In what way does The Funeral explore the theme of memory and legacy?

 

Describe how The Funeral treats the idea of love as both sacred and painful.