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

 

The Relic

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

The Relic

When my grave is broke up again,

Some second guest to entertain,

(For graves have learned that woman-head

To be to more than one a bed)

There dig up this polluted feast,

But branch it first with the sad priest:

Tell him, my love, the earliest mite

Which in this grave doth rest, is white;

Tell him, my fame, his sin, whose sin

The sun and moon shall never shine in.

Tell him, I lived new in these eyes,

More pure than saints in paradise;

Tell him, my heart was new and true,

Never before betrayed to you.

Tell him, that she, whose soul now keeps

Watch o’er this churchyard, never sleeps;

Tell him, in this black, o’erworn sheet,

My body’s henceforth dead to meet

No other joy, but far more due,

That one poor woman, to be true.

 

Summary

The poem is written as a sort of epitaph or reflection from the speaker’s perspective after death. The speaker imagines that after he is buried and his grave is opened again in the future, someone—likely a priest or a visitor—will come to examine his remains.

He asks that when his grave is disturbed, this visitor should be told certain things about his life and love, which will be revealed through the relics found there.

The speaker warns that graves have become places where more than one person lies together, hinting that his grave might become a symbol of love and intimacy.

He refers to the "polluted feast"—his own dead body buried in the grave—and suggests that it should be shown to the priest, but only after it has been “branched” or blessed by the sad priest.

The speaker then instructs that the priest be told about the purity of the person who rests in the grave with him—the “earliest mite” which is “white” (suggesting innocence or purity).

He speaks of his “fame” (reputation) and the sins of the priest whose sins will forever keep him from the light of the sun and moon, contrasting the priest’s sinfulness with his own purity.

The speaker claims that he lived anew in the eyes of his beloved, more pure than even the saints in paradise.

He emphasizes that his heart was true and loyal, never betrayed to anyone else but the woman buried with him.

He tells that the woman whose soul now watches over the churchyard never sleeps, implying she remains devoted and vigilant even after death.

Finally, he concludes that his body, wrapped in the grave’s black cloth, will no longer experience any earthly joy except for the joy of having been faithful to one woman.

In short, "The Relic" is a meditation on love, death, and faithfulness, imagining the future discovery of the speaker’s grave and the testament it will provide to his true and pure love for one woman. It contrasts the speaker’s fidelity with the sins of others, especially the priest.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

When my grave is broke up again,

When my grave is opened again in the future,

 

Some second guest to entertain,

To welcome another visitor or person who comes later,

 

(For graves have learned that woman-head

(Since graves have come to hold more than one person, usually a man and a woman together)

 

To be to more than one a bed)

And so a grave serves as a bed for more than one person),

 

There dig up this polluted feast,

Dig up this unclean or sinful body,

 

But branch it first with the sad priest:

But first, have the sorrowful priest bless or sprinkle it with holy water,

 

Tell him, my love, the earliest mite

Tell him that the first little part (the woman’s body or soul)

 

Which in this grave doth rest, is white;

That rests in this grave is pure and innocent;

 

Tell him, my fame, his sin, whose sin

Tell him to remember my good reputation and the sins of that priest,

 

The sun and moon shall never shine in.

Whose sin is so great that he will never see the light of day (he’s condemned).

 

Tell him, I lived new in these eyes,

Tell him that I lived a renewed life in the eyes of my beloved,

 

More pure than saints in paradise;

Even more pure and innocent than saints in heaven;

 

Tell him, my heart was new and true,

Tell him my heart was fresh, sincere, and loyal,

 

Never before betrayed to you.

And I never betrayed her or loved anyone else.

 

Tell him, that she, whose soul now keeps

Tell him that the woman whose soul watches over this place now

 

Watch o’er this churchyard, never sleeps;

Never rests or sleeps, always faithfully guarding it;

 

Tell him, in this black, o’erworn sheet,

Tell him that my body, wrapped in this worn black shroud,

 

My body’s henceforth dead to meet

Is now dead and will no longer

 

No other joy, but far more due,

Know any earthly joy except a greater, truer joy—

 

That one poor woman, to be true.

The joy of being faithful to one humble woman alone.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne’s poem “The Relic” is a complex meditation on love, death, purity, and faithfulness, delivered with his characteristic blend of wit, irony, and religious imagery. The poem explores how love and fidelity can transcend death, and how the physical remains—“relics”—of lovers can challenge religious and societal notions of purity and sin.

 

Tone and Perspective:

The poem is spoken from the perspective of a deceased lover who imagines what will happen when his grave is opened in the future. The tone is ironic and somewhat playful, yet tinged with seriousness about love’s sanctity. The speaker addresses a “sad priest,” likely representing the religious authority who would inspect the relics found in the grave.

 

Theme of Love and Faithfulness:

The speaker contrasts the common idea of relics as holy and pure objects with the reality of a lover’s grave. He ironically calls his dead body a “polluted feast,” acknowledging that death and the physical body are impure, yet he insists on the purity of the love he shared with the woman buried alongside him.

The poem repeatedly emphasizes faithfulness: the speaker’s heart “was new and true” and “never before betrayed” the woman. This fidelity is presented as something rare and holy, perhaps even more pure than the sanctity expected by the church. The speaker claims that his love was “more pure than saints in paradise,” which challenges traditional religious hierarchies by elevating earthly love to a divine status.

 

Religious Imagery and Irony:

The poem is rich with religious references—priests, saints, sin, and relics. Donne uses these images to blur the lines between sacred and profane. The “sad priest” symbolizes religious judgment, but the speaker implies that the priest’s sinfulness is greater than his own, stating the priest is condemned to never see the light of the sun or moon.

The irony is clear: the speaker, though physically “polluted” by death and burial, claims moral and spiritual purity through his love, while the religious authority, supposed to be a moral exemplar, is actually sinful and condemned. This challenges the reader’s ideas about purity, sin, and the true nature of holiness.

 

Death and the Body:

The speaker’s body is described as “black” and “o’erworn,” wrapped in the grave’s cloth—symbols of death’s finality and decay. Yet, the poem insists that love endures beyond the body’s death. The grave becomes not only a physical resting place but also a testament to the fidelity that once lived.

 

Gender and Intimacy:

The poem hints at the physical intimacy shared by the lovers, referring to the grave as a bed for “more than one.” This metaphor for sexual union in death evokes the theme of eternal union. The “woman-head” buried with him is symbolically significant as the “earliest mite” in the grave, described as “white” to represent purity and innocence.

 

Conclusion:

In “The Relic,” Donne challenges conventional views on death, purity, and sanctity. He suggests that true holiness might lie in human love and faithfulness rather than in religious ritual or outward piety. The poem’s witty yet profound tone pushes the reader to reconsider what it means to be pure and what kind of legacy love leaves behind.

 

Possible Exam Questions

What does the speaker ask to be done when his grave is opened again?

 

Who is the “sad priest” mentioned in the poem, and what role does he play?

 

How does the speaker describe the woman buried with him?

 

What is meant by the phrase “polluted feast” in the context of the poem?

 

Explain the significance of the speaker claiming his love was “more pure than saints in paradise.”

 

How does John Donne use religious imagery to convey the theme of love in “The Relic”?

 

Discuss the irony present in the poem regarding the speaker’s relationship with the priest and the church.

 

What is the symbolic meaning of the grave being described as a bed for “more than one”?

 

Analyze the poem’s treatment of death and love. How does Donne reconcile the physical decay of the body with the spiritual purity of love?

 

Discuss the use of paradox in “The Relic” and how it contributes to the poem’s overall meaning.

 

How does the poem challenge traditional ideas of holiness and sin?

 

Examine the tone of the poem. How does Donne blend irony and sincerity to deliver his message?

 

Write an essay on how John Donne’s “The Relic” portrays the connection between physical love and spiritual faithfulness.

 

Discuss the poem “The Relic” in the context of metaphysical poetry. How does Donne’s use of wit and religious metaphor characterize this poem?

 

Imagine you are the “sad priest” discovering the relic. Write a response reflecting your thoughts on the speaker’s claims and the poem’s message.