Go and Fetch a Falling Star
Song: Go and catch a falling star
BY JOHN DONNE
Go and catch a falling star,
Get with
child a mandrake root,
Tell me where all past years
are,
Or who
cleft the devil's foot,
Teach me to hear mermaids
singing,
Or to keep off envy's
stinging,
And find What wind
Serves to advance an honest
mind.
If thou be'st born to strange
sights,
Things
invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand days and
nights,
Till age
snow white hairs on thee,
Thou, when thou return'st,
wilt tell me,
All strange wonders that
befell thee,
And swear, No where
Lives a woman true, and fair.
If thou find'st one, let me
know,
Such a
pilgrimage were sweet;
Yet do not, I would not go,
Though at
next door we might meet;
Though she were true, when
you met her,
And last, till you write your
letter,
Yet she Will be
False, ere I come, to two, or
three.
John Donne
John
Donne was
an English poet, lawyer, cleric and a great scholar. He was born into a catholic
family in 1572. He became a cleric in the Church of
England. He is one of the greatest representative of the
metaphysical poets. His works including sonnets are well known for
his preaching. His works are packed with sudden openings, paradoxes,
ironies and rhythmic speeches. His works met sharp
criticism. His poems are based on true religion on which he spent
much of his time. His earlier works showed a great knowledge of satires which
brought out the corruption in the legal system and posh courtiers and
misunderstanding of true religion. He was ordained deacon in 1615
and served as a member of parliament in 1601 and in 1614.
He lived in great poverty for several years. His life depended on his wealthy companions. He spent much of wealth on womanizing and pastimes and travel. He married Anne More secretly and had twelve children. He died in 1631.
Summary of the Poem
“Go
and catch a falling star,” was written by John Donne. It was first published in 1633 based on a
traditional theme of women’s infidelity.
In this three stanza poem the poet tells the listener that he it is
possible to look the whole world over whatever he likes but finding a woman who
will be faithful and honest to him is like looking out for a mermaid or meeting
a devil which is an impossible task. It
is a satirical poem but at the same time the poet expresses his honest and
bitter and cynical opinion towards the women society and their fake
relationships.
Analysis of the Song: Go and catch a
falling star
Stanza One
“Go and catch a falling star,
Get with child a
mandrake root,
Tell me where all past years are,
Or who cleft the
devil's foot,
Teach me to hear mermaids singing,
Or to keep off envy's stinging,
And find What wind
Serves to advance an honest mind.”
(Mandrake root - a plant
of southern Europe and North Africa having purple flowers, yellow fruits and a
forked root formerly thought to have magical powers-Dictionary meaning.) The poet uses these to us
to get into the poem. He asks him to find out all the facts about the past, and
it’s impossible to know the historical truths.
He then goes on to ask to find out who divided the devils hoof into two
parts. He would like to find out how it has happened. He ask the listener to
teach him to hear the song of the mermaid and to keep off the feeling of envy
and to find out how the fortune wind could push a honest and sincere man onward.
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand days and nights,
Till age snow white hairs on thee,
Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me,
All strange wonders that befell thee,
And swear, No where
Lives a woman true, and fair.”
Stanza three
“If thou find'st one, let me know,
Such a pilgrimage were sweet;
Yet do not, I would not go,
Though at next door we might meet;
Though she were true, when you met her,
And last, till you write your letter,
Yet she Will be
False, ere I come, to two, or three.”
Metaphysical Poem
Metaphysical
poetry is based on the detail figurative language, original conceits, paradoxes,
and philosophical topics. Metaphysical
poets belong to 17th century English poets. They are recognized by their lyrical quality
of their verse. John Donne is well known as a metaphysical poet who lived in 16th
century and well known leading figure in the literature world. There are different metaphysical features we
can find in this poem such as serious arguments and deep analysis, emotional
and intellectual, interesting comparisons, brilliant ideas and situation.
Structure
The poem
consists of nine lines with different number pattern, totally three stanzas
with ABABCCDDD rhyming pattern. Lyrical form to sing. Theme is infidelity of women, the poet is the
speaker who shows his disbelief on women society.
Metaphor
A metaphor describes an object or action in a different way which is not true. “Falling star” a biblical reference to
the fallen angel Lucifer who betrayed the God.
The poet uses this to show the infidelity of women who are not faithful.
Indirect
reference. Mandrake root
(a human shaped plant root which is used in witchcraft and black magic.) ”Devil’s cleft foot” refers to the feet of
devil which is divided into two hooves like.
“Mermaid singing” refers to a mythical character looks half human
and half like a sea creature with fish tail.
The poet challenges the listener to find such wonders of the world. He says he perhaps he could find these
wonders but he can never find a faithful woman.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe refers to a speech or address to a person who is not
present.
The poem starts with the speakers command or request or challenge to the
listener. This prepares the reader to
think of those impossible challenges of the poet.
Visual
imagery
It refers to visual images or auditory
images. “Falling star” , “Mandrake
root”, “devil foot”, “mermaid singing” ,”White hairs on thee” all these bring an interesting impossible visual images to
the readers to enjoy and feel the broken views of the poet on the unfaithful
women.
Enjambment
Continuation of a sentence without a
pause which goes beyond the end of the line.
Exaggerated description. “Ten thousand days and nights” is not possible task for person to
undertake. All the visual images the
poet used in the poem are good example of exaggeration. The poet is hurt and his expressions on the
virtue of women are quite hyperbolic. “Pilgrimage
“ is an unusual imagination to make the readers understand his feelings.
Themes
Infidelity of women
The poet
explores the infidelity of women in each and every stanza of the poem. He brings out the theme by using images of
magic and impossibilities. He insists
still the end of the poem that it is hard to find a fair and faithful
woman. He begins by commanding his
listener to find certain impossible tasks, and says it that it would be much
easier to find those magical things than to find a faithful fair woman. He further explains by using images like
impregnating a mandrake root, listening to the songs of the mermaids and the
cloven foot of the devil.
The poet
further says that even if the listener spent all his lifetime searching an
honest woman, he would not find one. But to his satisfaction he tries to conclude
the poem with little hope, even the listener find a faithful woman she would
become unfaithful before the speaker could meet her. It is quite disappointing.
Thus the poet
closes the poem with disappointment and expresses his unhappiness over the
women. John Donne uses light and
humorous tone in few situations. The poem carries a meaning to understand. Analyzing the use of conceits would bring out
different view on the masterpiece. But
it would take time and patience to understand and enjoy.
Thank you
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