Identify the poet of the following lines.

"Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou, art not so:..."

Correct option is C

Explanation:

The given lines are from the poem "Death, Be Not Proud", which is one of John Donne’s Holy Sonnets (Sonnet X). This poem is a metaphysical meditation on the nature of death. The poet challenges the conventional idea that death is all-powerful and terrifying. He personifies death and directly addresses it, arguing that it has no real power over the soul, as it is merely a transition rather than an end.
John Donne uses religious themes, paradoxes, and intellectual reasoning to present death as insignificant. He claims that death is not to be feared because it leads to eternal life, making it ultimately powerless. The poem ends with the famous paradox: “Death, thou shalt die”, emphasizing the Christian belief in the resurrection and the afterlife.

Information Booster:

Holy Sonnet X (Death, Be Not Proud) was written in: Early 17th century, published posthumously in 1633

The poem explores the nature of death and the poet's belief that death has no ultimate power over the soul. It conveys Christian ideas of immortality, resurrection, and the afterlife, asserting that death itself will eventually be defeated.

The poem directly addresses death, telling it not to be proud or fearsome because it does not truly kill people. Instead, death is just a short sleep before the soul awakens to eternal life. The poet argues that death is no different from rest or sleep, which bring peace. Since death leads to the afterlife, it is not a real end. Eventually, when the soul reaches eternity, death itself will cease to exist, making it powerless.

Literary Devices Used:
Personification: Death is treated as a person whom the poet directly addresses.
Paradox: The famous line "Death, thou shalt die" reverses the expected notion of death as the ultimate end.
Irony: Death, often considered powerful, is portrayed as weak and insignificant.
Religious Significance: Donne was a deeply religious poet and preacher. His poetry often reflects Christian theology, particularly ideas about salvation, divine grace, and eternal life.

Additional Knowledge:

Wallace Stevens was a 20th-century modernist poet known for philosophical poetry, particularly about art and perception. His famous works include The Emperor of Ice-Cream and Sunday Morning.

Thomas Carew was a Cavalier poet from the early 17th century. His poetry focused on themes of love and courtly life.

Andrew Marvell another 17th-century poet, was known for his metaphysical and political poetry, such as To His Coy Mistress. He used wit and paradox.