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IEB Poetry 2023 : 'The Sun Rising' by John Donne

Mrs M teaches English

16K views 3 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What do you already know about the poem “The Sun Rising” by John Donne?
When you hear “Poetry revision for exams,” what kinds of help do you expect from a video?
What do you think a poem titled “The Sun Rising” might be about?

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IEB Poetry 2023 : 'The Sun Rising' by John Donne

John Donne’s background & metaphysical poetry (00:00 – 04:06)

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1. Why is this video being made?

To revise John Donne’s poem “The Sun Rising” for IEB exams
To introduce modern romantic poets
To teach punctuation rules for essay writing
To summarise a film about a university

2. What is metaphysical poetry usually concerned with, according to the video?

How to write strict rhyme schemes
Historical battles and kings
Only religious rules and regulations
The nature of reality

3. What is a “metaphysical conceit” in this explanation?

An argument that uses dissimilar images to make a philosophical point
A simple nature description with predictable imagery
A rhyme pattern used in Elizabethan poetry
A punctuation mark used in old poems

IEB Poetry 2023 : 'The Sun Rising' by John Donne

Poem structure & stanza 1: challenging the sun (04:06 – 08:50)

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1. What structure does the speaker highlight on the page?

Two stanzas of 12 lines each
Four stanzas with irregular line numbers
One long stanza with 30 lines
Three stanzas with 10 lines in each stanza

2. In this poem, what does “apostrophe” mean?

Addressing a non-human item directly
A speech to a crowd (a sermon)
A type of half rhyme
A punctuation mark showing possession

3. What is the speaker’s main point at the end of stanza 1?

Love must follow a strict timetable and seasons
The sun is the true ruler of the lovers
People should obey rules and regulations
Love is not beholden to a timetable or the “rags of time”

IEB Poetry 2023 : 'The Sun Rising' by John Donne

Stanzas 2–3: conceits, hyperbole, and shifting tone (08:50 – 15:07)

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1. How does the speaker claim he can “defy” the sun’s power in stanza 2?

By closing his eyes so the sunlight is gone
By changing the rhyme scheme
By travelling to the West Indies
By ordering the sun to wake up the king

2. What does the reference to “both the indias of spice and mine” suggest in the analysis?

Everything precious (like spices and gold) is ‘right here’ in the bedroom
The lovers want to become merchants
The sun is more valuable than gold
The poem is mainly about geography lessons

3. What emotional shift across the poem does the speaker point out near the end of the video?

Disdain → challenge → conciliation
Sadness → hope → confusion
Pride → jealousy → fear
Joy → boredom → anger

IEB Poetry 2023 : 'The Sun Rising' by John Donne

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1. Which statement best describes how metaphysical poetry is presented in the video?

It always follows rigid Elizabethan structures and avoids humour.
It uses simple, predictable comparisons to avoid confusion.
It focuses only on historical facts, not ideas.
It often combines conversational language with provocative arguments and clever paradoxes.

2. Why might the poem’s rhyme scheme seem “tricky,” according to the explanation?

Because the poem has no stanzas
Because the speaker reads it too quickly
Because English pronunciation has changed over centuries, creating half rhymes
Because the poem was translated from another language

3. What is the overall relationship between the lovers and the sun in the analysis?

The sun controls them, and they respectfully obey.
They fear the sun as a symbol of punishment.
They treat the sun as an equal partner in their relationship.
They challenge and diminish the sun’s authority, presenting their love as central.

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

IEB Poetry 2023 : 'The Sun Rising' by John Donne

Do you think the speaker’s insults to the sun are playful, serious, or both? What makes you think so?
The video says metaphysical poetry can feel “illogically logical.” Do you enjoy that kind of writing, or do you find it frustrating? Why?
Is it believable to describe two lovers as more important than “spices and gold” and even “Kings”? What is the purpose of that exaggeration?
Do you think this poem fits the tradition of an aubade (lovers separating at dawn)? What evidence from the explanation supports your view?