The Flea- John Donne

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/metaphysical-poets 

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/john-donne

http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/john-donne

http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/

"The Flea" is an metaphysical poem (first published posthumously in 1633) by John Donne (1572–1631)

Mark but this flea, and mark in this,   

How little that which thou deniest me is;   

It sucked me first, and now sucks thee,

And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;   

Thou know’st that this cannot be said

A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead,

Yet this enjoys before it woo,

And pampered swells with one blood made of two,

And this, alas, is more than we would do.

Oh stay, three lives in one flea spare,

Where we almost, nay more than married are.   

This flea is you and I, and this

Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is;   

Though parents grudge, and you, w'are met,   

And cloistered in these living walls of jet.

Though use make you apt to kill me,

Let not to that, self-murder added be,

And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

Cruel and sudden, hast thou since

Purpled thy nail, in blood of innocence?   

Wherein could this flea guilty be,

Except in that drop which it sucked from thee?   

Yet thou triumph’st, and say'st that thou   

Find’st not thy self, nor me the weaker now;

’Tis true; then learn how false, fears be:

Just so much honor, when thou yield’st to me,

Will waste, as this flea’s death took life from thee.

Objective:

Inspired by John Donne’s The Flea,  craft an original poem that emulate its metaphysical elements such as: 

• Metaphysical conceit: an extended metaphor between two vastly different things- the flea as a vessel for erotic union/ passion/ lust/love 

• Witty argumentation: using logic and persuasion in poetic form

• Unexpected/unusual symbols to discuss complex ideas like love, death, or union

• Structure: the poem as an argument, with many rhyming couplets 

• Tone: playful yet philosophical

• Tension: between body and soul, logic and emotion

You will be completing steps 1-4 in your books, not on computer. 

Step one: Brainstorming the conceit 

• What’s the weirdest metaphor you’ve ever heard? Why?

Choose a tiny, mundane, or unlikely object and make it stand for something large or profound—just as Donne uses the flea to represent a romantic/sexual union.

profound- deep meaning 

Examples:

• A paperclip = unbreakable emotional bonds

• A coffee stain = the permanence of heartbreak

• A dust mite = the soul or memory

• A cracked phone screen = fragility of self-image
  
  

• Ask: What argument might you make using this object? What emotional or philosophical idea could it stand for?

Object- 

The landlocked lighter- 

Step two: Craft 

Write a 16–24 line poem that:

• Centers on a metaphysical conceit

• Builds a persuasive or argumentative structure (like Donne’s)

• Uses clever logic, paradox, or wit

• Deals with a big theme (love, death, time, the body, etc.)

• three-four techniques from John Dunne's The Flea to support the metaphysical qualities. 

Pick your poison- How will you craft? 

1. Easier: transposition- manipulates another form to suit your own ideas- demonstrate your understanding of metaphysical elements. 

2. Emulation: mimic the style- demonstrate your understanding of form and feature in a personal way. 

3. Experimentation- make the style your own-  for those really confident in the style and form of a literary movement, you will deliberately take elements of metaphysical poetry, and subvert others. (this is the goal for Advanced English students) 

Step 3: Share and Reflect 

Share your poem aloud in small groups or as a class. 

Answer the following questions: 

• What metaphors surprised you?

• Did anyone make you laugh—or make you think differently?

• How does writing like Donne make you approach poetry differently?

• What could the writer change or add to enhance their poem? 

Personal Justification: 

Metaphysical poetry explores universal concerns in an unusual manner. Discuss with reference to The Flea and your own composition. 

This should be completed as a comparative paragraph. 

Step 5: Submit

Submit- once your handwritten work has been viewed by your teacher, you may then type it for publication via teams. You will need to publish your poem and personal justification.