Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1️⃣ Reflect on the concept of death by exploring different cultural, philosophical, and religious perspectives on mortality and the afterlife.

2️⃣ Analyze the meaning, rhyme scheme, structure, and theme of Holy Sonnet 10 by interpreting Donne’s argument against the power of death through collaborative discussion.

3️⃣ Identify and discuss key literary devices such as personification, irony, and metaphor, examining how they reinforce the poem’s central message.

4️⃣ Evaluate Donne’s portrayal of death as weak and powerless, comparing it to traditional representations of death in literature and culture.

📌 Step 1: Warm-Up Activity – “Perspectives on Death” (5 Minutes)

Before we explore John Donne’s DEATH be not proud, let’s take a moment to reflect on how death is perceived in different cultures, religions, and philosophies. 

Engage with the activity below and share your thoughts:

💡 How is death perceived?
➡ Is it an end, a transition, or something else?

📝 Type your response in the space provided below and click 'Submit.' Feel free to add multiple responses if you have more thoughts to share. Let’s explore how perspectives on death vary!

⏳ Historical Context:

• Written during the early 17th century, a time of religious and philosophical debates.

• Influenced by Christian beliefs in resurrection and eternal life, challenging the fear of death.

• Written during a time of religious conflict and high mortality, the poem reflects Donne’s Christian belief in the powerlessness of death and the promise of eternal life. 

Holy Sonnet 10:  Death, be not proud

📌Step 4: Follow-Up: Analyzing Death, Be Not Proud

🟠 Rhyme Scheme & Structure

• The poem follows the Petrarchan sonnet form with the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA CDDC EE.

• The first eight lines (octave) introduce the idea that death is not powerful.

• The final six lines (sestet) reinforce this argument and conclude with death’s ultimate defeat.

📌 Step 5: Reflection & Final Discussion 

💡 These questions are designed to encourage your critical thinking and diverse perspectives, and the goal is to spark discussion rather than find one "correct" answer. 

🟢 Do you think Donne’s argument about eternal life is based on faith, philosophy, or logic?
🟢 If death is powerless, as Donne suggests, why do people still fear it?
🟢 If death were a person, what kind of character would it be? Would it be:

• A villain who steals life?

• A guide who helps souls transition?

• A trickster who deceives people into fearing it?

🟢Have you ever read a story, poem, or watched a movie where death was challenged or mocked?