Death, be not Proud, Though some have Called The
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so, the speaker declares, opening a direct address to Death itself. The speaker argues that those whom Death thinks it overthrows do not actually die, nor can Death kill him. Death is likened to rest and sleep, which are but Death's picture, or image, and if rest and sleep bring much pleasure, then Death must bring even more. The speaker observes that the best men go soonest with Death, finding in this both rest for their bones and their soul's delivery. Death is called a slave to Fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, and is said to dwell with poison, war, and sickness. The speaker notes that poppy or charms can make people sleep as well as, and better than, Death's own stroke, and so questions why Death swells with pride. Finally, the speaker asserts that after one short sleep, people wake eternally, and Death itself shall be no more, concluding that Death shall die.
By John Donne · First published 1633 · Genre: Metaphysical Poetry, Religious/Spiritual Poetry, Devotional Poetry · 194 words
First lines
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; / For those, whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow, / Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. / From rest and sleep, which but thy picture be, / Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow, / And soonest our best men with thee do go, / Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery. / Thou'rt slave to Fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, / And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, / And poppy, or charms can make us sleep as well, / And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then? / One short sleep past, we wake eternally, / And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
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Death, be not Proud, Though some have Called Thee is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Donne, dated 1633 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Donne
- Date: 1633 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Metaphysical Poetry, Religious/Spiritual Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Sonnet, Philosophical Poetry
- Length: 194 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Death, be not Proud, Though some have Called Thee by John Donne
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
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- The Immortal Word by Helen Gray Cone
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Genres
- Metaphysical Poetry — Donne's characteristic wit and intellectual complexity dominate the work, employing a logical paradox to transform death from a conquerer into a conquered entity through philosophical argument rather than narrative or emotion.
- Religious/Spiritual Poetry — The poem fundamentally engages Christian theology concerning death, resurrection, and eternal life, presenting death as spiritually powerless in light of Christian salvation and the promise of awakening eternally.
- Devotional Poetry — As one of Donne's Holy Sonnets, the work functions as a personal spiritual meditation and prayer-like address to death, inviting contemplative engagement rather than narrative engagement.
- Sonnet — The work adheres to the 14-line sonnet form with iambic pentameter and a volta structure, using the formal constraints of the genre to organize its argument against death's power.
Tags
mortality · personification · defiance · spirituality · faith · immortality · death-meditation · metaphysical · sonnet · religious-poetry · courage · existential