1. John Donne Focus Questions
John Donne (1572-1631) was an English poet whose time spent as a cleric in the Church of
England often influenced the subjects of his poetry. In 1623, Donne suffered a nearly fatal
illness, which inspired him to write a book of meditations on pain, health, and sickness called
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions. “No Man is an Island” is a famous section of “Meditation
XVII” from this book.
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
1. Is it fair to say that the poem sets a melancholy tone? Which lines prove it?
2. What is the theme of the poem?
3. How does the language of the first 4 lines develop the poem’s theme through comparison?
4. What does the word “diminish” mean in the context of the poem?
5. What do the words “I am involved in mankind” mean?
6. Why do you think Hemingway chose the words from this poem for the title of his famous war
novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls”?
7. Donne clearly believes in the interconnectedness of humankind. In what ways does our
modern society reflect this idea? Explain.
8. In the context of “No Man Is an Island,” how do people face death?
9. Today, do most people generally believe that one man’s death diminishes them? Why or why
not? Explain.
10. What is the purpose of using the extended geography metaphor for a greater part of the
fragment?