John Donne was a 17th century English poet known as one of the Metaphysical Poets. He reacted against the sweet tones of 16th century verse and adopted a more energetic, witty, and inventive style that fused rationality with passion. His poems sought to imitate human speech patterns, giving them a realistic and intimate feel. Donne often used metaphors and conceits that creatively extended comparisons over entire poems, drawing from academia like astronomy, metallurgy, and physiology. His poems sometimes involved paradoxes that expressed the contradictory nature of human behavior or arguments designed to tease the recipient.

3. The Rhythm Donne sought to imitate human speech patterns, giving his poetry a more realistic and intimate feel and making it easier to identify with the speaker . The tone is often conversational ; Donne appears to be addressing someone in speech. The Flea even implies a reply from the other party between stanzas. Read the poem as a conversational monologue and write the prospective lover’s response between stanzas.