The poem "The Flea" conveys the theme of promiscuity through verbal irony. The speaker argues that since a flea has bitten both him and the woman and mixed their blood, they are essentially married. He claims killing the flea would be committing murder and violating their sacred bond. In "Woman's Constancy", the theme is conveyed through rhetorical questions as the speaker questions how a woman can remain faithful when desires of the flesh are strong.

1. Promiscuity in
John Donne
The Flea
and
Woman’s Constancy

2. Thesis

3. Thesis
The Flea conveys the theme of promiscuity through
VERBAL IRONY, whereas Woman’s Constancy conveys the
theme through the use of RHETORICAL QUESTIONS

4. The Flea
MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd 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 pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.
O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met,
And cloister'd 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 suck'd from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ;
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me,
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

5. The Flea
MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd 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 pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.
O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met,
And cloister'd 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 suck'd from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ;
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me,
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

6. The Flea
MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, A flea bit the me and you (girl he
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. wants to sleep with)
Thou know'st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ; What the flea did was innocent
Yet this enjoys before it woo, There was mixing of fluids (blood)
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.
O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met,
And cloister'd 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 suck'd from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ;
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me,
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

7. The Flea
MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, A flea bit the me and you (girl he
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. wants to sleep with)
Thou know'st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ; What the flea did was innocent
Yet this enjoys before it woo, There was mixing of fluids (blood)
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.
O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are.
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met,
And cloister'd 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 suck'd from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ;
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me,
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

8. The Flea
MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, A flea bit the me and you (girl he
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. wants to sleep with)
Thou know'st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ; What the flea did was innocent
Yet this enjoys before it woo, There was mixing of fluids (blood)
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.
O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are. The flea represents us, our marriage,
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
and it is of great importance. If you
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, kill it you will violate a sacred bond
And cloister'd in these living walls of jet.
Though use make you apt to kill me,
(marriage) and you will kill the flea,
Let not to that self-murder added be, me, and yourself.
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 suck'd from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ;
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me,
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

9. The Flea
MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, A flea bit the me and you (girl he
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. wants to sleep with)
Thou know'st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ; What the flea did was innocent
Yet this enjoys before it woo, There was mixing of fluids (blood)
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.
O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are. The flea represents us, our marriage,
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
and it is of great importance. If you
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, kill it you will violate a sacred bond
And cloister'd in these living walls of jet.
Though use make you apt to kill me,
(marriage) and you will kill the flea,
Let not to that self-murder added be, me, and yourself.
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 suck'd from thee?
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ;
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me,
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

10. The Flea
MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, A flea bit the me and you (girl he
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. wants to sleep with)
Thou know'st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ; What the flea did was innocent
Yet this enjoys before it woo, There was mixing of fluids (blood)
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.
O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are. The flea represents us, our marriage,
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
and it is of great importance. If you
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, kill it you will violate a sacred bond
And cloister'd in these living walls of jet.
Though use make you apt to kill me,
(marriage) and you will kill the flea,
Let not to that self-murder added be, me, and yourself.
And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.
Cruel and sudden, hast thou since
Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence? The girl kills the flea. Killing a flea with
Wherein could this flea guilty be,
Except in that drop which it suck'd from thee? so much honor did not have an effect
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou on either of us. So you yielding to me
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ; (she has less honor) will mean as little
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me, as killing the flea.
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

11. The Flea
MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, A flea bit the me and you (girl he
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. wants to sleep with)
Thou know'st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ; What the flea did was innocent
Yet this enjoys before it woo, There was mixing of fluids (blood)
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.
O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are. The flea represents us, our marriage,
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
and it is of great importance. If you
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, kill it you will violate a sacred bond
And cloister'd in these living walls of jet.
Though use make you apt to kill me,
(marriage) and you will kill the flea,
Let not to that self-murder added be, me, and yourself.
And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.
Cruel and sudden, hast thou since
Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence? The girl kills the flea. Killing a flea with
Wherein could this flea guilty be,
Except in that drop which it suck'd from thee? so much honor did not have an effect
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou on either of us. So you yielding to me
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ; (she has less honor) will mean as little
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me, as killing the flea.
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

12. The Flea
MARK but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is ;
It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, A flea bit the me and you (girl he
And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. wants to sleep with)
Thou know'st that this cannot be said
A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ; What the flea did was innocent
Yet this enjoys before it woo, There was mixing of fluids (blood)
And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;
And this, alas ! is more than we would do.
O stay, three lives in one flea spare,
Where we almost, yea, more than married are. The flea represents us, our marriage,
This flea is you and I, and this
Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.
and it is of great importance. If you
Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, kill it you will violate a sacred bond
And cloister'd in these living walls of jet.
Though use make you apt to kill me,
(marriage) and you will kill the flea,
Let not to that self-murder added be, me, and yourself.
And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.
Cruel and sudden, hast thou since
Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence? The girl kills the flea. Killing a flea with
Wherein could this flea guilty be,
Except in that drop which it suck'd from thee? so much honor did not have an effect
Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou on either of us. So you yielding to me
Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now.
'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ; (she has less honor) will mean as little
Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me, as killing the flea.
Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

13. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day,
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ?
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

14. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day,
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ?
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

15. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ?
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

16. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ?
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

17. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

18. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

19. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ? Will you go back on your vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

20. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ? Will you go back on your vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

21. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ? Will you go back on your vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

22. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ? Will you go back on your vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ?
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

23. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ? Will you go back on your vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ? Questioning strength of those oaths
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

24. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ? Will you go back on your vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ? Questioning strength of those oaths
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
Implying that marriage will die with
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
love eventually
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

25. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ? Will you go back on your vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ? Questioning strength of those oaths
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
Implying that marriage will die with
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
love eventually
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

26. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ? Will you go back on your vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ? Questioning strength of those oaths
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
Implying that marriage will die with
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
love eventually
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ;
Which I abstain to do,
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

27. Woman’s Constancy
NOW thou hast loved me one whole day, One night stand
To-morrow when thou leavest, what wilt thou say ? Questioning whether she will stay
Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow ? Will you go back on your vow?
Or say that now
We are not just those persons which we were ?
Or that oaths made in reverential fear
Of Love, and his wrath, any may forswear ? Questioning strength of those oaths
Or, as true deaths true marriages untie,
Implying that marriage will die with
So lovers' contracts, images of those,
love eventually
Bind but till sleep, death's image, them unloose ?
Or, your own end to justify,
For having purposed change and falsehood, you
Can have no way but falsehood to be true ?
Vain lunatic, against these 'scapes I could I could go crazy for you, but by
Dispute, and conquer, if I would ; tomorrow I may feel the same as
Which I abstain to do, you do
For by to-morrow I may think so too.

28. Literal Meanings
• The Flea
• Convincing a girl to sleep with him
• Woman’s Constancy
• Questioning the how faithful women are,
ultimately men are the same

29. Tone

30. Tone
• The Flea

31. Tone
• The Flea
• Casual/Playful

32. Tone
• The Flea
• Casual/Playful
• Woman’s Constancy

33. Tone
• The Flea
• Casual/Playful
• Woman’s Constancy
• Cynical

34. Tone

35. Tone
• The Flea

36. Tone
• The Flea
• Verbal Irony

37. Tone
• The Flea
• Verbal Irony
• Woman’s Constancy

38. Tone
• The Flea
• Verbal Irony
• Woman’s Constancy
• Rhetorical Questions

39. The Flea

40. The Flea
• An insect

41. The Flea
• An insect
• Lives off the blood of other
mammals and birds

42. The Flea
• An insect
• Lives off the blood of other
mammals and birds
• Dogs are usually taken to the
vet to get rid of fleas

43. The Flea
• An insect
• Lives off the blood of other
mammals and birds
• Dogs are usually taken to the
vet to get rid of fleas
• Associates a flea with love

44. The Flea

45. The Flea
• Size

46. The Flea
• Size
• 1.5 - 3.3mm long

47. The Flea
• Size
• 1.5 - 3.3mm long
• Said to represent things of
great significance

48. What the Flea
Represents

49. What the Flea
Represents
• “marriage bed” (line 13)

50. What the Flea
Represents
• “marriage bed” (line 13)
• “marriage temple” (line 13)

51. What the Flea
Represents
• “marriage bed” (line 13)
• “marriage temple” (line 13)
• Life of:

52. What the Flea
Represents
• “marriage bed” (line 13)
• “marriage temple” (line 13)
• Life of:
• the speaker (line 16)

53. What the Flea
Represents
• “marriage bed” (line 13)
• “marriage temple” (line 13)
• Life of:
• the speaker (line 16)
• the woman (line 17)

54. What the Flea
Represents
• “marriage bed” (line 13)
• “marriage temple” (line 13)
• Life of:
• the speaker (line 16)
• the woman (line 17)
• the flea itself (line 18)

55. What the Flea
Represents
• “marriage bed” (line 13)
• “marriage temple” (line 13)
• Life of:
• the speaker (line 16)
• the woman (line 17)
• the flea itself (line 18)

56. What the Flea
Represents
• “marriage bed” (line 13)
• “marriage temple” (line 13)
• Life of:
• the speaker (line 16)
• the woman (line 17)
• the flea itself (line 18)

57. Tone
• The Flea
• Verbal Irony
• Woman’s Constancy

58. Tone
• The Flea
• Verbal Irony
• Woman’s Constancy
• Rhetorical Questions

59. Rhetorical
Questions

60. Rhetorical
Questions
• Total of 6

61. Rhetorical
Questions
• Total of 6
• The Effect:

62. Rhetorical
Questions
• Total of 6
• The Effect:
• To get the reader to
question their own
beliefs

63. Rhetorical Questions
• “Or that oaths made in reverential fear/Of Love, and his
wrath, any may forswear ?” (lines 7/8)

64. Rhetorical Questions
• “Or that oaths made in reverential fear/Of Love, and his
wrath, any may forswear ?” (lines 7/8)
• People take oaths (get married) out of deep respect for one
other

65. Rhetorical Questions
• “Or that oaths made in reverential fear/Of Love, and his
wrath, any may forswear ?” (lines 7/8)
• People take oaths (get married) out of deep respect for one
other
• “his” refers to God

66. Rhetorical Questions
• “Or that oaths made in reverential fear/Of Love, and his
wrath, any may forswear ?” (lines 7/8)
• People take oaths (get married) out of deep respect for one
other
• “his” refers to God
• Anyone can go back on their oath

67. Rhetorical Questions
• “So lovers' contracts, images of those/Bind but till sleep,
death's image, them unloose ?” (lines 9/10)

68. Rhetorical Questions
• “So lovers' contracts, images of those/Bind but till sleep,
death's image, them unloose ?” (lines 9/10)
• Implies that the “contracts” (marriage) will expire like
love and death

69. Rhetorical Questions
• “So lovers' contracts, images of those/Bind but till sleep,
death's image, them unloose ?” (lines 9/10)
• Implies that the “contracts” (marriage) will expire like
love and death
• Implies: There is no “unconditional” love

70. Rhetorical Questions
• “So lovers' contracts, images of those/Bind but till sleep,
death's image, them unloose ?” (lines 9/10)
• Implies that the “contracts” (marriage) will expire like
love and death
• Implies: There is no “unconditional” love
• Discredits marriage

71. Rhetorical Questions
• “So lovers' contracts, images of those/Bind but till sleep,
death's image, them unloose ?” (lines 9/10)
• Implies that the “contracts” (marriage) will expire like
love and death
• Implies: There is no “unconditional” love
• Discredits marriage
• Leaves promiscuity

72. Conclusion

73. Conclusion
• Although differing in styles:

74. Conclusion
• Although differing in styles:
• Both poems discuss an issue of modern
society and ancient society

75. Conclusion
• Although differing in styles:
• Both poems discuss an issue of modern
society and ancient society
• Donne accepted promiscuity

76. Conclusion

77. Conclusion
• Should we?