Analysis of Language in "The Canonization" by John Donne

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In The Canonization by John Donne, the speaker uses spiritual expressions, such as mysterious (27), hymn (35), canonized (36), reverend (37), and hermitage (38). All of these words share a religious connotation. With using these words when talking about love the speaker implies that love is similar to a love with God, and that love is spiritual.

Mysterious is a religious truth that one cannot fully understand, and only known by revelation. If we apply this definition to love we can interpret it as though love is something unknown, unless you have ever been in love to experience it personally.

A hymn is a song or praise to God. In the poem, the speaker said, "And by these hymns, all shall approve / Us Canoniz'd for love" (35-36). The hymn the speaker is referring to is the "verse" (30), or poem, that the lovers will live in if they are "unfit for tombs" (29). The speaker leads us to believe that love, in comparison to God, is something that should be worshiped. The poem will be used as a hymn to worship love by later generations.

Declaring a deceased person an officially recognized saint is canonization. As mentioned previously, the speaker says, "And by these hymns, all shall approve / Us Canoniz'd for love" (35-36). Later generations will recognize their love for one another and make them saints of a religion of love. Love is something that should be held with high regard, like those of saints.

Reverend means worthy of reverence, or respect. The speaker says that later generations will refer to them as "You whom reverend love / [...]" (37). We can see from this line that the speaker respects and honors love.

Lastly, a hermitage is a private religious retreat. The speaker says that the two lovers "Made one another's hermitage" (38).

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