Lecture notes
A Jet Ring Sent (John Donne)
- Institution
- CCEA
A2 Unit 1-John Donne Notes
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A Jet Ring SentFORM AND STRUCTURE
- The poem is made up of 3 stanzas which follow a logical, dialectical structure.
Throughout the stanzas there is a development of an argument with a clear
progression of thought and ideas. This dialectical structure is a feature of much 17 th
Century verse and metaphysical verse.
- The poem’s diction is mostly monosyllabic, packing consonants into each line and
contributing to the brittle sound of the verse.
- Most of the lines are iambic but the rhythm is not always regular
- The poem has a regular rhyme scheme- AABB- the regularity of the rhyme scheme
gives a musical quality to the poem
Subject of the Poem
- The poem is a metaphysical conceit
- Stanza 1- Prompted by his lover returning a ring given by the speaker, he reflects on
the meaning and symbolism of the ring
- Stanza 2- The thoughts of the speaker’s lover are represented as she questions why
he used the jet ring as a symbol of their love
- Stanza 3- The speaker continues his conversation with the ring, taking comfort in the
symbolism of the ring
LANGUAGE AND IMAGERY
Stanza 1
- Line 1: “Thou art”- The poem is a direct address to the Jet Ring which acts as a
symbol of the fragile union between the two lovers. The use of the simile, “black as
my heart” emphasises the emotional pain of the speaker and creates a melancholy
tone.
- Line 2: “Nor half so brittle as her heart”-The use of simile continues as the poet
suggests the fragility of his lover’s emotions. The harsh consonantal patterning
creates a brittle sound, reflecting the frailty of the speaker’s lover.
- Line 3- “What wouldst thou say? – The ring is personified as the speaker participates
in an imagined conversation with it.
- Line 4- “Nothing more endless, nothing sooner broke”- The balanced phrase and
repetition of nothing emphasises the two-fold nature of their relationship. The
circularity of the ring emphasises the speaker’s unending love but the ‘jet’ material
of the ring is easily broken, reflecting the ease with which the speaker’s lover broke
his heart. The balanced phrase evokes one of the central paradoxes of human love-
the frailty of human relationships and the perennial nature of human emotion.
Stanza 2
- Line 1- “Marriage rings are not of this stuff”- The use of the negative evokes the
lover’s disdain for the ring. There is a comment here about the symbolism of gifts.
While a wedding ring is made of gold and reinforced by the social traditions and
laws, the jet ring does not share this symbolism. While the speaker intends this gift
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