John Donne was born in London in 1572 (between January 23 and June 19). His father was a prosperous merchant. He died when John was not even four years old. The daughter of the playwright and poet D. Heywood was his mother. Among her ancestors, she also had T. Mora.
Period of study, refusal of oath
At the age of 12, John Donne entered Oxford University (in Hart Hall). And three years later he moved to Cambridge. Donn did not receive a degree at any university . Perhaps the early admission there and the refusal to formally complete the studies are explained by the fact that Donn did not want to swear allegiance to the influential Church of England. From the applicant of any degree at that time an oath was required to her. However, for the Catholic this was unthinkable.
Traveling to different countries
Donn, leaving the university, traveled for some time in Spain and Italy. Little is known about his life before in 1591 he entered the law firm called Thevis Inn. A year later, Donn moved to another - “Lincoln's Inn”, in which he stayed for about three years.
John in the years 1596-97. was one of the "gentleman volunteers" who were representatives of the "golden youth" and went for Count Essex, popular among the people, on a pirate expedition against Cadiz. Then they sailed to Azores, in the ill-fated "Island Campaign". The campaign was started by them to intercept the Spanish ships returning with treasures from America.
John becomes famous
Donna's career in the next 4 years was successful. He was even elected to parliament in 1601. Donne was known as a poet without typing a single line. The paradoxes and problems written in prose aroused admiration for contemporaries, as well as his attempts to revive the classical forms (epigram, poetic message, satire, love elegy).
Secret marriage and its consequences
John Donne secretly married Ann More, a seventeen-year-old girl, in January 1602. Her father tried to make the newly-made son-in-law sent to jail. He had to sit in Fleet prison, and also lose his place in the service of the keeper of the seal. Donne, coming out of prison, was out of work. His once solid legacy was almost completely exhausted. The period from 1602 to 1615 is hopeless and harsh years. Donn searched in vain for his talents.
Anne gave birth to twelve children, seven of them survived their mother, who died in 1617. Donna spent the first 2–3 years with his wife’s relatives in Surrey. In 1605, they moved to a house in Mitchem, near London.
Unsuccessful attempts to apply their talents
Thoroughly and for a long time John Donne studied theology, church law and church history. In 1605-07 he helped T. Morton, who later became Bishop of Durham, create polemical works against Catholicism. Morton not later than 1607 promised a good arrival to Donna, if he decides to take the priesthood. However, John was still hoping to have a secular career. He unsuccessfully tried to take the place of secretary - first in Ireland, after that - in Virginia. Donne also tried to get the post of ambassador to Venice or The Hague. At the same time, many masterpieces of love lyrics, the main part of religious poems, as well as sophisticated complimentary epistles were created.
The composition thanks to which Donna began to be promoted
In 1610, John's first published work, The Imaginary Martyr, appeared. It was dedicated to King Jacob. The book was a brilliant defense of the oath of allegiance to the English crown, which was imposed on Catholics after the Powder Plot in 1605. John Donne was rewarded for this work with a master's degree in art from the prestigious University of Oxford. The king has since openly declared that he will contribute to the promotion of John in the service if he decides to choose the church field. Donn that same year finally found a patron. He became R. Drury. In the period from November 1611 to August 1612 he traveled abroad with him. After Donne returned, he moved his family to a house located on Drury Lane. Here John lived until 1621.
Ordination as a priest, teaching
"Experiments in theology", created between 1611 and 1615, give the impression that they were written by a person who can be called quite prepared for church service. Donn was ordained priest and deacon on January 23, 1615. King Jacob made him one of the chaplains. He also made sure that Donne was awarded the degree of Doctor of Theology by the University of Cambridge. One of the most honorable departments in London was granted to him in 1616. Donne was supposed to teach theology to the elders of Lincoln's Inn, a law corporation.
Ailment and a book based on new experiences
The king at the end of 1621 appointed John rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Donn wrote few poems during his ministry in the church. But in 1624 he published Prayers and Requests for Immediate Cases, psychologically insightful and full of tension. This is a report of the disease, which almost became fatal, which he suffered in 1623. The disease became a mirror of spiritual condition for John Donne. He saw his dependence on God's grace. John Donne died on March 31, 1631 in London.
Sermons and Poems by John Donne
He bequeathed to his son more than 160 sermons. The son published them in 3 volumes. John Donne, while preaching, preferred appeals and exhortations for moral purification of people to discourse on the existing contradictions in the doctrine that separate Anglican from the Roman Catholic Church. Despite a thorough scholarly analysis of various passages from the Scriptures, and sometimes a Latinized dictionary and syntax, in his sermons one can recognize the same rich imagery and living rhythms characteristic of his verses. Donna’s sermons, along with the Supplications, provided him with enduring glory, making him one of the greatest masters of English prose.
Very few poems decided to publish John Donne. His poems were intended for a chosen circle. They are characterized by a very personal intonation, many hints, as well as other techniques that are characteristic of the lively speech of a secular interlocutor. All this allows us to say that John Donne addressed sonnets and other poems to a narrow circle of people. Today, his work is available to everyone.
In our country, John Donne is very famous. Brodsky, for example, dedicated the Great Elegy to him. His name, however, is captured not only in Russian literature. The Moscow pub John Donne (Taganka) is very famous today. As you can see, this English writer and poet enjoys versatile popularity in our country.