John Donne (Leaving Cert English): Quizzes
📚Quizzes
Practise the questions
15 questions from this quiz
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Practise the questions
15 questions from this quiz
When was 'Songs and Sonnets', containing 'The Flea', published?
When was 'Songs and Sonnets', containing 'The Flea', published?
1633
What poetic tradition does 'The Flea' belong to?
What poetic tradition does 'The Flea' belong to?
Carpe diem
How many nine-line stanzas does 'The Flea' contain?
How many nine-line stanzas does 'The Flea' contain?
Three
What are the three concerns the speaker addresses about intimacy?
What are the three concerns the speaker addresses about intimacy?
Sin, shame, loss of maidenhead
What Christian doctrine does the 'three lives in one flea' reference?
What Christian doctrine does the 'three lives in one flea' reference?
Holy Trinity
What does the speaker's progression from 'marriage bed' to 'marriage temple' achieve?
What does the speaker's progression from 'marriage bed' to 'marriage temple' achieve?
Sanctifies their union
In 17th-century slang, what did the word 'die' commonly refer to?
In 17th-century slang, what did the word 'die' commonly refer to?
Orgasm
What three meanings does the word 'waste' carry in the final stanza?
What three meanings does the word 'waste' carry in the final stanza?
Honour destruction, virginity loss, semen
What type of poetic device is the flea-as-marriage comparison?
What type of poetic device is the flea-as-marriage comparison?
Metaphysical conceit
How does the speaker initially characterise his request?
How does the speaker initially characterise his request?
How little that which thou deniest me is
What does the flea's 'swelling' suggest through wordplay?
What does the flea's 'swelling' suggest through wordplay?
Pregnancy and arousal
What does blood symbolise as the poem progresses?
What does blood symbolise as the poem progresses?
Physical essence, erotic fluid, sacred
What theological concept explains how three divine persons unite in one God?
What theological concept explains how three divine persons unite in one God?
Consubstantiality
How is the poem's tone best described?
How is the poem's tone best described?
Playful and serious simultaneously
What does the speaker claim their mingled blood makes them?
What does the speaker claim their mingled blood makes them?
Almost, nay more than married