Song: Go, and catch a falling star (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes

Song: Go, and catch a falling star

Poem structure and form

This fascinating poem by John Donne consists of three stanzas with nine lines each, following an unusual rhyme scheme of ABABCCDDD. What makes this piece particularly unique is its varying syllable pattern within each stanza. The first four lines contain seven syllables each, followed by two lines with eight syllables, then two short lines with just two syllables, and finally ending with a seven-syllable line.

The fact that Donne titled this work "Song" tells us something important - it was designed to be read aloud or even sung. This musical quality is enhanced by the distinctive rhythm and rhyme pattern, which creates a memorable and engaging flow when spoken.

Throughout the piece, Donne maintains a light and often humourous tone, though this masks a more serious underlying message about his views on women's faithfulness. The speaker appears somewhat resigned to what he sees as the inevitable disappointment that comes with romantic relationships.

Summary and interpretation

The poem centres on the speaker's belief that finding a woman who is both beautiful and faithful is absolutely impossible. Donne structures his argument cleverly by beginning with a series of obviously impossible tasks - like catching a falling star or making a mandrake root pregnant - and then reveals that he considers finding an honest, beautiful woman to be equally impossible.

In the opening stanza, the speaker challenges the reader to accomplish various supernatural feats, from catching celestial objects to hearing mythical creatures sing. Only in the second stanza does it become clear that these impossible tasks are being compared to the search for a faithful and attractive woman.

The second stanza extends this comparison by suggesting that even if someone possessed magical abilities and could travel for thousands of days witnessing incredible wonders, they would still never encounter a woman who is both "true and fair." The speaker seems convinced that such a woman simply doesn't exist anywhere in the world.

The final stanza presents the most cynical conclusion. Even if such a perfect woman were found, the speaker declares he wouldn't bother to meet her because he believes she would inevitably become unfaithful before he could reach her, betraying not just him but multiple other men as well.

Detailed analysis

Stanza one - setting up impossible tasks

The opening stanza establishes the poem's central conceit through a series of fantastical challenges. When the speaker commands "Go and catch a falling star," he's immediately establishing the realm of the impossible - shooting stars move too quickly to be captured by human hands.

The reference to getting "with child a mandrake root" adds a magical element, as mandrake roots were associated with witchcraft and fertility magic in folklore. This creates an atmosphere where the natural and supernatural blend together in impossible ways.

The speaker's request to "Tell me where all past years are" introduces themes of time and loss, suggesting a longing for things that can never be recovered. Similarly, asking "who cleft the devil's foot" refers to theological mysteries that humans cannot solve.

The final section of this stanza asks to learn how to "hear mermaids singing" and "keep off envy's stinging," mixing mythological creatures with abstract emotions. The stanza concludes by asking what force could "advance an honest mind," introducing the theme of honesty that becomes central to the poem's argument about women's faithfulness.

Stanza two - the impossible quest revealed

The second stanza reveals the true purpose behind these impossible tasks. The speaker suggests that if someone were gifted with supernatural sight and could "ride ten thousand days and nights" experiencing incredible wonders, they would still return with one universal truth: "No where / Lives a woman true, and fair."

The imagery of riding until "age snow white hairs on thee" emphasises the extraordinary length of time this quest would take. Even after a lifetime of searching through all possible "strange wonders," the conclusion would remain the same - faithful and beautiful women don't exist.

This stanza effectively links the magical impossibilities of the first stanza to the speaker's cynical views about love and relationships. The parallel structure suggests that finding a faithful woman is as impossible as any legendary quest or supernatural feat.

Stanza three - cynical conclusion

The final stanza presents the poem's most bitter twist. Even if the impossible were to happen and such a woman were discovered, the speaker declares "I would not go" to meet her. This reveals the depth of his cynicism - he's so convinced of women's inevitable unfaithfulness that he wouldn't even try.

The lines "Though she were true, when you met her, / And last, till you write your letter" suggest that any woman's faithfulness is temporary at best. The speaker believes that even if a woman started out faithful, she would become "False, ere I come, to two, or three" - unfaithful to multiple men before he could even arrive.

This conclusion transforms the poem from a playful list of impossible tasks into a deeply pessimistic statement about love, trust, and human nature.

Major themes

Women's infidelity and misogyny

The poem explores what was a traditional (though problematic) literary theme of Donne's era: women's supposed romantic infidelity. Using vivid imagery of magic and mystery, the speaker argues that a faithful woman is so difficult to find that she might as well be legendary.

The speaker begins by commanding his listener to perform impossible tasks, implying that female honesty and faithfulness exist in the same realm of impossibility as catching falling stars or impregnating magical roots. These tasks often carry supernatural or sexual undertones - mermaids traditionally lured sailors to their deaths, while mandrake roots were associated with fertility magic and the devil's foot with deception.

The speaker expands on this theme by imagining his listener on a lifelong quest. Even if someone possessed magical sight and spent decades searching for "strange wonders," they would never find "a woman true, and fair." This makes women's fidelity seem more legendary than even mythical creatures.

The poem concludes with earthly cynicism, moving away from magical uncertainty to grim certainty. The speaker believes that even if his hypothetical woman existed, her faithfulness would be temporary. He wouldn't bother meeting her because he's convinced she'd be unfaithful to multiple men before he could arrive. This final section reveals how the poem shifts from wistful romance about impossible quests to bitter resignation about human nature.

Key poetic techniques and imagery

Magical and mythological imagery

Donne fills the poem with references to supernatural elements - falling stars, mandrake roots, mermaids, and the devil - creating a world where the impossible seems almost within reach. This imagery serves to elevate the mundane topic of relationship troubles into something more epic and universal.

Structural contrast

The poem's unusual rhyme scheme and syllable pattern create a musical quality that contrasts with the increasingly bitter content. The short two-syllable lines ("And find / What wind" and "And swear, / No where") create emphasis and pause that draws attention to key concepts.

Progressive revelation

The poem's argument unfolds gradually. What begins as seemingly random impossible tasks slowly reveals its true purpose - to demonstrate the impossibility of finding faithful love. This technique keeps readers engaged while building towards the cynical conclusion.

Exaggeration and hyperbole

The speaker uses extreme examples (ten thousand days of travel, magical powers, catching stars) to emphasise his point about women's faithfulness. This exaggeration creates both humour and emphasis, making his argument memorable while potentially masking its serious underlying bitterness.